Necro or MageFollow

I still don't understand how a pet can tank a mob hitting for 700+. CoB has about 4000hp unfocused. I believe the mage 65 pet has around 4500hp. Give him the waist summon item +15 to all stats and 500 hp thats 5000hp. Focus him and thats mabye near 6000hp. Maybe with full plate summon armor and proc weapons they can tank. I really don't know. I just had major problems with agro and adds with my mid level mage. I have used my 65 necro pet to tank as I have ToD now to heal the pet 1k and also can slow the mob, but if it hits 700+ slowed no way my pet will be able to tank that. I'll get back to you when I have my pet focus and GoD pet AAs trained. I just don't see it.

Well good luck to you with your mage. I have no doubt they are powerful at high levels and thier pets are the best, but one thing I can't stand is buying KEI off enchanters. Necromancer was the answer to that. Beastlord would be okay to because they get the spirtual line of hp/mana regen spells, but I like being able to use improved invis/imrpoved invis vs undead, summon corpse, rez( I have another char in the 50s I can PL easy and then sacrifice), gate, etc.

There's a simple solution to your problem DruidOfEq, learn to hunt without kei

Both are fun, just have to realize the only thing in common is they summon pets. If you play a necro like a mage, or vice versa, you will not enjoy yourself.

The weird thing is how many new mages somehow got it stuck in their head that the only pet worth bothering with is earth, I guess because it has more health and a very short root. I teamed with a 24 mage with my alt cleric, and when she summoned an earth pet I asked why not fire. Said she didn't have it. I said I have planety of extras on my newly re-created mage, made 5+ of each one last time I did a research session and asked if she wanted one. She said that the only pet she ever uses is earth.

I tried suggesting that since I can buff HP and heal it just fine, the fire pet would be great for the DS. Nope, she can cast DS on the earth. But the fire pets DS is like 2.5x better, plus can save mana for nukes by not having to refresh the DS. Nope, only earth pets are worth using. Oooook. Lull pull a mob. Earth pet sent in , DS cast, sit down. Mobs at 40%. 30%. 20%. 10%. I stand up and quickly cast my wimpy nuke before it dies.

"Why did you do that? Cleric nukes suck"
"Well, we need to do SOME damage or, the pet steals most of the exp"
"No it doesn't"
"Yes, you have to do some damage or the pet takes the majority of the exp"
"No it doesn't"
"Let's test it. Kill one mob with the pet doing all the damage and one where we do part"
"That's stupid"
"Ohhhh... damn... guild needs me for a LDoN... bye"

Strange i never used the Earth pet at all when i played a mage <made lvl 28 before bordem made me delete it> i always used water when soloing, sure it has less raw hit points but it regens faster and it doesn't root those mobs that are running away and so takes less damage.

For grouping fire pet has highest DPS so thats what i used. makes sence since rooting mobs tends to annoy people in groups since it messes up aggro pretty badly and again mobs can't run if they are rooted adding to the clerics work.

The only deviation from this was if i was facing alot of caster mobs when the Air pets stun came into it's own.

I have not commented on this thread because i PERSONLLY found mages very very boring, while necro's are amoungst the more fun classes i have played, however that is because of my playstyle amongst other things and nothing to do with class abilities.
That is why it is more important to play the class you like rather than worry about which is better.

i do have a solution for you Thorric. you have 8 slots start one of each level them to 20 and then choose which you enjoy the most. Since you aren't twinking it doesn't matter a jot if you find out for yourself which you prefer.

if you take this line please come back and tell us what you have found, it's always nice to get a unbiased opinion where posible.

Edited, Sat Apr 17 12:38:26 2004 by tarv

Water is a great all around pet for lower levels. Once you hit around 30, I recommend trying the fire pet. The biggest switch was having to alternate heals with nukes, but their damage output is very nice indeed. Then say "goodbye" to Sparky after 50. I miss Sparky.

A friend told me once he liked hunting with me because I was the only magician he knew that never used an earth pet. They're good for certain situations, but I really like to maximize my DPS and an earth pet just doesn't cut it in that respect. And I'm convinced the earth pet cripples a magician's learning curve with aggro control. A magician who doesn't learn all of their pet types is not ever going to be a very good magician, in my opinion.

I'm with you SamiraX. I think necromancers are the bee's knees, but I just can't play them well so I give up on every one I create. That whole killing it slowly thing just makes me nervous!

Heh, try it as shaman. Wife's new bard with my shaman. Cast wolf. Buff buff buff buff, give pet those neato mage toys.

"Need mana, med for a sec"
"Ok, I'll just pop invis song so we don't get jumped!"
"NOOOOOO!!!!" *Yelp*

She only did it... twice.