Chanter vs Cleric Healing

[Eriol]

I'm curious as to how group/instance healing will work in Aion. Specifically, will a Chanter be able to keep a typical group healed in a typical instance, or will that be the exclusive realm of Clerics? They're both priests, and the Cleric seems to be designated as the "specialist" when it comes to healing, but just how "capable" will the Chanter be? For some games even the secondary "healing" classes were completely unable to heal groups in instances (Druids and Shamans in EQ1 for a VERY long time didn't have a HOPE of single-healing an instance. You NEEDED a Cleric), whereas in other games there was a "balance" of classes that could, though there was still a primary (WoW to varying degrees, at varying times), and then games where an entire archetype heals relatively equally (in EQ2 any priest is supposed to be roughly as capable as any other at healing, which generally it's pretty close).

So which model is Aion closest to at this time? Is there a concrete "vision" of how this is supposed to work that's been published?

[Aggelos]

I don't think Chanters will be able to keep up a full party healed, I don't even know if they have group heal, and they have to buff, so I don't know if they'll have enough MP. And you know, they have just 10 levels of Priests, so Clerics got 40 levels of new heals and Chanter just upgrade the Priest one's, a minor single target heal and a heal over time.

They can off heal in an emergency situation of course, but always helping a Cleric, not by his own. Or maybe in small PvE groups.

[Hexxeity]

If the buffs are good enough, you shouldn't need such powerful heals. At least this is the way it works in City of Heroes -- if you have a Force Field Defender (strong defensive buffs), you do not really need a healer.

I will not like this game at all if EVERY group needs a Cleric specifically, rather than being able to function with either kind of Priest.

[Neero]

i think chanters are more like buffers. not very strong in heals, but their buffs are a major part in any party. i dont know hows the lvling/skill progress in game. but if a chanter is not powerful at healing nor DPS i think just buffing would be a very , very boring job. we need more heads up regarding Chanter class

[Waterelfo]

Originally Posted by Neero

i think chanters are more like buffers. not very strong in heals, but their buffs are a major part in any party. i dont know hows the lvling/skill progress in game. but if a chanter is not powerful at healing nor DPS i think just buffing would be a very , very boring job. we need more heads up regarding Chanter class

Chanters have very good dps. They are hybrids having everything.

[Eriol]

Hmm, well I'm glad that the newb (ie: me) isn't the only one not knowing the answer to this one. I do wish there was more info on this though.

Thanks for all the replies.

[Karnage]

The Chanter trades off powerful heals for increased buffing specialization and increased dps. So, no they won't be able to heal an entire group on their own.

[justamemory]

I'm gonna guess Chanter will be like BRD/WHM in FFXI but with some fresh, hawt DPS-we-deliver. and, they won't be able to hold their own in heals like clerics. But, maybe they'll have enough limited heals that in addition to stigma they can get some cleric healing skills so if they wanted to heal they could.

[Rio]

I am actually really looking forward to seeing how a dual-chanter party works out. It is revelaed that players in a party will be able to have up to 4 mantras (buffs) present at once, 2 from each chanter. I am guessing that 2 chanters will have enough healing power to take care of an entire party, especially a party with 4 mantras.

[justamemory]

Originally Posted by Rio

I am actually really looking forward to seeing how a dual-chanter party works out. It is revelaed that players in a party will be able to have up to 4 mantras (buffs) present at once, 2 from each chanter. I am guessing that 2 chanters will have enough healing power to take care of an entire party, especially a party with 4 mantras.

noice, cantwaitcantwaitcantwait

[Aggelos]

I think 1 Cleric » 4 Chanter heal. Otherwise Chanter would be OP and Cleric useless.

[Heinel]

Originally Posted by Aggelos

I think 1 Cleric » 4 Chanter heal. Otherwise Chanter would be OP and Cleric useless.

It would depend on the situation I think. Even same level monsters can have stats that varies a lot. The trick is to find a combination that yields the highest exp per hour. Having a templar-cleric-DD party may work against tougher monsters, but if you make a pure DD-buff party you could go for weaker targets and kill them much more quickly. In the end you might level quicker that way.

That said though, clerics do provide some exclusive benefits. I think they're the only ones that come with ailment removal skills.

[Szaman]

Originally Posted by Aggelos

I think 1 Cleric » 4 Chanter heal. Otherwise Chanter would be OP and Cleric useless.

As stated below - all is situational.
As a full party roams to hunt down tough prey they will need a cleric for a fast, high power heal, but in a casual duo/trio situation a chanter will do fine because his buffs should make the need of a strong healing smaller (more defence = less damage taken).
A chanter should not REPLACE a cleric, but should be able to play a role as a stand-in in low danger situations. I personally have always viewed chanter as a class that goes best in small party utilizing his dps to help the exp/h (if in grind mode), buffing up and when situation calls - also healing. In one word: versatile.
But I can't really see chanter as a good pick "to heal" in e.g. Abyss PvP, or siege...
Clerics are clerics and nothing will change that.

Originally Posted by Heinel

It would depend on the situation I think. Even same level monsters can have stats that varies a lot. The trick is to find a combination that yields the highest exp per hour. Having a templar-cleric-DD party may work against tougher monsters, but if you make a pure DD-buff party you could go for weaker targets and kill them much more quickly. In the end you might level quicker that way.

That said though, clerics do provide some exclusive benefits. I think they're the only ones that come with ailment removal skills.

We still do not know how big of a impact (at least I do not know - haven't had the time to troll the forums for a long time) the presence/lack of buffs in a party can have. We can even end up in a situation when cleric+chanter combo will be needed for hunting (due to importance of buffs and a great need of healing at the same time).
Gotta wait and see.

[Rio]

Originally Posted by Aggelos

I think 1 Cleric » 4 Chanter heal. Otherwise Chanter would be OP and Cleric useless.

Well, if a chanter has 1/4 the healing power of a cleric, then 2 chanters healing a party with 4 buffs shouldn't be a problem.

[Aggelos]

You're gonna fail there. It's impossible for two chanters to keep up 2 mantras, which consume MP over time, the targeted buffs and healing. MP will be gone in a minute. I guess your party will work with low lvl mobs to kill faster, when you actually don't need to heal at all if the party is well buffed, but forget about bosses, elites, PvP, or Abyss in general.