Chanters useless?

[Violent Lucidity]

So I got that weird guy from outside Caed Nua in my party and aside from being a halfway decent ranged support weapon his powers are pretty insignificant. The party has leveled up four times already and I have yet to use any of his abilities in combat.

What do you have to do to make chanters useful in combat?

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

This question can't be serious. A Chanter can solo the entire game on highest difficulty.

Which difficulty mode have you chosen?

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Chanter

Have you understood their "phrases" and "invocations"? And have you gone through them to pick worthwhile ones to complement what your companions can do?

[Violent Lucidity]

I admit, I was very surprised when I saw people talking about soloing with a chanter. I'm on "normal" difficulty for the moment, doing a playthrough with the pregen characters.

And, no, I don't understand how the phrases and invocations work at all. When I go to select a spell the tooltip mentions "3 phrases needed" or somesuch and I never get to 3 before the fight ends.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Well, a rank 1 phrase has a base duration of 4.0 seconds, so if you let your chanter's chant loop over one or more rank 1 phrases, it will take 12.0 seconds for the chanter to gain power as needed for an invocation that requires three phrases to be recited.

Fights in PoE can be fairly short if choosing the easier difficulty modes. Normal mode isn't rocket science. With a few offensive warriors and/or casters, a full party or "All In" tactics, you can wipe the floor, and a fight is over before a chanter has recited the minimum number of phrases as needed to make available a low-level invocation. However, a chanter can cause debuffs and damage via phrases, but that requires that you learn such phrases and set up a chant accordingly - and, of course, you may need to increase difficulty, perhaps reduce the party size and give your chanter a more important role. You don't strictly need a chanter, if you prefer wizard, druid, priest or cipher. Yet chanter offers unlimited per encounter abilities, and during long fights, you don't run out of spells like wizard, druid, priest, which is one of the benefits.

[CTHOMP]

Dragon Trashed. That's all you need to know.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by CTHOMP:

Dragon Trashed. That's all you need to know.

In a party-based playthrough it is not faster or more efficient than what various other classes can do.

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/The_Dragon_Thrashed,_The_Dragon_Wailed

[LHGreen]

Chanters get more useful the longer a fight goes on. They're still pretty useful in a more passive way in short fights, though, just by providing instant and automatic buffs and debuffs.

[Dixon Sider]

Yes, the best class in the game is useless. Tell me more.

Summon phantoms for freebee flanks until you get dragon thrashed. Then you just AFK for the rest of the game.

[THAC0]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

This question can't be serious. A Chanter can solo the entire game on highest difficulty.

Which difficulty mode have you chosen?

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Chanter

Have you understood their "phrases" and "invocations"? And have you gone through them to pick worthwhile ones to complement what your companions can do?

1) Alot of classes can solo the game on the highest Differculty, Basicly means ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ to alot of us to hear that Serioiusly just sounds like your some elitest show off gamer who honestly gotta try to min max who to most of us vet players of RPGS knows is *Cough* BS *Cough* half the damn time.
2) I found chanters being able to mass summon skeletons (or other mobs later on) sometimes multible times in a fight to be super useful other then that alot of his abilitys i dont find that useful.
but being able to mass summon critters is pretty f-in useful, And he dos give some nice buffs via singing and what knock, But alot of them are kinda Meh for the most part, At least early on.
Later on he gets more useful ♥♥♥♥ but hes the type of character that makes it into my party mostly becouse i dont find him in the bottom 3 of companions, Him being able to mass summon is super useful,

As a matter of fact now i think about it Aloth is the one companion i tend to toss for alot of the game only during what i know are large scale battles do i bring aloth along with me.

Originally posted by Dixon Sider:

Yes, the best class in the game is useless. Tell me more.

Summon phantoms for freebee flanks until you get dragon thrashed. Then you just AFK for the rest of the game.

Best class is super debaitible many many people would argue other ♥♥♥♥ as the best class in the game
Even if the OP is trolling, You are 100% Trolling / comming off as immature / childish with said statement
grow up.

Originally posted by LHGreen:

Chanters get more useful the longer a fight goes on. They're still pretty useful in a more passive way in short fights, though, just by providing instant and automatic buffs and debuffs.

this is good useful infomation to give out, His Songs give nice bufffs / debuffs epecly later on when you have a much higher selection to pick, Then tho my problem is later on i cant decide which song i wanna pick as alot of options later on is pretty useful

To me I Get that hes kinda Meh, The most useful thing about him early game his is summon skeleton ability i find for the early levels, Extra mobs are super useful to have.
which is more then i can say Aloth as realy he just kinda pokes things kinda in the early levels and can be taken out ASAP and im not a save scummer
serioiusly last game when i finished defending the Keep Which is one battle i used aloth in (due to the AoE control spells like fireball/lightning bolt and such)
Aloth had like 18 knock outs at that point in time I didnt start chapter 2 just yet (was about to just after the keep battle) everyone eles can pretty much hold there own and only got knocked out like 2-4 times i think durance/ciper guy (4get name) was the 2nd most with 4 knock outs.
kinda very much dislike Aloth, By the time i get to late game ive pretty much am set with the party that I have that im like oh yeah Aloth i forgot about you ... Meh I like my party more see yeah later dude!

