So usually I'd begin with some sarcastic remark about how no one on the development team must play PUP because the adjustments being made are not what we NEED, but there no other way to say it, but this: Thank You SquareEnix.
The potency and versatility of the augments on the Taeon sets is nothing less than game changing for Puppetmaster. Before the Feb. Update, I spent most of my time researching old content for novel pet augments, such as A Crystalline Prophecy, Watchful Pixie Battles, etc. because pet augment gear for PUP was few and far in between, and those that existed weren't substantially beneficially for the amount of effort involved to beat it enough times to get a random augment.
Going forward, as a slight request I would like to see more Pet gear for neck, earrings, and ESPECIALLY rings, with a variety of situational stats, such as Pet: DT-%, enmity, haste, att/acc bonus etc. because they are a bit lacking.
As far as augmenting goes, skirmish weapon augments should be job/weapon specific, because getting "charm" or "avatar perpet. cost-" on Ohrmazd makes no sense and only functions to make getting a decent stat harder, which is already very rare with dusk stones.
Also changing the augment system, such that +2 skirmish augment stones, have a higher propensity to increase your current stat instead of change it, which could be left to NQ/+1 stones would be great.
Moving on to the state of Automatons and what this post is mainly about:
Valoredge:
I am 99.9% satisfied with what he can accomplish between attachments and gear, that last .1% is simply either more enmity generating abilities or adding extra enmity to his weapon skills or more enmity gear in ring/neck/back/waist/etc slot.
Today I used Valoredge to main tank Ark Angel HM on tough, with the typical set up, just a PUP replacing the PLDs role. It was difficult, but it CAN be done. I lost hate once due mainly to overloading, but more pet enmity gear would help, which i believe is fair because he cannot be Decoy Shotted or Trick Attacked, but you could always make that possible.
All and all this to me is absolutely game changing and something I have been waiting for for a very long time, which has been made possible through Taeon. I cannot say it enough, Thank you so so soooo much SquareEnix.
Soulsoother:
NEEDS "Curagas", allowing it and puppetmasters in general to be relevent in party/alliance content as healing role job, and being a viable option if finding a White Mage is difficult.
Stormwaker:
NEEDS tier II enfeebles, refresh II, and ability to haste II/Refresh II others under water maneuver, similar to how Soulsoother uses -na spells on party members under water maneuver effect.
Sharpshot:
Currently not used often with Sharpshot head due to lack of DPS, so granting sharpshot head store TP bonus, so it balance DPS with other frontline frames, as well as double shot job ability, which can only be used with Sharpshot head or attachment, and finally full TP return on Barrage, would put him back in the game, and able to DD well enough endgame, that it might be viable option if finding a ranger is difficult.
Spirit Reaver:
NEEDS fixes to AI, constant aspiring after every spell makes it more favorable to Deactivate him after every spell; it would be so much better if his global nuke recast time was shorter and he didn't aspir any time his MP isn't 100%. Alternatively, an attachment that allows him to use tier I/II spells almost at auto-attack speed would make him very useful again, and comparable to his BLM counterparts.
Harlequin:
Has the potential to be a situational DD/Mage frame and would be great to see him used more often.
Possible suggestions:
-treating his attack rounds like hand-to-hand so he attacks with both each round, since his battle stance is different from the other mage frames, and this would give him an advantage due to his lack of MP.
-possibly giving it its own set of weaponskills
-giving it enspell IIs which are used if scanner is equipped, according to monsters elemental weaknesses
-allowing it to haste and buff itself similar to Rainemard NPC
-slight increase in its maximum MP/HP