Hmm, well your summon skeleton spells are always top of the list. Mana conversion spells and hp taps are up there and of course, dots.
So, a start list of priority spells. It's been a while since I was lower level but I think this is a start. Good luck!
Lvl 1:
Cavorting Bones, Life Tap, disease cloud
Lvl 4:
Leering Corpse, Clinging Darkness, Gate, Poison Bolt, life spike
Lvl 8:
Bone Walk, Dark Pact, Gather Shadows, Ward Undead

EQ is a harder game than most, if not all MMORPGs these days. The learning curve is consequently harder as well. If you are susceptible to rage quitting, you won't last long.

http://wiki.project1999.org/index.php/Necromancer

I advise you to go iksar while you still have a chance, to be honest that faction stuff isn't all that important. Its fairly easy to just make a mule wherever you want to shop.

Iksars get a very nice regeneration bonus that you will for sure be missing at the higher levels when lich starts hurting. I picked human since I knew nothing about EQ when i made the char and I regret not having made an iksar every day... at 60 its far too late to change though!

Real necro do it with scales... and hatred.

iksar necro = 32% exp penalty and erudite/dark elf/human necro = 10% exp penalty... another thing to keep in mind.

Ninja nerf coming in years after the fact......

One that would be perhaps the most welcome and immersive yet. Most of the server wants this one, a LOT.

As was discussed in another thread at great length, time consuming doesn't necessarily mean difficult.