Pets can no longer generate significant enmity.
A Shock Squall from a newly summoned Ramuh in the midst of a solo battle isn't enough to distract the enemy from that Dia II I cast a while ago. For comparison, in a 15-minute battle against an NM, a new Ramuh's Shock Squall used to be able to take hate off me immediately. Now, in a 2-minute battle, my SMN has generated so much hate with Dia II that Ramuh can't take it off me with just Shock Squall.
A Predator Claws can't hold the Pinetorum's attention: it remembers the deep emotional scars my Dia II inflicted after a while, and runs to me.
While Shock Squall + Chaotic Strike or Thunderstorm seems to be sufficient for a Pinetorum, I wonder what things will be like if I go try to fight something that takes a long time. It seems like I can't count on avatars to hold hate. I'm sure other pet jobs are having this issue too.
So far I've only fought the Alluring Orobon NM and a Pinetorum as SMN post-update, and while it wasn't difficult, it was more troublesome than it should've been. However, I have a feeling that if I go fight something like Teekesselchen or Hedjedjet solo, things may not be so pretty.
Perhaps my fear is overblown, but this is the job I use for soloing. With decked-out summoning skill and years of experience, my BST isn't worth touching. Even so, people who depend on that job may be in trouble judging by pet enmity issues with SMN.
I'd rather just have my enemy's main concern be my avatar, rather than me.
More specific example:
Ifrit assaults unclaimed Pinetorium.
Ifrit uses Meteor Strike for 1922 damage.
Ifrit uses Infernal Howl. (Accidentally didn't use before claiming)
Edyth casts Dia II for 0 damage.
Ifrit attacks Pinetorium for approximately 55 blunt damage + 45 fire damage per hit for about 40 seconds.
Pinetorium starts running to me 45 seconds into the battle.
Ifrit uses Meteor Strike again for 2208 damage, and only then does he secure hate for the duration of the battle.
WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU? You have a demon throwing meteors at you for quadruple-digit damage, and all I did was cast one spell for 0 damage and give some barely noticeable orders to the demon.
EDIT: Developer response:
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...689#post421689
"Blood Pacts, Retreat, and Release do not generate enmity, and as such were not included in the list [of enmity adjustments for the next version update]."
EDIT: Developer 2nd response:
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...049#post422049
Camate comes bring hope and very good news, but the developers are timid because they feel there are situations where an avatar taking hate will dismantle our party battle strategies. If you don't feel that is the case, let them know.
EDIT AGAIN, MAY 2nd: NOT FIXED. A Velkk Marauder went ape**** on me for casting Dia II, Stoneskin, and Blink. I'll be transparent. I did recast Dia II when it wore. However, Ramuh's thousands of damage and several stuns could not distract him from my 4 white magic spells which supposedly had their enmity values halved. If that white magic enmity reduction is working, then avatar enmity appears to have gotten even WORSE.