Nice post Physiologic. Nice to see someone giving the example out of staying in the front with the bird. When I run with a good bear like Ellyidol, MrWallace, Aabe, etc. I try to stay on top of them as they run in front. As soon as they beckon in the mob, I can lay down my combos and thorn wall for the following mages to clean up the leftovers with lightning. Works for fast clean runs.

I tend to use a ton of health and mana pots, but it is a more fun way to play (at least for me).