[Dixon Sider]

Originally posted by THAC0:

Originally posted by Dixon Sider:

Yes, the best class in the game is useless. Tell me more.

Summon phantoms for freebee flanks until you get dragon thrashed. Then you just AFK for the rest of the game.

Best class is super debaitible many many people would argue other ♥♥♥♥ as the best class in the game
Even if the OP is trolling, You are 100% Trolling / comming off as immature / childish with said statement
grow up.

WTF is up your butt? I literally gave him advice on playing chanter. You even quoted it >.>

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by THAC0:

1) Alot of classes can solo the game on the highest Differculty,

Dunno whether anyone has kept track about it, but there are posts that claim all classes can do it with varying effort. Basic strategy and tactics will be the same for all. However, it requires insane amounts of kiting for some of them, and for some of the classes battles will be extremely risky.

Originally posted by THAC0:

Basicly means ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ to alot of us to hear that

Far from it, dude. It means that you only need to choose the tools to get the job done. Chanter offers a lot. Pick what works for you. Don't play Chanter like a Wizard. Don't play Chanter like a Fighter. Don't play Chanter like any of the other classes. And if you use companions that are your party's showmasters, ask yourself whether there is room for a chanter and related playstyle. For example, an "all in" wizard who casts tons of per rest spells in a battle doesn't need to wait for a chant, but will be exhausted after the battle and will need to rest to regain spell power. Chanters need a bit more time because of dependency on chants, but never run out of per encounter abilities. That is the fundamental difference.

Originally posted by THAC0:

Serioiusly just sounds like your some elitest show off gamer who honestly gotta try to min max who to most of us vet players of RPGS knows is *Cough* BS *Cough* half the damn time.

Kindly reconsider your attitude. I'm all but an "elitest" [sic].

Originally posted by THAC0:

2) I found chanters being able to mass summon skeletons (or other mobs later on) sometimes multible times in a fight to be super useful other then that alot of his abilitys i dont find that useful.

Depends. Skeleton summons are kinda weak cannon-fodder compared with the Phantom and the later summons. Ogres, Drakes, Animated Weapons. Also most of the summoning figurines are better than the skeletons.

With regard to the defensive and offensive invocations or passive phrases, you don't give any details. The Dragon Thrashed, The Dragon Wailed is very popular as a phrase that does passive area damage. Yet depending on personal playstyle, the offensive cone-shaped invocations are very good, too.

[THAC0]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Originally posted by THAC0:

1) Alot of classes can solo the game on the highest Differculty,

Dunno whether anyone has kept track about it, but there are posts that claim all classes can do it with varying effort. Basic strategy and tactics will be the same for all. However, it requires insane amounts of kiting for some of them, and for some of the classes battles will be extremely risky.

Originally posted by THAC0:

Basicly means ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ to alot of us to hear that

Far from it, dude. It means that you only need to choose the tools to get the job done. Chanter offers a lot. Pick what works for you. Don't play Chanter like a Wizard. Don't play Chanter like a Fighter. Don't play Chanter like any of the other classes. And if you use companions that are your party's showmasters, ask yourself whether there is room for a chanter and related playstyle. For example, an "all in" wizard who casts tons of per rest spells in a battle doesn't need to wait for a chant, but will be exhausted after the battle and will need to rest to regain spell power. Chanters need a bit more time because of dependency on chants, but never run out of per encounter abilities. That is the fundamental difference.

Originally posted by THAC0:

Serioiusly just sounds like your some elitest show off gamer who honestly gotta try to min max who to most of us vet players of RPGS knows is *Cough* BS *Cough* half the damn time.

Kindly reconsider your attitude. I'm all but an "elitest" [sic].

Originally posted by THAC0:

2) I found chanters being able to mass summon skeletons (or other mobs later on) sometimes multible times in a fight to be super useful other then that alot of his abilitys i dont find that useful.

Depends. Skeleton summons are kinda weak cannon-fodder compared with the Phantom and the later summons. Ogres, Drakes, Animated Weapons. Also most of the summoning figurines are better than the skeletons.

With regard to the defensive and offensive invocations or passive phrases, you don't give any details. The Dragon Thrashed, The Dragon Wailed is very popular as a phrase that does passive area damage. Yet depending on personal playstyle, the offensive cone-shaped invocations are very good, too.

