Well, I run a pretty potent necro/dark. He's really only very modestly Io'd and he can fairly safely run +3x5. Really, any mm has a crap run between around 17-31. The dark servant at 38 really is very awesome though. Honestly I found it a late blooming build but I really don't see a lot of the survivability problems with melee pets complain about. Even at +3x5 I find myself trying to get zombies to die so I can extract their souls 
Necro/Dark is one of the few really solid builds outside of the holy four def-cap types.
I personally focus on massive fear for crowd control.
Its really good but keep in mind you attack survivability by three ways. A somewhat weak defense, which helps your formidable -tohit abilities, then round out with solid aoe healing.
Works better then it looks on paper. If you haven't played to 38, at least try to, it works out
You have any tips to make it through that rough patch until I pick up the second upgrade?
Hmmm. I didn't really notice any rough patch on my Necro/Dark. Was one of the fastest leveling toons I've made. By comparison my Bots/Storm and Thugs/Traps felt glacial before SO's.
Vet rewards help in the mid teens, speeding up kills. I never use BG mode on the Necro either, preferring to keep the mindless corpses in passive until I get them massed around the mob with GoTo. Then I click attack and let the frenzy commence. I found myself rarely using more than my heal and tar patch for the 1st 30 levels. Necro/Dark to me is an Ambush predator. My MO is usually to put them in passive in a corner and then pull a mob to them, laying down patch once they're swamped and hitting howling.
Though I will admit. My MM's are strictly solo affairs so that could be skewing my opinion.
Last thing I'd add is to look into getting the Unique defense IO's as soon as you can. They really make a difference with the melee monsters. That and I always run Maneuvers and Tactics as well.
Maestro Mavius - Infinity
Capt. Biohazrd - PCSAR
Talsor Tech - Talsorian Guard
Keep Calm & Chive On!
Quote:
Have you played a Dark Miasma toon before?|
Originally Posted by DreadedByMoon
You have any tips to make it through that rough patch until I pick up the second upgrade?
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Check some of the guides in the Defender and Corr forums, that advice still applies to you.
Slot Fearsome Stare and Darkest Night for -tohit, and use them liberally.
Tar Patch is awesome, use it.
Howling Twilight is a ridiculously good stun, which also happens to rez.
Do a forum search on "darkest night corner pull", it's a good tactic for obnoxious mobs like Longbow.
I still do not get why people love Howling Twilight. Yes it rezs, and stuns. Good when your teaming, but I feel the power is situational at best. It consumes an absurd chunk of endurance to use, recharges slowly, so it isn't somthing I would regularly use. I don't consider it essential to take.
Of all the powers in this game, this frustrates me the most. My Necro/Dark MM is my first toon I ever built and I stil, to this day have to argue about this power whenever I play my Necro/Dark MM because I don't use it. ><
Necro never feels "bloom" IMO. Lich helps but he ain't a powerhouse. His contribution is more "subtle". I like Lich but Commando/Assault Robot brings more "wow" effect.
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.
Quote:
It's a nasty -regen buff, I use it on AVs/GMs every time it's up.|
Originally Posted by ChaosAngelGeno
I still do not get why people love Howling Twilight. Yes it rezs, and stuns. Good when your teaming, but I feel the power is situational at best. It consumes an absurd chunk of endurance to use, recharges slowly, so it isn't somthing I would regularly use. I don't consider it essential to take.
Of all the powers in this game, this frustrates me the most. My Necro/Dark MM is my first toon I ever built and I stil, to this day have to argue about this power whenever I play my Necro/Dark MM because I don't use it. >< |
The rest of the time it's more of a situational panic button. Darn, there's 2 crowds of Longbow standing right together, let's soften 'em up first. Darn, this ambush is lasting a long time, let's get some breathing room.
If it was just a panic button I could see your point, but the -regen makes it worth the pick on my toons.
Triple slot Tarpatch and Hasten for Recharge. There, Tar Patch for each spawn.
Pull spawns onto Tarpatch with Darkest Night.
Stand there and spam Twilight Grasp with it's new enlarged AoE to keep pets alive as they eat the foes.
Winning!
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Ok, just curious about Necro/Dark is when does it start to bloom, I mean like... BLOOOOM! I've heard it's with Lich and Fluffy, but damn it does feel a little painful trying to get to that point.