Idea for future SMN variance.
I am not alone in being disappointed at the current state of SMN. SMN got basically no new gameplay adjustments this expansion; in addition to this, we got another new Bahamut and s till don't have access to classic summons like Shiva, Titan or Leviathan.
I think that the developers can add these new summons to at least make the job visually different than it was without making any major gameplay changes. It's just a ban-aid over a bigger issue, but at least it would make the job LOOK less bland.
MY IDEA FOR NEW SUMMONER (visual only, gameplay is essentially the same):
Rotation 1: starts with Bahamut
Then: Garuda/Ifrit/Titan (any order)
Rotation 2: starts with Phoenix
then, in any order: Leviathan (plays like Garuda) /Ramuh (plays like Ifrit) /Shiva (plays like Titan)
Finisher: Odin (instead of Solar Bahamut, because that is ugly and no one likes it)
After that, the rotation starts over again with Rotation 1 (Bahamut).
This increases the amount of unique summons we have from the 5 we currently have (Garuda/Ifrit/Titan/Bahamut/Phoenix) to 9 (Garuda/Ifrit/Titan/Bahamut/Phoenix/Leviathan/Ramuh/Shiva/Odin)
Then, just to spice it up even more, change the LB3 to be Alexander to give us a TENTH summon.
Right now 3 of our summons are things we've had for 10 years, Bahamut we've had for 6-8 and Phoenix we've had for 4-6. We currently have THREE forms of Bahamut. Is this "Summoner" or "Bahamut Tamer"? Because it's feeling more like the latter.
Again, I recognize that this is essentially just a cosmetic change; but at least it's something. I remember before Heavensward came out I was so excited to finally get to summon my favorite summon of all time (Leviathan) only to be sitting here 8 years later still not having access to him. I remember pre-EW, seeing the new SMN and thinking this new start for the job would open so many doors to getting other summons. But here we are, with the same summons as always.