Help deciding on mods for defensive set (PvE)

Hello everyone.

I'm preparing a defensive weapon set for my Necromancer before i start fully vanquishing (i know its unnecessary in PvE, but i think it could be useful just to have)

Firstly, the sword, I'm unsure on the prefix and inscription, i'll be using +30 for the suffix as i don't particularly use enchantments on my Necromancer.
Prefix i'm totally lost on, inscription i have a rough idea, i really don't think i need a +5 mod for my Necro, i was leaning towards 15/-5 so i can keep some emergency energy(Probably not a likely scenario with Soul Reaping)

As for the shield, i'm trying to figure out which would be the best inscription, a lot of people recommend "Sleep Now in the Fire" but i've found i don't usually die to Fire magic at all...then again, i can't seem to think of what would be more useful, perhaps a condition reduction one or something, what are your thoughts?

Thanks for any help.

well honestly as you said not really needed in pve but sword mods can really be anything and a +30 shield i would say the "soundness of mind" reduces daze duration on you and a +30 mod as well other then that hiding energy isn't that big of a deal you will already be hiding 15-20 just by swaping out your staff or wand/focus for the sword already so its really what mods you feel are usefull to you hope my rambling helps in some way.

I'd just go with a +5e on the sword(I prefer spear on a caster) and for the shield it's best to have a shield with +30hp +10AL vs x for every damage type available. So that you can switch tot he shield with +10vsfire in fire heavy areas, +10vs cold in the shiverpeaks, +10vs piercing against dangerous rangers etc.

personnally for a defensive set I'd take a +30hp and HCT 10% or +5 energy one handed weapon and a shield with +30 hp with either -2 while in stance / enchanted or one off the +x armor vs y

As long as the prefix on your weapon is not zealous or vampiric, it does not matter what they are. You can go without, or use whatever you want. Agree with the recommendation for a spear; you can use it for Mark of Pain or Barbs without running to melee. For a Necro, having more maximum energy means Soul Reaping has a better chance of refilling it. Using a +15, -5 could result in losing the energy gain from SR. There's very few, if any, areas in PvE with enough energy denial for a negative set.

If you don't use the +5 energy then I'd go for HSR considering how handy some necro spells can be.

For shields IMO bring Fire, Slashing, Piercing and maybe Cold too, that's probably what you'll ever need for PvE. Or depending on the zone, like in DoA you can bring one of those +10vs Demons greens.

If you use enchantments then I'd use a -2/enchantment though.

You can use lengthens daze or lengthens cripple if you use techno babble or You move like a dwarf, respectively.

use a +5 energy, for the shield have a +10vs fire, cold, slashing, earth and piercing. and a daze reduction one.

I noticed nobody mentioned lightning, I've found +10 vs. Lightning to be nice to help against the wtfpwning of rit bosses.

Past that, just reread Alf's post.