Necromancer - the stealth powerhouse

[Scorppia]

Having played a Ranger to 53, and finding that grouping is essential in the 50's for me but not always easy, I looked to bring on some alts. I now have a 26 Wizard, but find the class is not working out. I also want a solo-able class, but my low level Beastlord couldn't cut it.

I experienced a minor epiphany the other day, whilst on a mini raid with my guild. Firstly, I must explain that I have never doubted the power of a Necro, and will always welcome one to my group - but I never knew how powerful they really are, how one is played, or the true range and depth of their abilities. Anyway, when the Necro dropped out of our mini raid (where he was dealing out damage, rather than acting as mana battery) our DPS fell away noticeably. This mini raid had ten people in, all mid-high 50's, with a 65SK pulling and tanking. I was amazed that one character could have contributed so much, and especially that the character was a Necro.

At that point I realised that to understand and fully appreciate Necromancers, I would have to roll one. And even at level 8, I can see the appeal, the amazing solo-ability, and moreover the power of a necro. No burst damage, no overt display of power, no huge hits or big nukes - rather swift, deadly damage that others around do not witness and doubtless do not appreciate in the heat of battle. The fact that a Necro is equally at home soloing as grouping, leads me to believe that Necromancer is likely the most powerful overall class in EQ - but also totally adept at hiding that power from those that do not know their true potential :ph34r:

[Trizel]

Very good description Scorppia /applauds

...and yes we are more likely to shine in the shadows rather than under the spotlights ;)

[Fizzleplink]

Not me. I tried that shining in the shadows thing, once. Every mob nearby wanted to try to eat me. It's far more efficient to lurk or skulk in them.

[Trizel]

:lol:

[Soulsapper]

Not me. I tried that shining in the shadows thing, once. Every mob nearby wanted to try to eat me. It's far more efficient to lurk or skulk in them.

LOL

[Raseir]

Originally posted by Fizzleplink@Feb 5 2004, 01:20 PM
Not me. I tried that shining in the shadows thing, once. Every mob nearby wanted to try to eat me. It's far more efficient to lurk or skulk in them.
Funny, as soon as I read that my media player started Black Sabbath's "Nativity in Black". Just seemed eerily fitting. :D

[Vaelhan]

Wow, very good description of what we really are .... i'm supprised you don't have a 65 necro of your own lol :ph34r:


Vaelhan Hemafier - Tunare

[Scorppia]

Only reached level 15 so far, but intend on taking Scorppia as high as possible.

Been soloing in Paludal, mostly on the lesser fiends (Plerg as opposed to Patog), however there is a fair amount of downtime as you can't fear without getting adds (I presume - haven't tried as I'd rather not die) and my level 12 pet needs a lot of healing against level 14/15 fiends. There is more downtime than I expected, even with Dark Pact, and mana is an issue.

Come level 16 I have no doubt it will get easier. And despite what I say above, it is tons of fun being a Necro, even if everything goes wrong - i.e. your pet dies, and you have a fiend at 65% running at you - to cast re-darkness, a few more dots, and then run away whilst the mob follows you until it dies. And I was doing a better job of soloing these fiends than a level 18 Shaman - not because I play the class well, but due to the power of the Necro.

In the short time Clarity lasts, your Necro is a god. I can only imagine with FT items and KEI, few Necros would see the need to group at all.

[Schaeffer]

Originally posted by Scorppia@Feb 9 2004, 12:48 PM
In the short time Clarity lasts, your Necro is a god. I can only imagine with FT items and KEI, few Necros would see the need to group at all.
KEI ?!? What is that? If it don't stack with Lich, don't use it my friend. Back before the level cap on buffs, a KEI was worth it before you got Lich. Even now from 46 to 48 (Lich at 49) I'd say KEI was excusable. Before 46 best you can get is a clarity. At 20 you get Alure of death, which give 4 mana a tick, the same as Clarity which is a level 29 spell by the way. At 35 clarity gives you 7 mana a tick. Call of Bones our level 34 Mana conversion spell gives you 8. After that Lich gives you 20 mana a tick, best Chanty spell VoQ only gives you 18. Your mana regen blows anything a chanter can give you out of the water. Demi lich gives 31 mana at level 56, Arch Lich gives 35 mana at level 60 and SoS gives 50 mana a tick at level 64. So as you can see, try and be self sufficient. It's much more effective and gratifying. :D

[Scorppia]

Duly noted!

As you can see, my Necrotic experiences are limited to level 15, where Dark Pact (2 mana per tick) is far less efficient than Clarity. Granted, once Clarity wears off and there is no chanter around, you are on your own and back to DP, but until then Clarity is a vast improvement. It will be for a few more levels, especially with the higher mana costs of the next level spells....

So you say I have no need of KEI/VoQ or to go sit in PoK waiting for a KEI hawker to appear? /em leaps in the air with joy! I genuinely had no idea that our mana regen spells were more effective than a Chanter's - of course, there is the loss of HP's, but what's the fun in having a Necro if you can't 'borrow' a mob's HP's and then kill them before you have a chance to give 'em back ;)

[Schaeffer]

Originally posted by Scorppia@Feb 9 2004, 03:54 PM
but what's the fun in having a Necro if you can't 'borrow' a mob's HP's and then kill them before you have a chance to give 'em back ;)
Now you're catching on B)

[Doomfir]

Our mana regen with lich kicks ass over anything a chanter could possibly dream of. It is why we were the class to get reverse mana spells so we can twitch other casters giving THEM mana. I have had the distinct satisfaction of twitching chanters before.. ahh.. so satisfying.. hahaha.

[Annlee]

I still remember the first time I took my Necro out of the newbie area for some action. I was drunk with the power that I had tasted. And to this day I’m still intoxicated from that first taste. The power of the Necro is Great if you take the time and learn to harness it. There are three things I tell every new Necro who is looking for insite.

1. Know your power but also know you limits
2. Know how to use your power so that you never need a group but never tell a group that you don’t need them.
3. Your mana is your mana. You can do wonderful things with it. Don’t ever let someone else downplay what you can do.

Everything else you will learn as you level. Good luck and may Lords of Hell be with you…..