1) you agreed with me then misunderstood what i was talking about, Personaly just becouse a class can solo the game when they ALL can solo the game means jack squat all of them can Solo the game you agreed with that and even pointed out it depends on how you wanna play the MORE useful infomation, Dont care if it can solo end game considering they all can honestly
2) the comment you stated did 100% come off as elitest. maybe you should reconsider that before judging other people comments.
3) I Just stated in the EARLY Game I found the summon skeleton abilitys that said companion the OP was talking about to be a very useful ability for the character.

yes if you where to make your own character awesome
But the OP was talking about the companion you find Kana or w.e his name is (Im terrible with names truth be told) and he starts with summon skeletons something i found super useful in party situations. Solo tactics vs Group tactics differ 100% He was talking about how Said character can be useful in his group I mention one of the things he gets being useful that he starts off
for all i know he respect it or is much higher level now or such but he starts off with Summon skeletons a super useful ability.

did i claim it was the BEST ability Chanters have? or even the ONLY good ability Chanters have? No I did not. This is why you come off as elitest you tend to come off as manipulative.

[LHGreen]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Originally posted by THAC0:

your some elitest show off

Kindly reconsider your attitude. I'm all but an "elitest"

Originally posted by THAC0:

you come off as elitest

Yeah, you're not just elite, but you're elite even among other elites! You're more elite than any of the others, you truly are the elitest of them all!

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by THAC0:

1) you agreed with me then misunderstood what i was talking about,

No. It is a strong hint that solo Chanter is one of the more reliable, more powerful choices, and that implies a lot about the class itself.

Originally posted by THAC0:

2) the comment you stated did 100% come off as elitest. maybe you should reconsider that before judging other people comments.

Spelling is still incorrect. Does such a comment make it worse now?

Originally posted by THAC0:

But the OP was talking about the companion you find Kana or w.e his name is (Im terrible with names truth be told) and he starts with summon skeletons something i found super useful in party situations.

OP was experiencing very short battles where chanter would not complete enough phrases as to power invocations. That reduces the chanter to reciting a bit for basic buffs/debuffs.

Originally posted by THAC0:

Solo tactics vs Group tactics differ 100%

Not true. Why would you make such a claim?

[Mercenaru]

I find it a bit amusing, that the guy above (THAC0) thinks summon skeleton is a good chanter-spell (at least when we talk about 1st level chants).


I find it the most useless. And you will be mad to use it after X seconds of waiting (while chanting) to summon 3 shi tty skeletons that will die in one blow in most of the encounters.
The only way I find this spell usable, is if you want to close some gaps so the enemy won't attack your spellcasters/ supports. Especially if you play with 1 tank, maybe 2 in party, and you don't have the potential to block the enemy properly.

But other than that ? Hell no.
That stun + knockback thing is amazing to shut down enemy spellcasters that will cast ♥♥♥♥♥ non-stop, and you can even push them towards you (or position them in such a way that you will do maximum damage with an offensive AoE spell).

My favorite though is the other one...that will reduce enemy's defences.
With this, long-dragging fights can be reduced to a matter of seconds. And since resources are important (health/ spell uses), and the more (longer) you fight, the more you lose ; I find this spell amazing !
It's like a mini Divine Mark, aoe cone-shaped, minus the fire dmg.

Summon skeletons could be amazing, if you could cast it at the beginning of the fight, so they could tank the first...wave of attacks and spells. But since it's not...

[THAC0]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Originally posted by THAC0:

1) you agreed with me then misunderstood what i was talking about,

No. It is a strong hint that solo Chanter is one of the more reliable, more powerful choices, and that implies a lot about the class itself.

Originally posted by THAC0:

2) the comment you stated did 100% come off as elitest. maybe you should reconsider that before judging other people comments.

Spelling is still incorrect. Does such a comment make it worse now?

Originally posted by THAC0:

But the OP was talking about the companion you find Kana or w.e his name is (Im terrible with names truth be told) and he starts with summon skeletons something i found super useful in party situations.

OP was experiencing very short battles where chanter would not complete enough phrases as to power invocations. That reduces the chanter to reciting a bit for basic buffs/debuffs.

Originally posted by THAC0:

Solo tactics vs Group tactics differ 100%

Not true. Why would you make such a claim?

1) All I Stated is evey single class can solo on hardest diff, you agreed with me, As such claiming 'easy' is debaitible alot of ppl consider differnt things easy, You started to manipulte like i said chanter wasnt good
2) Grammar Nazi is a sign of not having a good counter point / trolling immature elitest statementz thanks for proving me right eveything you say mean jack squat nowz