Necro/Thermal: Any synergy?

Hello!

I've come up with a concept for a character which would fit Necro/Thermal pretty well. However, before I roll, I'd like to check whether there's any decent synergy between both powersets. I'm a bit discouraged by the fact that all pets lack any inherent Lethal resistance and only the Zombies have Smashing resistance (Really? But the Grave Knights wear armour!).

I didn't enjoy Thermal very much as a Corruptor secondary because it doesn't offer any self-defense beyond the self-heal, but I've enjoyed playing a Pain Mastermind to 50 and I'm thinking it could be more fun with so many targets to take care off. However, unlike /pain, I don't expect /therm to lend itself well to Tankerminding due to said lack of self-defense tools.

So I ask you: Could this combo work? It can't be worse than Mercs/Poison, can it?

Also: What would be good pool powers and APP/PPPs to supplement this build with?

Thanks a lot!

I have a necro/thermal (Indiana Fried Zombie). The fire shields definitely fill a resist hole in fire damage. Having forge on the Grave Knights is worthwhile, too. It's not a min/max build like Robots/Traps or Demons/Time, but it is certainly a successful combo.

I like the chill mastery on my heroic masterminds. It saves a trip to the Rogue Isles to pick up the Scorpion Shield for defense.

This combo was one of my favorites. Forge is fantastic on the Knights, and the fire resist really shores up the hole.

But really, you get an army of flaming zombies. What more could you want?

Alright, started on this yesterday and I'm really excited.

Viral Threat (sadly, Viral Agent was already taken) has the power to infect others with a terrible illness that mutates them into mindless zombies. Citizens should be warned that the illness is highly contagious. Side effects include coughing fits, pyrexia and delusions of invulnerability. Should you experience extremely high fever after being exposed to this supervillain's powers, please contact your physician immediately.

The "patients" (both henchmen and teammates) with fever so high they manifest physical flames are just hilarious to watch.

I'm still wondering what pool powers to pick up. Combat Jumping, Hasten and Assault are a given. Not sure about which other leadership powers would be useful, although I like to pick up Vengeance on every character that has a combat rez (Veng'ing and then not rezzing the poor person is just impolite!).

As to APP, I'm leaning towards Soul Mastery because I really like Oppressive Gloom and it would let me add "fits of dizziness" to the list of symptoms, but the concept is fairly elastic, especially with upcoming customization.

Are any of the personal attacks worth taking? Maybe Gloom and Life Drain? They both do more damage than any of the APP single target blasts.

Based on your theme, which is cool..

This is what I'm thinking, Sadly no Travel powers which keeps it real per say.

You would eat one purple to cap out Range and AOE defenses at the start of a fight.

Pet resistances are all in the Mid 40s and fire is capped out of course. Defenses are 15% for all except AOE which are either 20 or 25 depending on which ATO you pick up. Its not much honestly, but hopefully the pet attacks of -ToHit Debuffs will stack and help out.

Oppressive Gloom will help locking down mobs in melee range along with Melee defenses it should help out some.

I went with Cardiac because endurance was just too high for my liking. I think having endurance issues and not being a build you can max out will make it annoying enough for you to give up. Sadly being a min max type player I sometime say what's the point. On top I hate being on a team that might be weak and not being able to hold my own weight and then some.

I'm thinking 1/8 is doable with a health supply of purple inspirations and Cardiac. Barrier will make this very strong build, as long as barrier last of course.

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.96
http://www.cohplanner.com/

