Wand implement weak ?

[siegfriedliner]

I was looking at building a thaumaturge and was looking though the implents and noticed the wand seemed pretty underwhelming until paragon.

I am possibly unfairly comparing it to electric arc but most of the implements give you really cool novel abilities that work well together and the wand gets you a pseudo cantrips that doesn't benefit from your main class feature.

Has anyone used it and how did they find it ?

[aobst128]

Wand is nice with the adept upgrade. Easy persistent damage output. Comparing it to cantrips is fair. As a save for half effect, no cantrips have nearly as much range as an adept wand. Even the pre adept wand has great range comparatively. The intensity effect is a little disappointing though. Wish it worked like the bell and gave the target a penalty on the save instead.

[aobst128]

but with a pair of adept wand and adept regalia, intensifying wand gives you an easy +14 to damage by 11th level on a cantrip which is nice looking.

[pixierose]

I used it as a secondary implement on my strength based Thaumaturge. I didn't use it often but basically used it as my ranged option since my dex wasn't great. It also paired well with my main implement the Regalia, since its bonus to damage does benefit the wand.

Alternatively you could do something like a hand crossbow or a gun, and use the wand. Two actions for wand and the an attack at no map is kind of neat.
I def want to play a character that uses the wand as its main implement at some point.

[aobst128]

pixierose wrote:

I used it as a secondary implement on my strength based Thaumaturge. I didn't use it often but basically used it as my ranged option since my dex wasn't great. It also paired well with my main implement the Regalia, since its bonus to damage does benefit the wand.

Alternatively you could do something like a hand crossbow or a gun, and use the wand. Two actions for wand and the an attack at no map is kind of neat.
I def want to play a character that uses the wand as its main implement at some point.

I'm hoping I'll get to this point but I am playing one that's about to get a wand secondary and I plan to bring it to adept at 7th. Fling magic + foxfire with a conducting rune to blast the hell out of things without map. First implement is bell to reduce saves via clumsy to better blast things with the wand. Fairly effective on paper but I've yet to try it.

[Squiggit]

Unfortunately yeah, the wand is pretty bad, especially if you aren't upgrading it.

[Gortle]

All the wand effects are reflex saves. Only a few Cantrips are saving throw based. The range is good. The adept benefits apply on a save, not just a critical save like a cantrip does. These differences to cantrips are important.

However like Amulet and Chalice, Wand largely gives you an ability that can be replicated by an archetype feat or two. In this case by a quick multiclass into a caster class for some cantrips. So if you don't want the extra features, then it is not the pick for you.

[25speedforseaweedleshy]

thaumaturge want to strike at least once per round

so at level 1 wand have a chance to be used

after level 9 and all implement get that nice 1 action activation

there is little room for two action of wand