Install 12.10 deb on 13.10 works.
On my system Ubuntu 13.10 v.99.16 seems to have a 'wait/watch' issue in transition from updating blockchain (bitcoind) to scanning the blockchain.
This is already happening a number of builds ago.
If all the blocks are already downloaded and Armory is started, Armory continues after this check.
When there are new blocks and the 'wait/watch' issue seems to be there, the --debug last info is: "(INFO) ArmoryQt.py:3781 - Switching Armory functional mode to "Offline" ".
Visually: Qt states "Synchronizing with Network x blocks" with x > 0 and stays that way. Now more counting down. Just continue to display only this information.
When only <10 new blockchain blocks, Armory does continue, with 92 blocks (last time I got this error) Armory gets in the 'wait/watch' modus.
Maybe only happens when there is a new block file?
I can try a rescan or a reinstall of bitcoind and Armory, but maybe you prefer some more error analysis before I do that or to try another build first.
Please let me know.
[EDIT] Today (11/25) Armory did not stop when it started with 152 blocks to download (bitcoind). The number of blocks to download is not the variable triggering the freeze.