[Bubbles]

Any 6 man group in Kunark with a necro is basically OP'd if the necro knows what he's doing.

The necro can play the role of enchanter, of backup healer, of dps, of puller... the list is long. A mage is never going to save a camp by rezzing a cleric back in, either.

On raids a necro is more than a glorified mana battery. Necros are the best healers of mob kiters in fear, because they can feign right after pacting and keep the kite clean. Necros can also spot enchanters on crowd control with either root, screaming terror, or even charm on big pulls.

Necro is like a bard or enchanter in a lot of ways. Yes, the bad ones are basically clarity fairies with some crowd control. The good ones wear many hats.

Mage armor is in hate on far more mobs than there are bogeys in Fear. Mage quest focus items and armor blows necro stuff out of the water. Mages take malachite instead of bone chips (and later peridots, ugh). Mage lava shields are some of the best no-brainer dps in the game, either solo or in groups. stuff like Gift of Xeb and Pouch of Q, Muzzle of Mardu... They summon amazing trinkets that are quite useful.

That said, arguing between mages and necros for being better as a casual solo option is like discussing who's hotter between like Megan Fox and Miley Cyrus. You're banging either, just choose the one you want.