Spell upgrading questions.

[SirFreakus]

<DIV> <DIV>I posted a response to another thread asking this question, but thought it would get a better look from the large 50 Necro posting community in it's own thread.  I currently have an alt necro (level 23) and I'm finding him a lot of fun.  I have heard that they don't really come into their own until the 40's but I'd just like to get an idea of what spells I need to worry about upgrading on the way there.  In that reguard, I have a few questions to those who are in the endgame with their necros.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1.  Does Essence Shift stack with the other Necro power regens?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2.  Is Magi's Shielding worth upgrading? I thought a few patches ago they fixed it so upgrades worked throughout the life of the Necro on this spell.  Same question with Gift of the Magi.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3.  Is Storm of Lightning on the same timer as any of the later Necro AOE's?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4.   Is Opal's Aggravating Seal worth picking up? or do other Pet buffs pretty much take care of any effect Opal's would give? (I know it's much better than Agatation, except for the regen factor, but what about the other buffs later in the Necro's career?)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>5.  Does Bludgeoning Earth stack with later Necro DOT's?  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>6.  Finally, would you recomend Mheno's Desecration (20 training DOT that replaces Bludgeoning Earth) over Opal's Aggravating Seal (Pet buff that stacks but overwrites many of Agatition's increases)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks in advance to any who can clear some of this up for me.  I want to make the right decisions the first time (or 2nd in case of my respec <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> if I can.</DIV></DIV>

[Dastion]

<P>Magi's Shielding always cons white to you no matter what your level...it's a skill you keep your entire career.  As far as upgrading it, for now Camtur's Energizing Aura (our only possible upgrade, lvl 10 training option) is bugged.  It does not give any boosts to our power or HP in addition to what the GoTM line does.</P> <P>Gift of the Magi...this one is a personal pet peve of mine.  Look at the spell description, look at the icon.  Favor of the Fallen, Unholy Convenant, ect. are obvious upgrades to this spell.  I see mages with their subclass version of this spell and GoTM up all the time.  You can put it up, but nothing about your character changes, same goes for Earthly Brand and Mark of the Miasmic.  You can still cast them because, technically, they aren't a necromancer spell so they won't be linked to any necromancer spells.</P> <P>Essence Shift: Yup, definatly stacks.  I don't particularly need this usually, as Bloody Ritual seems to be enough.  But especially when I'm traveling I'll cast both when I run out of power to sprint and again before I start springing.  Together they give you about 32% power per cast.</P> <P>Aggitation is only used for it's proc once you get Boon of the LIfeless, Opal's would probably be more useful until you get Rending Frenzy because it's basically an adept 2 version of aggitation with a dmg boost added in.  I'm not sure if the procs on the spells are the same.  If they both give Dynasm or whatever then I'd think not, if Opal's gives something different then yes.  Who knows, it'd take some definate parsing to tell if it was giving the pet more of a chance to proc Dynasm with both on.</P> <P>You're 23, you have Blight by now.  So surely you can tell that lightning storm isn't linked to it.</P> <P>Bludgeoning Earth does stack, though I'm personally of the belief that unless you're in a situation where you're competeing with another necro with better versions of spells or levels that you shouldn't be mucking up your bar with tons of old spells like Static pulse.  Bludgeoning Earth will always stack with your other DoTs, but honestly by the late 30s and with how short DoT's are I find all I have time to do is keep my best DoT's running and get in a few pestilential blasts.  Those blasts will make your dots do better damage (by far making up for the lack of static pulse), but if you feel you have the time to toss in a 15-25dmg per tick DoT (90-125dmg usually) then have at it.  But just remember that a single DD easily outdoes it.</P>

[Handleba]

<DIV>Mark of the Miasmic gives much more INT than its upgraded spell.  So although casting it doesn't boost the other stats, your INT definately goes up.</DIV>

[SirFreakus]

<P>Thanks for the responses Dastion and Handlebars.  </P> <P>I realized that Lightning Storm didn't share a recast timer with Blight and in looking through the spell list (Kudo's to Handlebars for the great site!) I couldn't see anything that it might.  I just wanted to make sure I haddn't overlooked anything.  </P> <P>I also realize that there will be DOT's and DD's a plenty once I get up there in levels, and the damage that Bludegoning Earth does would be small by comparison.  But BE also has a 1s cast timer on it.  So I was thinking that by level 31 when we get Withering Affliction, within the first 3 or 4 seconds of the fight I could have 3 DOT's stacked on em and then begin to nuke away.  Personally I don't mind a cluttered bar, I have 5 open currently on my Dirge and can use what I need when I need it that way.  (And with the Swarm of Bats at 35, it'd be 4 DOT's in just one more second)  I just like the idea of stacking as many DOT's as possible... it's a thing with me.</P>