All mage groups have been good in various eras in certain niches. Just like wizard/ench AE groups were just the thing for some niches (Execution Trial for example). However, the game has always come down to high end grouping, where the holy trinity wins and pets are verboten due to pathing and mezzing; or raiding, where pets are verboten for the same reasons and mages are modrod factories with occasional CotH duties.
Necros I have less information about, but my impression is that in Kunark and Velious in particular they were mana feeders only, because pets were verboten, dots didn't stack, and resists were insane (SoV in particular).
IMHO, if pet classes are doing well now, it's probably because savvy players understand EQ the millionth time around and aren't about to play a melee class when they can't twink. Might as well enjoy it now, because pet classes will start their decline as soon as Kunark is released (sad to say).
I do hope to be proven wrong!
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