So, I already started a test blightcaster.

It is really interesting and I have a lot of useful gear in the 7s (pendant of the earth, signet ring of the earth, powderkeg), but I don't know how applicable this is to what i "want" to do.

I don't know what I want to do.

I am interested in both hive and thorn wildshapes, and these two items pack a lot of force and acid spellpower, so in theory either would work.

The thornkin gets bonuses sitting in the middle of CC effects (entangle, etc), but does that mean I would be a melee range caster?

Initial play has shown the very very cheap, low level access to SLAs to be pretty powerful when tied to permamaximize.

Do I cast? Do I punch things? Do I use a sceptre and an orb? Confused minds need help!