Far as I know the damage is about the same (or better for the Necro) pre-32. Once you hit 32 the Bots AOE damage sky-rockets. The Necros single target damage dramatically improves too (mostly through the knights) but mostly its a massive boost to survivability via the pets self-heals and (more importantly) the Liches massive control powers.
As you say Bots are ranged (and thus would all happily stand in your Hurricane & steamy mist blasting out) whereas Necro is strongly melee based and needs more controlling and minding (Knights still need to be forced into melee really, zombies tend to chase runners more).
The Necro also doesn't need to self-tank as much, he can control and heal the pets as they take the aggro (or he can Fearsome Stare the alpha away). A Stormy is going to have a problem tanking in that he has no self-heal (a Stormy does get O2 Boost to heal pets). But you do create a region of superb defense for them to shoot out of.
Both also lack mez protection and use a toggle for their -ToHit debuff which can be a problem.
Bots/Storm sounds insanely strong though, I was thinking of one too (I've an Illusion/Storm main and Bots sound like they'd synergise even better with those ranged attacks). Only reason I'm not trying one is I've too many alts (and I can't think of a decent concept)
From what I understand Necro leads the way damage wise until the T3 pet and 2nd upgrade, then just about every other one takes over cause the Necro T3 is more about control than damage. I sure as hell know my Mercs out damage my Necro/Dark but they didn't before 32. Bots are meant to be even more damage still
As for secondary I'd say that Bot/Storm has that good survivability cause you've got all ranged attacks and insane amounts of knock back. Necr/Dark is however just stupidly survivable. Actively so, because you do it through control, but in the end the pets help you by healing themselves, controlling and debuffing too. Nothing I've played solo's as safely as Necro/Dark, and I only died twice before level 42 (then I started trying to solo AVs and the debt poored in a bit faster obviously)
If the noise of bots didn't bug me I might have a bots/storm
"Well, they found my diary today.
They were appropriately appalled
at the discovery of the eight victims
They're now putting it all together.
Women wrapped in silk
with one leg missing
Eight legs, one body, silk,
spider, brilliant!"
Started a bot/storm and its gonna be a slow ride until i get freezing rain.
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From what I understand Necro leads the way damage wise until the T3 pet and 2nd upgrade, then just about every other one takes over cause the Necro T3 is more about control than damage. I sure as hell know my Mercs out damage my Necro/Dark but they didn't before 32. Bots are meant to be even more damage still
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I am not sure wich necro you play then, but my necro/trap can outdamage my merc/TA any time, any day, any mob.
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my Necro out ST damages, my Mercs out AoEs. It was different till second upgrade, then my Nerco was way ahead (cause of the vomit cones).
I guess if the mercs used their powers with some sort of planning they would all out win. Both mine are the same secondary so I know its the primary.
I do notice it more in teams though, cause in teams there's more chance they will use the AoEs at the right time.
"Well, they found my diary today.
They were appropriately appalled
at the discovery of the eight victims
They're now putting it all together.
Women wrapped in silk
with one leg missing
Eight legs, one body, silk,
spider, brilliant!"
Hiya,
? I do like dark though storm seems way more attractive i must say. Then again as a necro i do need heals which as far as i know storm doesn not have.
What are their main differences
Anyway the other question is what exactly are the differences between bots and the necro. For instance it seems bots seem to be all ranged only while necro pets go into meelee combat.
I just so much love the look of those bots hehehe, they look damn cool but i do also love the insane damage my necro pets can do. How do both compare damage wise ?
Also im guessing as a bots mastermind you'll be tanking much more then as a necro or ? Or do the bots also take agro well like necro pets.
Anyway any questions answered would be cool or tips etc. Just thinking since im rerolling chars, from the usa to a european server if i should try bots/storm this time instead of necro/dark.