Thaumaturge build advice?

[Bean Sídhe]

I'm currently level 8, I run Energy Bolt (with Bolt Swarm and Channeled Bolts) and Firewall for damage, Ink Jump for mobility, Sluggish Time and Ghostly Mirage for tricks. Annoyed by a lack of control.

[datguy13]

You branched out too early. Spend the first ten levels or so focusing one or two of your damage-dealing Skills and Katarina's survivability so she can tank, then later branch into mobility or crowd control for kiting. Split your early level Attribute points evenly between Willpower and Spellpower, with any odd points going into Body for survivability. Later, focus primarily on Spellpower. In the early game your main area of focus is damage-dealing and kiting. The control Skills come later when you out-damage the monsters enough to have free points to spend on utility while the monster packs get larger and have more giant-type monsters in them.

[Rizilliant]

Originally posted by datguy13:

You branched out too early. Spend the first ten levels or so focusing one or two of your damage-dealing Skills and Katarina's survivability so she can tank, then later branch into mobility or crowd control for kiting. Split your early level Attribute points evenly between Willpower and Spellpower, with any odd points going into Body for survivability. Later, focus primarily on Spellpower. In the early game your main area of focus is damage-dealing and kiting. The control Skills come later when you out-damage the monsters enough to have free points to spend on utility while the monster packs get larger and have more giant-type monsters in them.

This implies theres only 1 way to play each class.. Ive also been having a hell of a time with Thaumaturge, to the point that ive quit playing the game entirely.. Hunter was a walk in the park, but these ranged classes are just awful..Holding down 1 or 2 buttons for the first several hours is a bad way to design a game..

[datguy13]

Originally posted by Rizilliant:

Holding down 1 or 2 buttons for the first several hours is a bad way to design a game..

You can tell yourself that if you like. I never said one or two buttons, I said one or two Skills. You also have to choose Auras and Tricks which are synergistic and then build the character and Katarina. Not every game is all about the Skills; this one most especially. Van Helsing focuses on the tactical and strategic elements of putting together entire builds that work, using every part of the character creation process as an aspect of the build.

If "the hunter was a walk in the park" but you have trouble with the others, then that means you've failed to grasp the other ways to play the game. Melee Hunters, Mine-Mechanics and DoT/Resistance Thaumaturges all use close assault tactics, while Summoners, Ranged Hunters and Glass Cannon Thaumaturges need to actually kite their enemies. That's two immediately obvious and distinct ways to play the game right there using any of the three available classes.

The trick is, each tactic is a specific, unique build from the ground up, including equipment, Ability points, Perks, Skills, Tricks, Auras, Power-ups and Katarina.

[Psojed]

Consider maxing out either Energy Bolts or Firewall, until you can get your hands on something better (Thunder or Blizzard), it helps a lot. Since you took Bolt Swarm, I'd max EB and save your rage for champions and boss monsters to take them down faster. Alternative route is to drop powerups and focus on Rampage Aura.

Ghostly Mirage is also a good way to boost damage, but its cooldown is longer and it costs 2 skill points. Your choice.

@Rizilliant: last time I checked, the whole point of ARPG games was to hold down 1-2 buttons. Good ol' Diablo style.