Druid vs Necro - which one do you want in your group?

[Huck]

So I realize there are dozens of different answer here based where you are, how many in group, what you are killing, raid vs non raid etc.

That being said for just a general group in a dungeon (thinking just non raid scene) - would you rather have a necro or Druid in your group and why?

[Gregor]

Druid is one of the worst group classes in the game so pretty easy answer here. Necro just has to play differently in groups, aka offheal and twitch clerics and enchanters. Also half the dungeons in the game are full of undead so if the necro is good at charming he becomes better then almost everyone in those cases.

There's almost no reason to have a druid over a shaman. Same with ranger over monk or wizard over mage(assuming you have a tank). This is all assuming you have a typical group in a dungeon. This all changes in raids.

[Arterian]

Both are average to below average. Eq is a game where there truly are classes that are better than others.

[Tecmos Deception]

Originally Posted by Arterian [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Both are average to below average. Eq is a game where there truly are classes that are better than others.

Both are underrated in groups, imo. Necro is strong as a supplemental group member (i.e. you already have tank, ench/sham, and cleric/torpor), and fits into a lot of unorthodox groups (i.e. no real tank, no real healer, etc) or duos/trios nicely.

Druid is below average in groups AS A WHOLE imo. But there are times when a druid is a solid member of a group: no shaman for regen buffs, no cleric for HP buffs, animals to charm around, outdoor pulling. Damage shields are underrated, especially if you're in a group that doesn't have a shaman slower. Druids suck to have in the group when they are just nuking and snaring and doing spot heals... but they can pull their weight if they get to do some of the other things they can do as well.

[Teppler]

Originally Posted by Arterian [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Both are average to below average. Eq is a game where there truly are classes that are better than others.

Nope. Necro is one of the strongest grouping classes.

Heals.
Best group DD caster.
With a pet can out dps Monks.
Snare.
Mezz.

Twitch is an inefficient waste unless a chanter/cleric/shaman is really under stress. Druid is a below average group mate though.

[Estu]

Druids bring the following to the table:
- Heals
- Snares
- Buffs (DS, HP+AC, Strength, Regen)
- Pulling help in outdoor zones (harmony is great)

Necros bring the following:
- DPS (pet DPS is meh, charmed DPS is great)
- Heals/twitches (these are not amazing IMO; people will talk up twitching a lot but a second healer is probably more effective than a twitcher)
- Snares

I'd say the druid is a better groupmate overall. A necro with a charmed undead pet would overtake the druid in usefulness though.

[pharmakos]

and don't underestimate the power of druid charm, though there are fewer zones in the game where they can fully take advantage of charming.

[Potus]

Necro should never twitch in a group. Should be mezzing and healing. Pet should be doing a ton of damage. Unfortunately Necro heal over times aren't stacking on P99, but on live you could stack the 20/44/54 heals and your tank will never need help from the Cleric.

[toolshed]

Originally Posted by Potus [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Necro should never twitch in a group. Should be mezzing and healing. Pet should be doing a ton of damage. Unfortunately Necro heal over times aren't stacking on P99, but on live you could stack the 20/44/54 heals and your tank will never need help from the Cleric.

By mezz you mean Screaming Terror right?

If all you were spending your mana on was ST and heals - you would be full mana the entire time. Why not spend the extra mana you have on your healer to decrease the length of med breaks? In a grouping situation I do not see the value of the necro spending their mana on DPS since in most full group situations the mobs are dying so quickly (DoTs are out of the question, so you would only be using mana inefficient nukes).

I played a bard and enchanter on live and can say that the necro role is as useful or more useful than either in a group. It's a lot like playing a bard - you can be as lazy or as active as you want to be. It's awesome juggling the hat of OT healer, charm for CC, DPS, and mana-giver.

[Potus]

Originally Posted by toolshed [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

By mezz you mean Screaming Terror right?

If all you were spending your mana on was ST and heals - you would be full mana the entire time. Why not spend the extra mana you have on your healer to decrease the length of med breaks? In a grouping situation I do not see the value of the necro spending their mana on DPS since in most full group situations the mobs are dying so quickly (DoTs are out of the question, so you would only be using mana inefficient nukes).

I played a bard and enchanter on live and can say that the necro role is as useful or more useful than either in a group. It's a lot like playing a bard - you can be as lazy or as active as you want to be. It's awesome juggling the hat of OT healer, charm for CC, DPS, and mana-giver.

Charm + Bond of Death line + Heals + Mez + Snares will have you almost OOM the entire time. You'll barely be sitting, it's very casting time intensive. So no, there's no way you'll be FM and definitely not have enough money to waste on super inefficient mana dumps.

What is the healer doing the entire time if they need my mana? There's the lazy player.