He is awful, his critical, ethreal and unavoidable looks pretty good, but his attcak is just terrible. Although he is slightly better than unstable fire imp, who is probably the worst creature in the game.

I can't watch the video of the 3rd part of the warlord academy spoilers on your YouTube page, it says it's unavailable and is a private video. Am I just being dense or has anyone else got this problem? Thanks

I have had success with the Samara Tree, yes its not as good as the Vine Tree, but it is still a viable option. It is maybe a bit slower than the Vine tree. My usual opening is something like:

Turn 1: 19 mana deploy vine marker in same zone, QC Samara Tree and tree bond, main phase cast Tataree.

Turn 2: 16 mana and one on Tree. Deploy vine marker in adjacent zone. Deploy Pod on first vine marker. QC meditation amulet. main phase cast  meditate. Tataree add one mana to pod.

Turn 3: 23 mana, one on tree and two on pod. deploy vine marker. deploy pod using a vine marker. QC either Druids Leaf Ring/ Life tree (if playing Necro or low creature build). main phase. Tataree to put a mana on pod in starting zone. 17/10 mana cast face down nulify on self.

Turn 4: lets say we cast the ring. 27 mana one on tree, three on one pod, one on other. deploy vine marker. deploy pod using a vine marker. At this point I can cast anything in the book

As you can see this build generates mana pretty quick. I know the pods are fragile but they are cheap and have cantrip so not an issue and with Tataree you can sprinkle some magic and add mana to the pods. If the opponent concentrates on killing your pods, then you can hard cast what plants you need to kill them and if not let your garden flourish.
This can be tweaked against a rush build, without being too disruptive.
As I said its slower than the Vine tree and still susceptible to fire, but i like it as its something different.

Wow, I always assumed/thought it was demons only. Aren't pentagrams only used to summon  demons in most lore?

That's what I assumed. I'm guessing they made it dark living creatures to allow to summon Goran and any other future dark living non demons.

I always run two in pretty much every book, they are so handy to just pop a sneaky face down enchantment that's been hanging around for a while and your opponent has forgotten to revel. My mate never used them and after I started too he includes them as well.

Basicly, no matter which mage you play (except for another necromancer), a necromancer must be rushed since otherwise he become too strong to stop (especially zombie necromancers). Luckily, necromancers have some difficulties standing against a rush, as he is the only 32 life mage that doesn't have a special ability that grant's him defensive capabilities (a pristess gain life while healing, a wizard have voltaric shield and forcemaster have deflect).

Rushing a necromancer that plays zombies can be a bit of a problem. I played a zombie build against my mate, who was the forcemaster. He rushed, and I took some damage, but I had enough tricks to hold him back, armour, brace yourself, etc. and I just kept dropping crawlers, and he couldn't cope with the 3 attack dice from each. eventually I got out a brute to guard and in the end the zombies pulled his forcemaster into meaty chunks. Haha.
But yes you are right the necromancer cannot be left as he becomes very hard to beat if left alone. Its all about striking the right balance.

Thanks, going to play against a Warlock this weekend in an attempt to expose the Druids main weakness, fire.
This is because my mate and I think the Druid is so good and easily disposes of the other mages without breaking a sweat. Will keep you all posted.   

I really like Harmonise, I think its handy on a spawn point as it they both generally get left alone. But I guess in hindsight I should turf it since its 3sp (good 2 cents, worth) and I could chuck in another Garrison post (oh I don't have Forged in Fire or Conquest), another Grunt, hurl boulder or Life tree. Might also ditch the whirling strike to free up a bit more as its pretty expensive to be attached to the helm.
The mana flower is there to bump his channelling up to 10 as I think it can be a struggle with 9.