Specialist mage, Necros and evil? Options

[Frazurblu]

If you want to play a specialist mage protaganist there is really no bad choice (possible exception: Wild mage) . I notice from the posts that Necromancers get more press than the others. What particular benefits does the Necromancer enjoy over other arcane casters? (I am aware there is an artifact just for him). Also does anyone believe that Necromancers should perhaps have to be Evil?

Also on the subject of Evil are there any plans for a more Evil-friendly path? One which would hopefully bring back the thief or even better the assassin as a more optimal character. I notice that not many posters view Korgan , Viconia or Edwin as interesting NPCs in IA which is in sharp contrast to the vanilla game and most other mods in which they were seen as perhaps the strongest representatives of their respective classes.