Best Mage and Paladin Loadouts?

[HerrDave]

-Mage

So my magic user relies on an absurdly high pool of mana, full spectre robes with the mask (because the hood was nerfed into the ground) and the pine nettle wand of sorts. Right now I do enough damage to obliterate casual mobs, but tougher things like bosses or players either don't get hit remarkably or just don't take the damage needed to down them (at all).

My other loadout for my magic user relies on a swarm of crows and the spooky armour, which I still can't descide if it is helping or hindering.

I have all of the staves, wands, and tomes in my magical vault of malicious muck-ups, so nothing is out of reach in this regard.



-Paladin

My paladin is dressed in full beetle armour (shell, not mail) and uses the terra blade right now, which is alright. He is equipped with the obsidian shield/paladin shield and other misc items to help him navigate/kite bosses to allow friends to put the heat on Duke Shrimpy-diq n' all that.

I have no problem killing things, but surviving as a tank is what I am finding difficult. The vampire knives don't hit for arse, heal for 1 point, or miss. I want to use the Paladin's hammer, as it was what I meant to build my character around, but it seems to be outclassed by the terra blade in everything accept knockback.

My original thought was to use the paladin's shield to take the damage for my allies, and the vampire knives to absorb health to replenish it. Effectively becoming an endless HP potion for my mates. However, the knives seem to be a joke. 1/2500 chance is absolute tripe for their actual utility.