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Level 50 Magic Mastermind
Primary Power Set: Necromancy
Secondary Power Set: Thermal Radiation
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Zombie Horde -- BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg:50(A), BldM'dt-Dmg/EndRdx:50(5), BldM'dt-Acc/EndRdx:50(7), BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(7), BldM'dt-Acc:50(9), BldM'dt-Dmg:50(9)
Level 1: Warmth -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx:50(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg:50(21), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg:50(33), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:50(33), Dct'dW-Heal:50(34)
Level 2: Fire Shield -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(11), RctvArm-EndRdx/Rchg:40(11), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(39), RctvArm-ResDam:40(40), ResDam-I:50(42)
Level 4: Cauterize -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx:50(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg:50(34), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg:50(34), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:50(36), Dct'dW-Heal:50(36)
Level 6: Enchant Undead -- Empty(A)
Level 8: Life Drain -- Nictus-Heal:50(A), Nictus-Heal/HP/Regen/Rchg:50(43), Nictus-Acc/Heal:50(43), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Heal/HP/Regen:50(45), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:50(46), Acc-I:50(46)
Level 10: Plasma Shield -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(36), RctvArm-EndRdx/Rchg:40(37), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(37), RctvArm-ResDam:40(37), ResDam-I:50(43)
Level 12: Grave Knight -- BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg:50(A), BldM'dt-Dmg/EndRdx:50(13), BldM'dt-Acc/EndRdx:50(13), BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(17), BldM'dt-Acc:50(17), BldM'dt-Dmg:50(19)
Level 14: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(15), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(15)
Level 16: Power of the Phoenix -- Empty(A)
Level 18: Soul Extraction -- SvgnRt-PetResDam:50(A), EdctM'r-PetDef:40(19), CotMastermind-Rchg/PetAoEDef:50(21), ExRmnt-+Res(Pets):50(40), C'Arms-+Def(Pets):30(42), C'Arms-Acc/Rchg:30(46)
Level 20: Thaw -- Aegis-Psi/Status:50(A)
Level 22: Tactics -- GSFC-ToHit:50(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg:50(23), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx:50(23), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx:50(27), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx:50(27), GSFC-Build%:50(29)
Level 24: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(25), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(25)
Level 26: Lich -- BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg:50(A), BldM'dt-Dmg/EndRdx:50(29), BldM'dt-Acc/EndRdx:50(31), BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(31), BldM'dt-Acc:50(31), BldM'dt-Dmg:50(33)
Level 28: Forge -- ToHit-I:50(A)
Level 30: Kick -- Empty(A)
Level 32: Dark Empowerment -- Empty(A)
Level 35: Tough -- GA-3defTpProc:50(A), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(42)
Level 38: Melt Armor -- Achilles-ResDeb%:20(A), Achilles-DefDeb/Rchg:20(39), Achilles-DefDeb:20(39)
Level 41: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(45), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(45)
Level 44: Dark Embrace -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx:50(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:50(50)
Level 47: Oppressive Gloom -- Stpfy-Acc/Rchg:50(A), Stpfy-EndRdx/Stun:50(48), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx:50(48), Stpfy-Stun/Rng:50(50), Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg:50(50), Stpfy-KB%:50(48)
Level 49: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Supremacy
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+:50(A), Numna-Heal:50(5), Mrcl-Rcvry+:40(40)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%:50(A), P'Shift-EndMod:50(3), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg:50(3)
Level 50: Cardiac Radial Paragon
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All three personal attacks apply -hit debuffs, and life drained works as a semi-decent self heal as well. It depends though. If you end up spending to much stamina on attacks it can be a detriment to the whole survival bit.

I have one of these at level 32 and it's a burning undead blast of brain eating!

Slot your pets (of course) be sure to throw accuracy in zombies because they'll eventually be your level minus 2.

2 slots in each shield with three damage resistance enhancers. They're AoE and last a long time, so recharge and endurance are low priority here. They also make your zombies stand out more and cut down on the confusion when you fight other zombies.

6 slot warmth so you can spam it. Standing behind your pets with your heals + resistance lead to a very tough group of dead things.

In fact, there is only ONE bad thing about this combo, you'll hardly ever get to use Soul Extraction because your minions will hardly ever die! I've started to send a guy off by himself just so I can get the ghost. I still haven't seen what comes out of a Grave Knight because when I send them off by themselves they just come back after killing everything...

Thermal is also welcome on teams and the buffs are useful even through the iTrials. (Everyone and they're grandmother is defense softcapped, but only some tanks and maybe a smattering of brutes/scraps are Resistance capped.)

Anyways, once you throw in the +resist and +defense procs (and you can get both sets with soul extraction!) you'll be using those dead bodies to make lots of dead bodies!

Thanks a lot for the replies! And the build! I'd been traveling for the last few days and couldn't answer.

So far I'm really happy with the combo. I've picked up Life Drain because the fast animation lets me cast it without missing out on healing time, and a second self-heal makes me feel safer on a character who will have little by way of Control or debuffing until the Lich comes along. I'm actually considering skipping Thaw and getting the new Injection power when i24 hits.

As a side note, it had been so long since I'd last played a Mastermind that I'd forgotten the most entertaining part: naming the pets!