Different AoE builds pros and cons

Hi,

I am wondering what the pros and cons of some of the more popular AoE builds are. I was going to try a difficulty up from normal probably.

I guess there is one based around the Novas (frost and critical seems popular).

Also one built around poison arrow (one difficulty I can see there is moving in one direction and firing in the other). I'd like to avoid minions (though would take them if it helped) simply because my first character seemed to end up as a minion master.

I believe there are a couple of others.

I'm looking for a core skill (or maybe a couple) to build around (though feel free to add more). I have read the Witch and Ranger forums but looking for pros and cons and other stuff to look at?

Thanks!