New SoD Necromancer coming soon.

[Archimode Dreadlorde]

I played everquest for 2 years but quit 2 years ago right after OoW released. I had a 65 Iksar necromancer with just over 200 aa's named Archimode Dreadlorde on the torvonilious server. I was and still am a casual player, but when I used to play eq I could stay online all night. Which I can't do anymore. I love the necro class to death. I love their versatility, their ability to survive mobs that wipe a group. I rarely raided (my pc sux and I have dial-up), but did manage to do a few guild raids (for epic) and some open raids (for keys). I solo'd alot and grouped when I could.
I quit cause I started becoming bored with soloing and since I mainly played at night not many people were on then either. So when I didnt want to solo I spent hours waiting for a group. Which to many times broke up once I got to them. I also wanted to raid more, but because my pc sux and I'm on dial-up that wasnt an option. Lastly I became fed up with the crappy expansions they started putting out starting with Gates of Discord that didnt help the casual player like myself.
I hope to rekindle my love for the game with SoD, and I hope I have an easier time with groups and raids also.
So here are a few questions I have about the class in SoD.

1. Are SoD necro pets better/worse/same as EQ pets? Please explain if different.
2. Necros still have 70% undead only slow, and undead only mez?
3. Can the lvl 49/61/65 pets tank for exp still? (could use 65 pet to tank 200ish hitter w/o slow)
4. Necros still have pet heal?
5. Are the spells the same, and if not what are the differences?
6. What is the availability of spells like in SoD, better/worse/same as EQ? Please explain if different.
7. Are the AA's the same, and if not whats the differences?
8. Are there pet tanking/meleeing ability specific AA's?
9. Are there Damage over time spell specific AA's?
10. Are there any differences I should be aware of between the EQ necro and the SoD necro?

Thank you for taking the time to read and answer all or some of my questions.

 

[Onos Sideboard]

One major difference is no mana twitch, also I believe your dots have a weakening component here that wasnt on live. And if I remember correctly, I think I have heard that your pet is mostly DPS here with less of a tanking ability than on Live. But Ive never played a necro on Live and only to 20ish on SoD.

 

[Foonie]

1. Are SoD necro pets better/worse/same as the Game pets? Please explain if different.
2. Necros still have 70% undead only slow, and undead only mez?
3. Can the lvl 49/61/65 pets tank for exp still? (could use 65 pet to tank 200ish hitter w/o slow)
4. Necros still have pet heal?
5. Are the spells the same, and if not what are the differences?
6. What is the availability of spells like in SoD, better/worse/same as the Game? Please explain if different.
7. Are the AA's the same, and if not whats the differences?
8. Are there pet tanking/meleeing ability specific AA's?
9. Are there Damage over time spell specific AA's?
10. Are there any differences I should be aware of between the the Game necro and the SoD necro?

Thank you for taking the time to read and answer all or some of my questions.

1) Necro pets are balanced after the SoD universe. All formulars we use are different from live, so you can't really compare them.
2) No. It's the same as above. The biggest slow on SoD is 50% (Enchanters, Shamans and Beastlords all get this). Necromancers gets it vs. undead only, yes. Check out http://sod.camongrel.de for more info on spells.
3) I'm pretty sure they can.
4) Yes.
5) Check out the above website.
6) I'm not sure how hard spells are to get on Live, but there are some spells that can't be bought (where you have to attend raids where they drop).
7) We have a lot of custom AAs, you can check them out if you open up your AA window.
8) Read above.
9) Yes, you can also crit your DoTs here. And the more damage a mob receives from DoTs the less damage it does.
10) You can't meditate when you're in combat. And guards don't like it if you bring pets into town, so make it wait outside.

 

[Paxx]

Having played a necro to 70 on live and to 65 on SoD here are the differences I have found.

1. SoD Necro pets are almost the same as far as dps and types, they tank slightly less.
2. 50% I believe, max undead only slow, while you can mez all types of mobs not just undead.
3. Necro pets can tank until lvl 59 or so, but it depends on the mob. They are unable to tank above lvl 60 any xp worthwhile mobs.
4. Yes, necros still get pet heal. Worthless after low 30's IMO, they also get several pet heal over time dots that are somewhat usefull at all levels.
5. Spells are basicaly the same, with the raid and group valuable mana pumps completely MIA.
6. Spell availability is basicaly the same as live, you will need to raid for your ancients and relics most likely.
7. AA are basicaly the same but SoD does have some interesting differences that you will have to explore yourself.
8. Assuming tanking/melee AA's apply to pets, I guess you could say yes, I dont have enough AAs yet to have tried them out.
9. Yes there are AAs that help your DoTs crit more, there is one AA that is simular to splurt, but this may be replaced by a short duration long recast NPC that mezzes.
10. YOU CAN MED in combat, have to wait 30sec after last spell cast tho, dont worry about it, mana regen is fine and wont slow you down xp'in or in raids. I have never had trouble with pets in town, just dont go skellie or lich form in town. Play style and form is very simular to live and you should have no trouble at all solo or in group. Resses only require a ruby gem which drop and can't be bought. No sacrifice. Only downside I have noticed so far is the lack of twitch spells to support groups or raid situations. Not a major deal tho just cast more DDs

