Rather eye opening really ...
 

So now that I'm 53+ on my necro, I've got to say ... I wasn't expecting this.

Mid 50s group in KC basement, rog pet not max summon was quite frankly out-damaging appropriately level melee dps flat out. We didn't have an epic monk or rogue to skew the numbers, but the necro summoned (not charm) pet was the highest damage producer for the group with just the level 39 spell haste. I'm not 55 yet, so max haste is not yet available, nor did I chain summon for the max level pet. Shaman/druid str buffs would have pumped the damage higher - as would a mage summon mask or 55 spell cast haste.

Pet dps is impressive and very consistent. Little <Boner> averaged 47dps - all while I was throwing out cc, 125/tick heal over times, ghetto mez, taps, and pumping mana.

I'm frankly surprised more groups don't actively seek out mages/necromancers.

I've been in several pet-based KC groups as a Bard, and they've all been great. People focus way too much on the holy trinity in places like Seb.

Mages and necros are so underrated , it's a shame

I have always valued necros in groups. Serious DPS plus lots of flexibility with heals, twitches, mez, charm, FD etc...who doesn't value them in groups? Mages are solid as well and with the new sneak nerf to monks..their CoH is amazing to assist with pulling.

It's the bad ones that just pet attack and AFK that ruin the image of the classes entirely. It's just too easy to be just a partial contributor as a pet class than actually doing anything impressive.

A necro is a group all by itself.

It really sucks playing a melee DPS, putting tons of time into your toon's gear, and then being pretty clearly out-DPSed by a basic summoned pet :/

47dps sounds awfully high...how did you come to that conclusion?

How do you parse EQ damage?

Smart groups should snatch up every mage they see. A focused, properly positioned water pet does crazy sustained dps.