Most of the time i play HC, but sometimes I play SC. So I have necros in both HC and SC. here are some interesting facts:
- all of my HC necros have nearly 0% blocking (like 2%) in Hell, 1.2K or more hps, very low defense (with 95% chance to get hit by ANY monster in Hell).
- all of my SC necros have like 75% blocking in Hell, 600 or more hps (half of that in HC), close to 1K defense or mroe (with like 70% chance to get hit by a typical monster in Hell)
Who can survive better? All of them.
The only major difference that blocking makes is: when my 800x600 screen is filled up with countless arrows and javelines from Hell act5 enemies, my blocking necros in SC don't have to drink that many red potions.
Either way, they don't die.
In SC, homoculous is as cheap as a lem on East ladder. but I prefer the full vampire set.
My summon-based necros solo'ed hell in both HC and SC, untwinked, with very poor gear. One of them used a sigon's shield before he defeated Hell.
A ryhme shield for a MF summoner is a very bad idea. The extra 25% MF is not worth the loss of the huge benefits that you would otherwise get from a homo. You should make a Eth-Lum runeword, at least.