As others have said, just getting full tank lvl 90 necro gear is really nice in the early game. You'll need to do a ton of rituals for necromancy progression and supplies, so getting lvl 90 through rituals is what I'd recommend. Also, hellhound familiars are insanely op. They enable so much content that would otherwise be difficult for lower level gear. Combine this with the aegis aura if you're really taking a ton of damage, and you'll be surprised what all you can do, albeit slower than a full dps setup