Goto of things

While writing a new track I keep smacking my head against a wall. A wall of I've done this before. So I started to think about my goto choices, those things you just use instinctively without thinking about it. And while doing that I thought it would be fun to hear what are your goto choices. :)
 
I'll start with the simple things.
 
Software -
Sampler: NI Kontakt 5. I have a few others as well but Kontakt is my choice as I prefer the workflow.
 
Synth: Future Audio Workshop Circle 2. I've started to gravitate more and more towards Circle2 over my previous favorite NI Massive. The sound and workflow is much better for me.
 
Drum machine: NI Battery4. 
 
EQ: Fabfilter Pro-Q. Not much contest, again I have a couple of good EQ's lying around but the only one I seem to use next to this is Waves' H-EQ.
 
Compressor: Waves dbx-160. Love the sound so I usually fire this up when I need to compress. It does often get replaced but for me it's the first one I load.
 
Limiter: Slate FG-X. I have it setup on my template and rarely change it.
 
Delay: NI Replika. Like for the ease of use. Almost a tie with Waves' H-Delay.
 
Reverb: Vienna Convolution. I usually load this up for the simple reason that it's easy to use and has a really nice sound. Usually I even use the same venue. Might be replacing this with Overloud ReMatrix but haven't yet used it enough.
 
Creative FX: NI Guitar Rig 5. 
 
Distortion: FXPansion Maul. Funny thing, I have Guitar Rig, but use it for everything else but distortion.
 
 
Sample libraries -
Orchestral: Spitfire Audio Albion. I usually load up a few patches from Albion when I start a new project.
 
Brass: Strezov Sampling Brass. Ease of use and great sound for what I usually do.
 
Percussion: Evolution Series Percussions. Great sound.
 
Choir: Strezov Sampling Storm Choir 2. Has that cut through the mix sound I usually want from a choir.
 
Solo Voice: Soundiron Voices of Gaia Francesca. Love the sound.
 
Drums: That Sound Cinematic Pop. I have plenty of drumkits but this seems to always be the first one I load.
 
Guitar: Wavesfactory Harmonix. Alas I now realise I really don't have an all around guitar library (I do have Impact Soundworks' Shreddage II) and always just use "specialty" sounds for guitars. 
 
Woodwind: Embertone Crystal Flute. I love the sound and basically always load this when in need of a woodwind instrument.
 
Piano: Custom simple 4 velocity layer sustain grand piano.
 
 
Then lets see some more tricky things (now these are more abstract and may warrant moving this another subforum).
 
Tempo: 120ish. Apparently I find tempos around 120 bpm nice.
 
Time signature: 4/4. 
 
Key: C. Usually start jamming with C scales.
 
Chord: C minor. Apparently I start most of my jamming with a C minor chord. 
 
Structure: I seem to compose everything in groups of 8 bars. I tend to use chord progression where the initial chord plays bars 1, 2, 5 and 6 with chord changes for bars 3, 4, 7 and 8.
 
Melodies: Usually I write fairly simple melody lines with a single lead instrument playing long notes with a usually a legato change in the 3rd or 4th beat of the second bar.
 
Idea: I gravitate towards ideas of simple heroes (I write cinematic music) in dark surroundings. This seems to be a very used type of an idea in my music of late.