Looking for a fun, casual gaming build

[BadgerSandals]

I played Diablo hardcore a few years ago, and haven't been back in at least two major patches. I'm taking a spin through the game with some friends before DIII comes out, and I'd like to figure out a good Necromancer build that will be good at PvM and fun before it gets to level 80.

[Phredreeke]

I'd recommend a Fishymancer. You get your main skills already on level 1 (Raise Skeleton, Skeleton Mastery and Amplify Damage) and 6 (Corpse Explosion).

[Meenah]

While a pure summoner is indeed powerful through all levels, I must recommend the poison/summoner hybrid... Basically, you go for 20 skeleton, 20 skeleton mastery, summon resist and clay golem... Then, the rest goes into poison dagger, poison explosion and then poison nova. Max Nova first, then explosion and put the remaining talents in dagger. I also recommend one point in amplify damage.

With this build you'll still have Corpse Explosion & the items are relatively cheap, just like a pure summoner is. Trang's Gloves which you can probably get free from anyone are a 25% damage boost to the poison skills and 20% FCR for example.

I just made this char the other day and I'm really loving it, it brings more versatility to the summoner than simply being the classic "let-my-minions-do-it" build while you actually can go afk and let your boys do the job...

[lumpor]

Your build seems to be mainly summons with nova on the side, but main nova with summons at the side is more fun imo. Max nova, poison explosion, and poison dagger. A point in lower resist, corpse explosion, revive and summon resist. Max raise skeleton, and rest into mastery.

[CarloC]

That's what he said.. lol

Fishymancers are very boring, though. Mixing summons with poison is better.

[Ucantea]

I just started out myself and was going for a fishynecro build, but I used to play a poisonmancer back in the day. I am just torn right now on how I want to set up the build. I know I want to have the skellies and the mastery maxed with atleast on point in all of the curses. The question really comes down if having extra points in minion resistance, revive available, and a screen covering CE is made up for with the utility of P Nova and explosion. I have also wondered which is better, max skelemastery or max poison dagger for the synergy?What do you guys recommend? Any help would be great as I having a real hard time deciding which way to go.

[Phredreeke]

In Nightmare, your minions will kill everything without much help from you. In Hell, you rely on your minions for the first kill, then you use corpse explosion and hopefully take down at least some enemies. If there's any left then CE again until it's clear. Will work against most mobs.