give a dog a bone, avatar info update please?

[rufuslupus]

it was mentioned that caith sith and atomos would happen this year 2012.

can you ask the dev. if they are still working on them? speak to us so we know that you have not forsaken us.

when is their planned goal for testing on the test server? summer? fall? 2013? 2014?

a little hope would be appreciated.

[Kaisha]

There should be a new test server roadmap coming out either late this month, or sometime April. Hopefully your question will be answered then, because I doubt the summoners will be pleased if they have to wait yet another 6 months to see something new to play with on their busted job.

[wildsprite]

personally I think they should fix Summoner before adding new Avatars.

[SpankWustler]

They tend to consider this sort of thing a big announcement, if new avatars in the past are any indication.

It might be the kind of information they would hold in until the coming Vana'fest, similar to the way I'll hold some particularly nasty flatulence within my GI tract until I enter a small elevator. Knowing people are disgusted and disappointed can not compare to seeing their looks of disgust transform into frowns of disappointment over the course of forty-five seconds.

[Teraniku]

They tend to consider this sort of thing a big announcement, if new avatars in the past are any indication.

It might be the kind of information they would hold in until the coming Vana'fest, similar to the way I'll hold some particularly nasty flatulence within my GI tract until I enter a small elevator. Knowing people are disgusted and disappointed can not compare to seeing their looks of disgust transform into frowns of disappointment over the course of forty-five seconds.
Why would there be a Vana fest this year? There wasn't one last year. Only reason they would have one is if they are announcing something big.

[SpankWustler]

Why would there be a Vana fest this year? There wasn't one last year. Only reason they would have one is if they are announcing something big.

I'm not sure why, but it's happening. (http://www.playonline.com/ff11/event/vanafest2012/)

[Malamasala]

Too little, too late, as all Summoners say about every single update.

[Kaisha]

They tend to consider this sort of thing a big announcement, if new avatars in the past are any indication.
Wasn't Diabolos being a summonable avatar a day-of release note, without any hype prior?

[SpankWustler]

Wasn't Diabolos being a summonable avatar a day-of release note, without any hype prior?

I want to say there wasn't even anything in the update notes, other than a mention of a new quest or something. It was really low-key.

I remember them carrying on and teasing people about Alexander and Odin forever like they were working hard on a way to slice bread, though, so I don't know.

Now that I think about Diabolos, it is equally possible that I'm remembering this wrong because players make such a big deal out of new avatars. Still, I'm proud of my metaphor comparing their announcements to elevator flatulence and I choose to stand behind it. Then I feel ashamed of that pride.

I'm confused.

[Karbuncle]

Personally, I think we should stop getting new avatars, as SE and apparently some of us still feel that actually helps the job.

When in reality Cait sith is going to be a Second Carbuncle, Do nothing to improve SMN's use, and be a fancy toy above all else, And thats the last thing we need to hype up about the job.

Starting to get the feeling SMN is just a giant mascot for FFXI, no real uses, but sure fun to look at.

[Saiken253]

I sadly feel the same way... I am 100% certain that Cait Sith is going to be nothing more than a token avatar that is occasionally used, and most of that use will simply be for idling with it out. SE needs to take most/all of the good suggestions on the SMN forum to heart and implement them.

Stop adding dysfunctional tools/"updates" to jobs that are already dysfunctional(SMN isn't the only one; DRK with SD and some other "updates" is another example)

[rufuslupus]

don't forget that beyond the first 8 primes we received, every avatar added afterwards has been successful. saying "they keep adding avatars and it is not helping" is untrue concerning diabolos, alexander, and odin. a more accurate saying is "the first 8 avatars are like the oldest kid in a family where the parents make all the mistakes with them first" when se adds cait sith and atomos i have faith that they won't be like fenrir, carbuncle, or the 6 primes.

[Karbuncle]

I'm almost positive they already said Cait sith was going to be Carbuncle 2.0.

Maybe I imagined it. But frankly, adding a single pet will never fix the job, Even after Alexander, Odin and Diabolos, The job is still pretty endangered, and ultimately rather useless in todays FFXI outside of PD Zergs.

I don't see 1 new Avatar fixing this. I say 1, Because Atomos is a 2hr avatar.

[Luvbunny]

They should take a look at their recent games FFXIII-2 with its monster breeding elements and time travel. Now that is a game that put the word "fun, enjoyable, and fast pace" on something that is so grindy and boring which is random battle. Don't you wish you can "grow and customize" your own avatar, automaton, wyvern or favorite jug pets with augmented items/quets etc similar to crystarium leveling up and infusion? They tried it with pankration to a degree but it was just a lame implementation. A good monster breeding program will revitalize the game if implemented correctly. There are a few elements in FFXI that is borrowed from other FF games but implemented poorly, another one is Chocobo Racing, which FFXIII-2 also did justice.

[Neisan_Quetz]

Odin and Diabolos... Successful avatars... I'm missing something here...

[Karbuncle]

Diabolos was a minor success back when it was released due to nether Blast being incredibly consistent, as well as a long-ranged attack. That quickly faded around the time 75BP's were released.

And over-all, that was back in the days of Kiting Kirin, It wasn't exactly a fix to the job, it was just a convenience to a not-so-informed playerbase.

[Alhanelem]

it was mentioned that caith sith and atomos would happen this year 2012.

can you ask the dev. if they are still working on them? speak to us so we know that you have not forsaken us.

when is their planned goal for testing on the test server? summer? fall? 2013? 2014?

a little hope would be appreciated.

I don't recall a year or date ever being given. Though people have guessed this based on the amount of time it took them to give us odin and alexander after orgiinally announcing 2 new avatars.

[Luvbunny]

I have a feeling that both avatars will be near impossible for normal casual players to obtain. They probably force us to do ALL void watch and have 100% clear and do another long line of quests etc just to piss us off. But then again, they could be nice and just ask us to complete Wings of the Goddess or portion of the missions. Otherwise it's a token avatar, not needed unless you are completionist - and as usual this will not be implemented until 2015, when they resolve how to make Atomos to not look like a giant b_tt hole.

[Luvbunny]

Cait Sith is coming this August - either on test server or coming to the server near you. Better get those WoTG missions done ASAP.

[Tile]

Cait Sith is coming this August - either on test server or coming to the server near you. Better get those WoTG missions done ASAP.

unless they make it the VWNM cait sith for some stupid reason. in which case you have to have VWNM clear. I hope to god its WotG black, I think the VWNM grey one is ugly

[Karbuncle]

Showing Just Cait sith being added is almost confirming my suspicion that Atomos will be Cait Sith's 2hour.

Still, Can't say I'll be super excited about Cait Sith being added, It won't fix this crap of all crap jobs. I don't think SE Even uses Summoners in any of the demonstration videos they've released of Battle content. Even SE Acknowledges it as a useless job :D

Maybe when they adjust BST Familiars they'll make Avatars not suck... Or Update the Millions of Sub-par worthless BP-Wards we have?

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Showing Just Cait sith being added is almost confirming my suspicion that Atomos will be Cait Sith's 2hour. And you'll have to do a second quest to unlock it!