[1.7] Beam Me Up! The Beam Purist (High Thaumaturgist)

[whitelion]

Sure, you could cast good spells that do all kinds of stuff, like a filthy pleb. Or you could be a person of taste and cast beams--glorious and beautiful beams. This is my version of this wonderful vision: the High Thaumaturgist stripped down to beams (to blow stuff up), shields (so you don't die), and sustains (for support you need). Insane/RL winner is here: https://te4.org/characters/229407/tome/ ... 277bf6fb7e.

The Build

Class Skills

Meta 4/5/4/0
Temporal 1/5/0/0
Air 1+/5/5/0
Thaumaturgy 5/5/1/5
Arcane 1+/1/5/5
Earth 1+/1/0/0
Flame 1+/0/0/0
Water 1+/0/0/0

Generic Skills

Aegis 1/4/1/2
Conveyance 4/1/4/0
Your racial skills
Whatever escort category strikes your fancy (except not filthy non-beam spell actives)
Combat Training: Thick Skin, 1 point in Heavy Armor, some points Light Armor if you want

Prodigies: High Thaumaturgist, something else good like Ethereal Form, Cauterize, etc.

Discussion

Your standard beams are: Manathrust, Ice Shards, Flame, Lightning, Pulverizing Auger. It doesn't really matter what kind of damage you plan to focus on because of Energy Alteration, but I went with arcane since it seemed most fitting for a mage of taste and sophistication. Max at least 2 beams (if you have 50% spell cd reduction) or 3 if you don't, and it's nice to have 1 point in the others in case you need them from time to time. I went with Manathrust (my arcane initiator) and Ice Shards (since it can freeze people and freezing people is good). There's also Elemental Array Burst (henceforth known as BFB for Big Freaking Beam) and you want to use that whenever you can because it's the awesome pinnacle of beam technology and it makes your screen shake. THWOMP! Throw down your orb and beam away! You can double beam people, or beam in multiple directions at the same time, like in the opening rooms of the prides. Glorious!

You also benefit from Multicaster, and this purist build means the only options for it to cast are Chain Lightning (such a convenient skill, no need to aim! Kind of like a nonlinear beam?) and Arcane Vortex (the nonbeam spell that comes closest to the true spirit of beam-itude). These will go off a lot so might as well max them, and you need to unlock these skills to get access to Feather Wind (so you don't get stunned or pinned) and Disruption Shield (oneshot protection) anyway.

Of course, even with the glorious might and splendor of beams, you are still an Archmage and thus need to use and manage your shields, so you want Time Shield and a decent investment in Aegis. You have to unlock Congeal Time but you can just delete the icon from your bar so you don't have to gaze upon the unrefined image of a non-beam spell. And of course you want to have Phase Door and Teleport so you can get out of trouble when needed. Beam smarter not harder.

Because we eschew the "higher element" categories in our commitment to the glory of beams, the only category unlocked is Meta, and so category points are plentiful. Enjoy a full contingent of inscriptions, and unlock your favorite escort category! If you decide to be Cornac for some reason, you could even have two escort categories, or Harmony, or whatever. The only limit is your imagination (and the need to avoid uncivilized non-beam spells as much as possible).

Closing Thoughts

Other people may tell you that you should use things like Stone Wall, Essence of Speed, Thunderstorm, or the higher element categories for respen because these things are "good" or "strong." I say these people simply fail to appreciate the beauty of true vision. Embracing the glory of beams is a transcendent experience, and I hope that one day someone will surpass me with an even purer beam vision. Until then, beam me up! I'm out!

[Caliginosus]

That's exactly the type of Thaumaturgist I intent to play once I'll get to it. Thanks for the build overview!

[darkgod]

HAIL TO THE BEAMLORDS !

[whitelion]

HAIL TO THE BEAMLORDS !

The god of this world has acknowledged the splendor of beams! O GLORIOUS DAY! ALL HAIL!

[Stenag]

Wait, Ice Shards is a beam ?
edit: ok I didn't read what the Thaumaturgist tree did.

[furioussouls]

I just took a look at your char sheet and it said you died 3 times. How is that possible when you are playing insane/RL?
I don't know any other way to resurrect yourself except for Blood of life, the unique ring (i forgot it's name), and the Fanged Collar.

[whitelion]

I just took a look at your char sheet and it said you died 3 times. How is that possible when you are playing insane/RL?
I don't know any other way to resurrect yourself except for Blood of life, the unique ring (i forgot it's name), and the Fanged Collar.

I fought atamathon after winning and died (actually we killed each other so it was a draw I guess). Char is now permanently dead, rip.

[mckwack]

I just took a look at your char sheet and it said you died 3 times. How is that possible when you are playing insane/RL?
I don't know any other way to resurrect yourself except for Blood of life, the unique ring (i forgot it's name), and the Fanged Collar.

Ring of the Dead?

I suppose it is quite a lucky catch to get both BoL and RotD in insane/RL..

PS: could this build also be used to unlock Thaumaturgist itself? BRB testing..

[Effigy]

It's common to find both items in the same run on Insane. It's mainly a question of when.