Character Classes Necromancer - Class Overview History - Shrouded in mystery, the Necromancer is possibly the most misunderstood, and at the same time feared being in the realm of Sanctuary. Spawned deep from within the Eastern Jungles, these "Priests of Rathma", as they refer to themselves, are practicioners of the Dark Arts, and masters of it's ways. Drawing upon the powers of the undead, Necromancers are feared by the large part of the inhabitants of Sanctuary. For this reason, not much is known of their existence, or where they hail from. Since the Time of Troubles, none have dared to intrude upon their borders, for fear of encountering a deadly minion of one of these twisted sorcerers. Although unconfirmed, the main belief is that they reside within an ancient, underground city deep within the jungles of the East. Operating under the guidelines of an arcane study, Necromancers have twisted the line between life and death, leading to their ultimate discoveries of the powers of the undead armies they host. Their powers muster from a time before magic was uniformed into strict disciplines, and therefore, allow them to take the path of study they choose at a very early age. It is because of this that Necromancers have yet to be declared a formal mage clan by the other disciplines of magic-users in the realm. Understanding the Great Cycle of Being, and accepting death for what it is, Necromancers have come to know the unknown beyond life, and are therefore able to face death without fear, making them a dangerous opponent in battle. Upholding the balance between Order and Chaos, this unorganized clan of mages has not fallen prey to the downfall of their surrounding brethren, as they do not allow the concept of fearing death to infringe upon their way of life. In light of this, they have emerged from their dark city of the dead to join in the crusade against Diablo and his brothers. While in most cases such a movement would be an atrocity in the eyes of Paladins and Barbarians alike, the situation at hand has called for their services. Role - Driving upon the power of the chaos between life and death, Necromancers survive on the dark magics allowing them to muster the dead, reanimating their targets into unholy warriors. At their disposal, these undead beings fight to the brink of destruction to carry out the orders of their leader, mustering in large groups, and strengthening in power as their leader gains knowledge of his own powers. Developing a severe dependance to his minions, Necromancers are best put to use as the mercenary leader of groups, becoming a powerful addition to any party, as he can provide much-needed decoys, reserves of magic, and a quick dispersion of large groups of enemies. Strengths and Weaknesses - Above all else, the Necromancer is strongest when utilizing his minions. Almost completely unable to survive in melee combat, the Necromancer depends upon dealing damage through ranged magic, and allowing his summons to engage in melee combat for him. In addition, many of the most skilled Necromancers are able to curse and torment their opponents to the brink of death, infecting them with various strains of poison, the knowledge of which has been passed down through the ages of this clan's existence. As earlier mentioned, melee combat is the Necromancer's only weakness. Unable to survive more than a few blows from a Paladin or Barbarian, the Necromancer must avoid them in combat at all costs. While some ranged attacks are as dangerous as a strike from a powerful sword or axe, the Necromancer is usually able to disperse enemies with bows or ranged magic. However, a skilled Sorceress can utilize the elemental effects she has entwined in her magic to slow, and ultimately annihilate the Necromancer's minions, and eventually the Necromancer himself. Most Important Attribute - Magic is the cornerstone of Necromancer survival. It is required, as a very large portion of Necromancers have very little hand-to-hand combat experience or skill, and therefore must utilize minions, curses, and various other magic attacks to hold enemies at bay. In this respect, the Necromancer's only competition is the Sorceress, but, in most cases, the Necromancer hold a position slightly above this class in the rankings. Beginning Attributes - Strength - 15 Dexterity - 25 Vitality - 15 Energy - 25 Stamina - 49 Hit Points - 75 Mana - 25 Level Bonuses - Per level you gain when using a Necromancer, the following bonuses are applied to your character's statistics. It is because of these bonuses that the Necromancer is best-utilized with excessive amounts of energy. Vitality - 2 Life, 1 Stamina Energy - 2 Mana Life - 1.5 Added to Life Orb Stamina - 1 Added to Stamina Bar Mana - 2 Added to Mana Orb Weapons and Armor - The Necromancer has several weapons, item sets, and unique items that are very useful in his magical attacks to. These weapons and armor are best in all difficulties. Weapon Wand Armor Bone Items (Helm, Shield) Item Set Tarnhelm Wormskull Frostburn Stone of Jordan Nagelring Eye of Etlich Nightsmoke Bladebuckle Treads of Cthon Tearhaunch Swordback Hold Wall of the Eyeless Torch of Iro Maelstorm Gravenspine Ume's Lament Prefixes Wyrm's (+41-60 to Mana) Prismatic (+15-25% Resis [Amulet], +15% Resist [Ring]) Summoner's (+1 Necromancer Skills) Necromancer's (+2 Necromancer Skills) Suffixes of Wizardry (+21-30 Mana) of the Vampire (+9-12% Mana Stolen Per Hit) of the Magus (Fastest Cast Rate) Item Concerns - When playing a Necromancer, look for anything that adds to mana or defense. Adding large amounts of mana will lead to the ability to cast more spells without recharging, and adding to defense decreases the amount of damage attacks do when someone does actually reach a Necromancer, surpassing his minions and gaining the chance to land a deadly blow with a weapon. Count on needing high resistances in Nightmare and Hell difficulties, so be sure to carry a Prismatic amulet or ring with you at all times to slip on when a band of magical-damage dealers fall upon you and your minions. Also, keep an eye out for any wands that add to Necromancer skills, as free skill points are always a good thing in combat.