Paxx - 65 Lich
<Steel>

 

[Dzillon]

I'd say Greymoon's info are a little closer to my experience. Few things I'd say (or ask ):

2)You can mez all types ; you can fear undead and all types depending of the spell (fear being added progressively with zone pathing)
3)No tank for xp beyond low level imo ; you ll have to help him a bit
4) direct pet heal is indeed useable until lvl 30ish ; but focus on lifetaping over time, your best bet. Also an AA does a big direct heal butsome recast of course
8) are the combat AAs shared with pet ? I heard yes or no on the subject, and I finalyl thought it was no...there are item strength / health focuses, though.
9) they both said what to know

 

[Thorodel]

8) are the combat AAs shared with pet ? I heard yes or no on the subject, and I finalyl thought it was no...there are item strength / health focuses, though.

Mages have an AA that allows pets to use Spell Casting Fury, Fury of Magic, Combat Agility, Combat Ferocity, Lighning Reflexes and Unerring Precision (I am still unsure if Natural Durability gets shared also but I doubt it). No other pet classes get this though I think that Enchanters were gonna get (or got) a similar AA that allowed them to share those AAs not only with their pet but with the whole group (might be in the balance forums).

 

[thizz]

I played the Game for 2 years but quit 2 years ago right after OoW released. I had a 65 Iksar necromancer with just over 200 aa's named Archimode Dreadlorde on the torvonilious server. I was and still am a casual player, but when I used to play the Game I could stay online all night. Which I can't do anymore. I love the necro class to death. I love their versatility, their ability to survive mobs that wipe a group. I rarely raided (my pc sux and I have dial-up), but did manage to do a few guild raids (for epic) and some open raids (for keys). I solo'd alot and grouped when I could.
I quit cause I started becoming bored with soloing and since I mainly played at night not many people were on then either. So when I didnt want to solo I spent hours waiting for a group. Which to many times broke up once I got to them. I also wanted to raid more, but because my pc sux and I'm on dial-up that wasnt an option. Lastly I became fed up with the crappy expansions they started putting out starting with Gates of Discord that didnt help the casual player like myself.
I hope to rekindle my love for the game with SoD, and I hope I have an easier time with groups and raids also.
So here are a few questions I have about the class in SoD.

1. Are SoD necro pets better/worse/same as the Game pets? Please explain if different.
2. Necros still have 70% undead only slow, and undead only mez?
3. Can the lvl 49/61/65 pets tank for exp still? (could use 65 pet to tank 200ish hitter w/o slow)
4. Necros still have pet heal?
5. Are the spells the same, and if not what are the differences?
6. What is the availability of spells like in SoD, better/worse/same as the Game? Please explain if different.
7. Are the AA's the same, and if not whats the differences?
8. Are there pet tanking/meleeing ability specific AA's?
9. Are there Damage over time spell specific AA's?
10. Are there any differences I should be aware of between the the Game necro and the SoD necro?

Thank you for taking the time to read and answer all or some of my questions.

1. no rouge or monk pet unfortunately, all pets are generic (warrior?). and i think they only get triple attack until the level 63 pet (i remember my pets only hittng 3x and bash until 63) they cant tank at higher levels as mentioned
2. u can mez anything, st gets an upgrade in later levels too
3. 49 some stuff 60+ no way
4. last heal we get is around lvl 29 so it quickly becomes useless, but there are some lifetap DoT's that slowly heal pet.
5. some spells are MIA and others have been added
6. i dont know the avaliablity of spells on live now (quit in 2002) but everything has been pretty easy for me to go except the 63 pet had to look for it for 2 weeks. u gotta raid for the best spells.
7. nope alot of different AA's just look at it in game
8. no u can get a pet heal AA, but it has a slow recast.
9. yep
10. no standing regen (1hp or 2hp iksar) , u cant really fear kite here, no darkness split, no CoS, meditate works differently, different ratio on lich i believe, no twitch, u will probably want to put ur points into CHA and then INT b/c CHA effects resists here and is more difficult to raise than your int.