Summoner Angst

So I'm toying with the idea of making a summoner. I'm bouncing between PS and WL (warlock). Nothing against ES but I don't like the Female elf casting animation (yes, I'm odd).

I have a DE Wiz in her 30's so going with PS would be the easiest. But I've done some reading and it sounds to me that WL is actually the best rounded out Summoner there is.

I hear PS is not as capable of fighting in certain areas like a WL. Their AoE summon is pretty much not used. Also it sounds like at end game they are pretty much useless (summoners as a whole).

WL also sounds more wanted in groups then the others.

So tell me why should I pick PS over WL?

Also I like the idea of going up and hitting mobs with a sword along with my summon. PS is known for this and WL can be setup to do the same. What armor progression is common for such an idea? I hear usually Karm, BWL, DC robe. Are there other decent options? Or is that pretty much all that's good?

Thanks.

ps if you like melee groups, wl if you like archer groups.

ps are far more easier to level with due to 15% vr effect of shadow which stacks with regular VR.

WKs are easier to level with due to Kai being much more usable than soulless.

I don't think PSs are useless, but they are certainly still more traditional summoners than WKs and ESs.

WK if you want to buff***** and never do a point of damage again, PS if you want to be a mediochre DD.

WK if you want to buff***** and never do a point of damage again, PS if you want to be a mediochre DD.

Interesting. I'd rather DD I think then just buff.

What about armor options. Is Karm > BWL > DC robe all there is? Do I have any other viable options?

Mass phantom cubic is the most useful out of all the mass cubics, the fire rate is higher, and you get 3 debuffs in one, hex, power break and windshackle ... what we lack in a group buffer we make up in the cubic. Its a must for all sieges and raids.

Soulless isn't completely useless, sure his poison and AOE corpse burst are a real joke but I use him to solo in herb areas all the time ... great XP, since you are the only summoner with a might 3 buff (self buffed) u can tear through single HP mobs with ease. In the catacombs I have a low level SO to buff VR1, do a few heals + wake me up, and thats all i need to handle 2 rooms of 4 mobs each.

Oh and the nightshade? its WTH single target heal ownage .. he's soooooo useful in the cats in small groups, especially with warlords and dwarfs

Oh BTW this is suppossed to be a reply to the Phantom Summoners post in game suggestion thread ;O im such a forum noob ..

WK if you want to buff***** and never do a point of damage again, PS if you want to be a mediochre DD.

Interesting. I'd rather DD I think then just buff.

What about armor options. Is Karm > BWL > DC robe all there is? Do I have any other viable options?



i know people that have gone the same road as Tyrant with Theca/pl and fists with haste in C, to BWL/Arthro RSK HASTE in B to DC LIGHT with oe'd BT with focus.

just keep an health weapon for pvp (sooooo hard to kill with tp5) like if you want to compromise take the DragonGrinder with Health in A.

PS with health weapon = ubar.

ps are far more easier to level with due to 15% vr effect of shadow which stacks with regular VR.

WKs are easier to level with due to Kai being much more usable than soulless.

Hmmm. What about locations to solo. I heard that WL can do catas, but PS can't?

Also are 2handers a big no no? I hear that to get the cubic to fire you want a fast weapon, though I've seen WLs use 2H in some videos.

Oh, and another question. Does the fact that people can see your summon level make you a target for PKs? IE would they be more inclined to attack a summoner because they know it's an easy kill? Seems a little unfair to me.

PS can do catas more easily with the shadow (30% exp loss) self-buffed, but the warlock can do them with Kai (10% exp loss), although it will be harder.

Soulless in a catacomb solo is pretty much impossible for summoner

Soulless in the cats isn't impossible, self-buffed you can do 4 mob rooms at higher levels as long as you're only pulling 1 mob at a time .. it sounds like a pain but the XP gain over the shadow makes it worth while.

With the help of outside buffs you can use soulless in larger rooms.

Thanks guys. Any other tips you can think of?