Fishy Necro Problems

[hajisan]

Hey guys,

I have followed the Fishy necro guide made by Nightfish, and I am a bit bummed out about the results. I have been in games with other necros that do better damage than me by a large amount. Here is what Ive got
20 RS
20 SM
20 CE
1 in most other skills

My skeletons do about 185 damage, where other necros I see do over 200. My kill speed just seems to be so slow. I play with a few friends who notice how poorly I am doing also in comparison to other necros. This is my first necro, so any help would be great!

Thanks a lot

[Thyiad]

A run down of your gear would be useful. :)

[hajisan]

Thanks, I didnt think gear was important because all I hear is people saying how they dont need gear!! Well, my merc (might) is using crappy blues and I have no real good items anyway. I have plus 4 to all skills with an aditional plus 2 to summoning. I am not listing my gear out line by line because it consists of yellow's and blue's. I am trying to keep my resistances up so I can run hell pit.

If the problem is specifically my gear, then I am happy. I dont know exactly what I should mf to aquire more items though, maybe hell pit? I tend to run that fine, but it does take me about 20 minutes to run through it once.

[Greyeagle]

It is a true statement that they don't need gear to complete the game. However, that doesn't mean it will be as easy or as fast as with gear.

When you start comparing yourself against other summoners for kill speed, it is more than likely gear that will make the difference. Assuming, of course, that you have the basic playing skills down. Cursing, positioning, CE, etc.

Gear that will help you be a faster killer is mainly +skills, summoning specifically. The higher you summon at the more damage they do, and the difference gets noticeable at high levels. A top geared summoner can typically summon with 20 to 30 or more in +skills.

Beyond skills the next focus is aura's. Might merc is the first step, which you have down. Then you can tack on more, such a fanaticism, concentration, conviction, etc. Again, top geared necros usually run with at least 2 auras and sometimes more.

Teleport gives you the ability to focus your minions, and that can improve your kill speed in hell as well.

When you get down to boss killing, crushing blow gear will be useful. Normally this is placed on the merc.

Really, one of the best parts of playing a summoner is that you can grow into your gear. You don't need the great gear to work your way through hell. You don't need great gear in order to MF. That means you can just start playing and add more as you find it.

Take your time now to work on your battlefield control. Learn how to use your curses effectively. It is easier to see the importance of that player skill now when you are weaker. Later on those skills will only be needed rarely, or when shepherding a weaker group through areas. But, those skills are always nice to have, and the mark of player who knows his class.

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Where to mf? The highest level areas you can move through at a reasonable pace. Plenty of good gear can be found anywhere in hell. And when you are looking for the better stuff, you'll be able to run the higher level areas. Pits is a high level area, so if you are comfortable there, by all means continue there for a while.

Shop wands for +3 summons, cube rings/amulets for +summon skills amulets, gamble circlets for +summon skills, pick up and id all heads for +summon skills. Collect tradables if you are into that, gems/keys/etc.

*one last trading note - early in ladder skillers can have a high value. I find that much of my early wealth comes from area clears in nightmare where I find skillers. Act 3 flayers are nice for the monster volume. A low lifer pally combat put me in an enigma last ladder relatively early.

[Poppis]

Might want to check this (http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=422336) too.