I always loved N/R and still do. N/Mo is perhaps IYO the best MM, but that doesn't make it ultimate. Serpents Quickness and Healing Spring are two of my favorite skills to bring along. Serpent's helps the recharge on Animate Vampiric Horrors and Animate Flesh Golem a lot.
And no, Heal Area does NOT make your minions degen faster.
Its true from what I know. I tested it during a Thirsty River run.
Minions auto-degen stop at 10 degen, correct? And Vereta's Sacrifice gives 10 regen. Okay I waited for one of my minions to get to 10 degen, how could I tell? I put Vereta's on it and it canceled out (No degen or regen). Then I casted Heal Area, its health started going down.
No, then Degen does not stop at 10.. but only 10 pips can be active at a time. So,after enough time your minions will be degening at -11, 12, 13, etc. Veratas cancels the first 10, leaving the minions with whatever degen is left over.
I believe I mentioned the degen thing earlier apparently people dont read the whole thread.
With only being able to raise 10 minions I rarely even use botm anymore I usually just replace old minions with new ones even if it means killing that really cool tiger or crab. Death nova suddenly became alot more fun as you are gonna sacrafice em anyways =p