Guild Wars 2

So I’m pretty new to the game and I recently started playing a necromancer which I’m loving more and more. I’m really interested in the condition manipulation skills. My main interests are Signet of Spite combined with Feast of Corruption. Or using Deathly Swarm with the number of skills that give yourself conditions and combine with FoC.
Are condition-centric necromancers viable. If so why? If not why not? Is it possible to stack enough condition damage as a new player to make any meaningful impact on gameplay?
Do I have to use minions to survive as a necromancer?
I’m actually opting for Consume Conditions unless it is highly recommended that I don’t do this.

Conditionmancers are viable. Their biggest limitations are:
1) Low power means they are very slow destroying physical structures which are only affected by direct damage
2) There is a 25-stack limit per condition on a target, so in a group event, it is common to hit that limit, especially with bleeds, in which case your additional bleed ability is somewhat wasted.

You do not need to use minions. Minionmancers are viable for PVE, but its not required you be one.

Consume Conditions is the best heal, unless you are a minionmancer or using Well of Blood in a group setting.

Signet of Spite is pretty weak, due to its long cooldown time. With a scepter, you’ll stack several conditions for use with FoC.

IronPlushy.4256:

Are condition-centric necromancers viable. If so why? If not why not?

Haha you really must be new to the necromancer xD
Short answer: yes, very viable.

I’m going to quote Bas here because if he sees this thread he will post exactly this:

I will give you my three step process to learning about the Necromancer

1) CHIPSSS Encyclopedia of Necro skills

2) Nemesis Tutorials

3) SOACGaming Podcast - sittingonacouch.com for audio only

Each of these are fantastic ways to get immersed into the spirit of the Necromancer and what they bring to the table.

IronPlushy.4256:

So I’m pretty new to the game and I recently started playing a necromancer which I’m loving more and more. I’m really interested in the condition manipulation skills. My main interests are Signet of Spite combined with Feast of Corruption. Or using Deathly Swarm with the number of skills that give yourself conditions and combine with FoC.
Are condition-centric necromancers viable. If so why? If not why not? Is it possible to stack enough condition damage as a new player to make any meaningful impact on gameplay?
Do I have to use minions to survive as a necromancer?
I’m actually opting for Consume Conditions unless it is highly recommended that I don’t do this.

Deathly Swarm + Corruption skills is an excellent combo / choice, but signet of spite is a bit more questionable. Not because it doesn’t make for a powerful opportunity, but because it’s only up once every 90 seconds. As well, with good usage of weapon skills & death shroud you can set up about 5 conditions to trigger with Feast of Corruption anyway, compared to Signet of Spite’s 6. For example, Enfeebling Blood (since you seem to be using off-hand dagger) → Dark Path → Grasping Dead → Auto Chain → Feast of Corruption, for weakness, chill, cripple, poison, and the omnipresent bleed.

Condition necromancers work very well. Condition damage keeps ticking through evasion, block, etc, and in PvE they will last until they expire because of a nearly complete lack of condition removal.

You don’t need to use minions to survive, wells can make for a pretty good defense, and don’t forget to use death shroud to soak damage periodically.

Consume conditions is an excellent heal, especially if you’re running corruption skills.