Poisonmancer or Bonemancer

[Mithrus]

Alright, so I'm starting up a party with a bunch of other guys. There are two others that know more about the game than myself and one that is about the same, and the rest are pretty much newbies (they've played before, but not extensively). Anyway, we're in it for fun, but I still want to build a great Necromancer when playing with them. Also, there's seven of us; one for each class.

Necromancer is my favourite class, and I have the most experience with him, but I've never planned ahead with what I want to do and only gone as far as about half way through Hell.

Basically, I'm wondering what Necromancer build would work best in PVM with all six other classes? I've done a bit of reading and found that Bone works well most of the time with the exception of Act II(?) and Poison isn't good during Act III. But since I'm with all other classes, I doubt this would be much of an issue.

I like to keep my distance with the Necromancer (naturally, right?), so this is where I get less interested in the Poisonmancer. I know Poisonmancers go with Poison Dagger, Corpse Explosion, and Poison Nova. I love Poison Nova, but I'm not too fond of the others. I know that they need to be maxed, though, since they're synergies, right?

Bone I like because I use it right from the start and throughout. I just don't think being a Bonemancer would be as helpful to others as a Poisonmancer, but I could most definitely be wrong on this.

As far as I'm aware, most Necromancers go with base energy, just enough strength and dexterity to use items, and everything else into vitality, so I don't think I need help there. As for items, I'm not too concerned about that quite yet. I'll probably make a thread for that down the road. Right now, I'm looking for a list of skills I should be putting my points into, depending on what build.

If any of you guys are willing to help me out here, I'd really appreciate it. I just want to learn a bunch about the Necromancer.

UPDATE: Actually, after doing some reading around, I think I'm gonna go Bonemancer, specifically a Teeth Bonemancer. I got the idea from this thread (http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=320645) and it sound pretty fun, to be honest. Still, any suggestions are more than welcome.

[HiTS]

You seem to have answers your own question, :D , but I would have suggested the same thing. Support your mates with a curse or two, a single point in Amp Dam will never go astray, and with six other characters around you don't need any summoned to supply you with the first kill and then CE your way through any pack or Spear or Spirit any boss. A word of warning about the guide you posted, it's out of date. The Marrowalk bug was nerfed with 1.11, the basic idea still works but the massive synergy bonus is gone.

[Rhd999]

You missed one skill if you go poison, you must still max poison explosion for its synergy, and a few points into fire golem to finish off people with 1hp left from his Holy fire aura.

[Mithrus]

Thanks guys. I went Bonemancer and so far I'm having no troubles mowing down the enemies. I have my two attacks set to Teeth and Bone Spear right now. Teeth is the primary attack that I use most of the time and it's currently at 18 I believe. I use Bone Spear when the formation of the enemies is in a straight line perpendicular to me, or in narrow corridors and such. I think I'm level 21 right now.

I'm getting some decent items to boost mana. I accidentally put 5 points into energy near the beginning, but it's no big deal. I'm adding to strength bit by bit so I can use whatever items, otherwise, everything goes to vitality. I've got an amulet that adds +1 to all Necromancer skills, but I have to wait until level 27 to use it.

Also, I was wondering how hard it is to find at least three of the five Trang Oul's set items? Is this something that would take me forever to find on my own? Like, could someone give me a time frame and possibly the best areas to look for the items? I'm well aware that I'll need to be on Hell difficulty to find them, but I just want to know ahead of time. And same question for Death Web (that's the name of the wand, right?).

I'm not building my character around these items, but I'd like to get them if at all possible.

[HiTS]

If one of you many mercs is armed with an INSIGHT polearm that'll cure a lot of your, and your party's, mana problems.

[Old Skool]

I've found Trang gloves, shield, and belt drop from hell Baal most times.