Specialization-alteration or conjuration?

[shelobe]

As a new necro, alteration and conuration seem to be to be the only two logical choices for spell specialization.

I am assuming this has been discussed here before. Can someone point me to the appropriate thread(s) or summarize which is better in this thread please?

[Lylith]

It's here in general section: http://www.necrotalk.com/showthread.php?t=8841

[shelobe]

Alteration first

Ok, so specialize in alteration first. I know about the quest to reset specializations all to 49 out of temple of sol ro so I can change specialization to conjuration later.

At what level would you recommend switching from alt to con? What level(s) are the key "high mana" conjuration spells? I wanna have an idea at what level to plan on re-speccing into conjuration.

[Aegrusnecrox]

I wouldn't recommend switching to conj.

Especially in light of spells like Dreadpyre and Ashengate Pyre.

-Egg

[Lylith]

I agree with Egg. Alter as primary specialization, conjure as second with AAs ( secondary forte).

Ashengate Pyre 1173 mana cost
my highest conjure spell Vakk'dra's Sickly Mists 662 mana

[winchester20]

Yep, this is a dead horse that's been flogged so many times it's bones have been turned to powder. Alteration is the way to go specifically because of Ashengate Pyre and Dreadpyre. That said, you're not gonna end up with a lame duck necro if you choose Conjuration.

[shelobe]

I play on Al'Kabor

Not to muddy the water here, but I play on the Mac server. That means our spells are capped at PoP/level 65. So the super high mana costing spells listed we just do not have. Let me spend a bit of time checking out our highest mana costing spells and theri spell type and I will post them here. Probably it won't make a difference. I suspect alteration is the way to go even on a server with content capped at PoP.

Level 65: Blood of Thule, Best poison-based DoT, 500 mana, conjuration
Level 64: Touch of Death, Pet heal, 290 mana, alteration
Level 64: Seduction of Saryn, Best lich--umm--it's 5 mana so specialization is unimportant
Level 63: Embracing Darkness, Best snare-DoT, 200 mana, conjuration
Level 62: Saryn's Kiss, Best leach-DoT, 550 mana, alteration
Level 61 Touch of Mujaki, Best lifetap, 450 mana, alteration
Level 61: Neurotoxin, Best non-undead DD, 465 mana, alteration
Level 61: Dark Plague, Best disease-based DoT, 425 mana, conjuration
Level 60: Funeral Pyre of Kalendor, best fire-based DoT, 450 mana, alteration

Roots, pet buffs and undead charms are alteration. Summoning pets and undead mezzes are conjuration so those classes of spells when compared are kinda a wash.

Overall I guess on Al'Kabor it's close so neither is a bad choice but I think alteration may have a slight edge.

Of course, for soloing it will most likely be snare, poison-dot, disease-dot, leach and lich and of those pretty much only leach is alteration that requires any mana. Hmmmmm.....