here is my template, I'm very satisfied
goal/current
120/110 swordsmanship
120/110 parry
120/98.8 Bushido
100/86.7 Necromancy (use a +15 ring to get myself in vamp form, then switch out rings)
100/86.5 Spirit Speak
100/110 Tactics (items bring it past 100)
60/64.3 Anatomy (currently dropping skill)
I really don't like using jewlary for necromancy, I accually plan on using the other necro spells like vampire bat (familiar) and vengful spirit, strangle, and animate dead when out numbered, and I can use the jewlary for other things like DCI and DI.
I use a combination of curse weapon, Blood oath, evasion, Lightning Strike, Pain strike as a finisher and dispite all the other threads about how familiars don't work, I have found some use by my side..
the main familiar I use is the Dark Wolf. I don't use his taming ability, cause I don't have any taming, if I find a decent bracelet I might tame and bond a pack of dire wolves for fun. The main purpose is the stanima regen and he attachs everytime I attach. I was hitting an OL with a bokuto for 9-11 damage and the wolf would hit for 11-13 each time I hit him, so it was like a doubled my attach. The familiar does not hit as offtain, and is easly killed when targeted, but the passive abilities are nice, can't wait for the Vamp Bat.
I use alot of Tarties as my weapons and armor because they are easy to come by, I fight ronin and ninjas for the loot and get decent arties when I honor them. I use sword of the stampede, stromgrips, the anchient sam do, the anchient sam helm, and legs of embers, the arms of tactical beefyness, a DCI and DI ring brace combo, and a nice resist gorget all resists are mid 60's except for fire (the draw back of VE). I also switch back and forth from sword of Stampede and the Tartie bokuto sword for the nerve strike effect in PvP (hit, para, switch to stampede, lightning strike) and hope for a crit . Also looking for a decent Halberd for the whirlwind, nice combo with the life leech.
Another reason I would prefer 100 necro is the chance to switch between wraith form and VE on the fly if I know I will need alot of mana, the mana leech from wraith form is great in spawn areas, just keep momentum strike going and the mana leech takes care of it's self, and toss in curse weapon and life is back up as well.
Cheers!
Viva Le Sonoma!