Support Chanter/Battle Chanter

[Deeja]

Originally Posted by eldyraen

I plan on playing my Chanter as a... Chanter. I'm not going to just stand there in the back and wait for someone to need heals nor pass up on heals trying to maximize my dps. Have to find that 'sweet spot' that will allow me to go in close when need be or back up and heal unmolested to maximize effectiveness--all comes down to practice/experience and what's needed at any given time.

This pretty much sums up how I feel...

[Praxis]

I would say that 90% of these replies and opinions are coming from a PvE perspective. The arguments against chanters in a "support" role stem from the fact that most people hate mashing 1 or 2 buttons standing in the back and letting others have fun during pve raids/instances. I feel the same way about PvE. However, in PvP, I can guarantee you that playing a support role is anything but passive.

I'll be playing a support chanter at "end game" (which is pvp for me). While leveling, my group already has a pre-set cleric that will be handling the healing, so of course I will be mostly contributing buffs/dps. Once we begin to pvp, my role in my group will change to be more support oriented. I define support as buffs, heals, peels off of your casters/cleric(s) (snare, stun/knockdowns), etc. If an enemy player pushes into our backfield, I'll even contribute dps to that player along with our cleric(s), assuming there isn't a dire need for heals.

I respect people's different play styles, but when people attempt to defend their own play style by telling support chanters that they're playing the class wrong, or not as the developers intended the class to be played, then I have issues.

[Rajster]

^ pretty much agree with Praxis.

In PvE, I'll be going battle chanter becuase of the abilities we have to offer. I definitely wont be in the back heal-botting. Same with small scale PvP.

However in mass PvP, I'll be going full support. There will enough dps, so I'll be supporting with heals, buffs, and some dps. Keeping people alive in PvP is one of the most exciting things I've done in MMOs, cause it's very different than just healing the tank in PvE.

[Magiktiesto]

I play both, I'm set up for dps more than support but if needed I switch to shield/mace mode and heal (not telling you stats). A chanter is very flexible and since i have been playing I have noticed that in a duel I am hard to beat with my build that i currently have. Its about playing smart more than just hitting buttons. As far as chanter being the best pvp machine I wouldn't know since i haven't made it to end game yet. But one thing I do know it sucks for you if you duel me because Chanters can heal on top of that we have regain spells for hp. So IMO its up to the player to make the chanter a pvp machine

[TheRealDeeja]

Originally Posted by Deeja

This pretty much sums up how I feel...

Name stealer.

[Hierophant]

I'll probably be more involved in PvE rather than PvP, except for those cases that call for it, such as the instanced encounters in The Abyss, however, I do enjoy a spot of PvP when the mood arises. In my understanding of the class, I have a lot to offer in the way of support while still being able to join the fray in battle. Some of the earliest attacks we get as a Chanter apply debuffs to our targets, so I figure by engaging the target once the Main Tank has aggro is really just helping the rest of the group out, since my attacks lower defense and attack speed if I'm buffed properly. In essence I'm a support chanter even in battle. I think it will all come down to what I obtain via Stigmas and skills, as well as gear. I'll probably be a little of both Battle and Support with the proper gear sets.

[Arakaim]

I'm going with 'Other' as a sort of hybrid type. I'll obviously buff, but i'm gonna be a secondary healer to heal the cleric when he needs it, a damage dealer using crits to not only deal good damage, but to knock people down, allowing my templar, assassin, and ranger friend to do more damage to him and help them out. I'm also gonna use the utility part of us, and use alot of the debuff abilities that we have, but i'm gonna increase accuracy to make sure my attacks land and the debuffs get through. Im probably not gonna worry about much manastones other then crit, accuracy, and the very much needed Magic resist.

[Gakky]

I'll be playing support.

Seriously this game have enough DPS. Playing the battle chanter will meant that I am a support class but focuses on DPS which is kinda defeating what I am planning to be. I want to make my friends strong, heal them if the cleric is occupied, provide them with short 15s boosts frequently for them to do better at what they does (DPS), throwing in HOT and emergency shields in case things goes wrong etc.

[Istarien]

I'm not sure I understand why there is a distinction between a "support" role and a "battle" role. I suppose I intend to play a Chanter, in all its flexibility and varied roles. If the situation is under control and my group is on the offensive, then I do it no favors by falling back and waiting for heals to be needed. I'll get up there on the front lines, debuff targets, contribute what dps I can, and buff my melee teammates to make a push that much more devastating. If we're playing defense and turtling to survive a tough pull or a coordinated attack, I'll put up my defensive buffs and make sure I'm able to add my heals where they're needed.

[Gakky]

Originally Posted by Istarien

I'm not sure I understand why there is a distinction between a "support" role and a "battle" role. I suppose I intend to play a Chanter, in all its flexibility and varied roles. If the situation is under control and my group is on the offensive, then I do it no favors by falling back and waiting for heals to be needed. I'll get up there on the front lines, debuff targets, contribute what dps I can, and buff my melee teammates to make a push that much more devastating. If we're playing defense and turtling to survive a tough pull or a coordinated attack, I'll put up my defensive buffs and make sure I'm able to add my heals where they're needed.

There's a defination because of the stigma

There's advance stigma, and the tier 3 stigma which requires certain normal stigma to be slotted. With the limited slots, we have to choose which stigma to keep and which not to.

New 1.5 Chanter Stigmas

With the new stigma, if I choose to get the damaging tier 3 stigma, I need to get rage spell, spell of trap, self-heal stigma etc etc. and thus leaving only 1-2 slot for the rest of the stigmas. Some really good 15s buffs on 10s cd are you guessed it, stigma. The support tier 3 stigma requires these buff stigmas as well as the HoT stigma to be slotted in order to achieve the chant of invincibility. So you actually have to branch out once you are high lvl enough.

[Istarien]

Originally Posted by Gakky

There's advance stigma, and the tier 3 stigma which requires certain normal stigma to be slotted. With the limited slots, we have to choose which stigma to keep and which not to.

New 1.5 Chanter Stigmas

Ah, well if it's just Stigma we're talking about and not overall playstyle, then a support setup seems the wisest choice at first glance. Chanters really aren't meant to be melee dps powerhouses, so slotting to fill that role at the expense of group utility seems counterproductive. Of course, all bets are off if the buffs and heals you gain by slotting support don't make much of a difference to a group. It doesn't look like this will be the case, but only time and experience will tell.

[k3v5h]

Originally Posted by Gakky

The support tier 3 stigma requires these buff stigmas as well as the HoT stigma to be slotted in order to achieve the chant of invincibility. So you actually have to branch out once you are high lvl enough.

A little off-topic, but where can I find out the specifics on slotting stigmas? What stigmas need to be slotted in what order and/or are prerequisites for later stigmas. Thanks.

[Gakky]

Originally Posted by k3v5h

A little off-topic, but where can I find out the specifics on slotting stigmas? What stigmas need to be slotted in what order and/or are prerequisites for later stigmas. Thanks.

It can be found on the thread link, but here's the post

New 1.5 Chanter Stigmas

[Velvet]

Wow, that's a lot of battle Chanters I'm a little surprised. I'm happy with the way they've set up the sigmas in 1.5 though. More support oriented abilites are fantastic for this Chanter!