Summoning, Skills, Stats and Talents.

[TradeGy]

So I am playing as two Lone Wolf Summoners as I don't find the Elementals to be really worth it, and I like the idea of being a summoner. But I've found it to be quite lacking and from what I understand a purely physical build is the best, tho I don't want to do that currently.

I am playing on Honour mode, and had to restart as I got one-shotted by Alice Alisceon last time.... If I wasn't seeing things she hit over 9000 but anyways.

On my main summoner I intend to max Summoning and focus on Con to avoid getting one-shot again but I don't know what could be a good secondary here as nothing really improves from Con.
I was thinking of maybe respeccing into Summoner/Huntsman but that kind of kills the purpose of being a Summoner.

My other Summoner I've inteded to max Summoning/Necromancy and focus on Int.

But I've noticed a bit of a problem with summoning, for one you cannot have an Incarnate and another summon out (I've only tried with the Summon Black Cat spell but I guess it's the same for any other summon).
You cannot buff another characters Incarnate, for example my Sum/Necro cannot cast Blood Infusing on my other Incarnate.

My question is what other skills is a good match to summoning and what stats should I focus on, preferably something different for my characters.
What Talents are a good match for my Lone Wolf/Summoner, after getting killed by Alice I'm thinking Comeback Kid but I can't really think of any good Talents.

Or am I wasting my time trying to make a Summoner.

[wds_ncs]

You're not wasting your time, I don't think. I personally tend to mix early summoning with good buffing, so at least a point or two in an elemental school or two to pick up buffs and extra healing for your incarnates isn't a terrible idea. If you're in for a penny, sometimes it makes sense to go in for a pound and pump INT so you can do a little blasting. As you max summoning, you can start easily doing more blasting with this guy.

If you want something different... Have you ever taken a look at Bouncing Shield? I would consider doing a STR focused Summoning 10/Necro X/Warfare X build carrying a shield for extra physical output, taking Necro only as high as you want it to get some spells, but otherwise pumping Warfare. You might want Hydro 1 on that guy if you switch to Bone Widow from incarnate, since it really needs magic protection.

Yep, only one *mobile* summon. You can spam totems all day long, though. I think they fall off after you max summoning, but they're handy up until level 12 or so, IMO.

Don't forget that you can summon incarnates on a surface and they'll begin infused that way, if you haven't (wasn't sure based off of the infusion remark if you're relying *exclusively* on spells to get this, so ignore if this is old news!).

[Texonater]

I haven't tried using summoning with a dual lonewolf party (or any lonewolf party), but I imagine it's more beneficial in a traditional 4 man party. Lone wolf in my opinion is more about min maxing the crap out of some combo to become a god at it. I would generally consider summoning a secondary skill, not a primary skill.

[Tarradax]

I'm currently running a duo-Honour-summoner game. Going blind, too, pretty fun - I'm about 80% of the game through. Some advice I'd like to share:

1. Comeback Kid. Seriously. Saved my life and my save a few times.
2. My main character is Sebille, as Warfare/Summoner. Picking up the "Picture of Health" perk that gets you extra 3% HP per Warfare is amazing.
3. Infusing the elemental is key to it not sucking, as well as raising summoning to 10 ASAP. 20 can wait, but rush 10 to get that bigger version.
4. My companion is Fane as a ranged Necro/Summon because Necro's passive combined with the massive damage of bows can do wonders, alongside a Bone Widow for buffering. You might want to get a couple points of Hydro in there as well for the shell, but you can easily get that from gear.

[Eliof Astora]

Max warfare and combine with Picture of Health Talent... You will get a decent amount of HP so you dont have to focus on con. Theres nothing you can tank as lone wolf honour mode. You can try to temporarily block them off with hydrosophist magic armor boosts + elemental resist potions. As for physical damage... Its really difficult to play against physical especially against long range. Deflecting shield from warfare is handy though...

Also, I suggest you get Your companion to ranger + geo + 2 poly. Oil the ♥♥♥♥ out of everyone while maintaining range and CC

[TradeGy]

Originally posted by wds_ncs:

You're not wasting your time, I don't think. I personally tend to mix early summoning with good buffing, so at least a point or two in an elemental school or two to pick up buffs and extra healing for your incarnates isn't a terrible idea. If you're in for a penny, sometimes it makes sense to go in for a pound and pump INT so you can do a little blasting. As you max summoning, you can start easily doing more blasting with this guy.

If you want something different... Have you ever taken a look at Bouncing Shield? I would consider doing a STR focused Summoning 10/Necro X/Warfare X build carrying a shield for extra physical output, taking Necro only as high as you want it to get some spells, but otherwise pumping Warfare. You might want Hydro 1 on that guy if you switch to Bone Widow from incarnate, since it really needs magic protection.

Yep, only one *mobile* summon. You can spam totems all day long, though. I think they fall off after you max summoning, but they're handy up until level 12 or so, IMO.

Don't forget that you can summon incarnates on a surface and they'll begin infused that way, if you haven't (wasn't sure based off of the infusion remark if you're relying *exclusively* on spells to get this, so ignore if this is old news!).

Yea I knew about the surface infusing but it was more of a 'Why can't Summoner2 buff Summoner1's Incarnate' thing.

But the Warfare/Bouncing shield sounds interesting and I'll look into that.

Originally posted by Texonater:

I haven't tried using summoning with a dual lonewolf party (or any lonewolf party), but I imagine it's more beneficial in a traditional 4 man party. Lone wolf in my opinion is more about min maxing the crap out of some combo to become a god at it. I would generally consider summoning a secondary skill, not a primary skill.

I feel like the 4 man party's are pretty weak compared to Lone Wolf but seeing as I never got further than lvl 12 before I ran into Alice I'm probably not the best judge.

It might help if I look as Summoning as my secondary.

Originally posted by Tarradax:

I'm currently running a duo-Honour-summoner game. Going blind, too, pretty fun - I'm about 80% of the game through. Some advice I'd like to share:

1. Comeback Kid. Seriously. Saved my life and my save a few times.
2. My main character is Sebille, as Warfare/Summoner. Picking up the "Picture of Health" perk that gets you extra 3% HP per Warfare is amazing.
3. Infusing the elemental is key to it not sucking, as well as raising summoning to 10 ASAP. 20 can wait, but rush 10 to get that bigger version.
4. My companion is Fane as a ranged Necro/Summon because Necro's passive combined with the massive damage of bows can do wonders, alongside a Bone Widow for buffering. You might want to get a couple points of Hydro in there as well for the shell, but you can easily get that from gear.

I thought so Comeback Kid but Picture of Health... sounds pretty good thanks.

Thanks for the advices.

[Råb!d]

It helps to be able to switch between the 2 armour types when needed. To me, that's the beauty of summoning. At level 10+ it is great. Put down appropriate ground type, ie fire, oil, water, then summon on top of it. Then your conjuration attacks the right armour type.

[Mosey]

Summoning doesn't have any stat requirement, and it requires a minimum of 10 to not suck, so honestly it's a secondary support to 'something else'. In other words, you're not 'a summoner' you're a something else that can also summon.

Honestly, on honor mode with two summoners I would expect your group to be weaker for it instead of stronger. One summoner is good, two you start to see hardcore diminishing returns compared to doing something else IMO. Especially with two lone wolves.