Idea for SMN variance -- double our unique summons, with no changes to gameplay.

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.

I hope a dev sees this! They could even sell the abilities as glam packs in the mogstation!

People have been asking for the other "core" primals since HW at least. They decided instead to triple down on Bahamut, and I'm fully expecting the 110 skill to just be Phoinix from P3.

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Originally Posted by Daralii

People have been asking for the other "core" primals since HW at least. They decided instead to triple down on Bahamut, and I'm fully expecting the 110 skill to just be Phoinix from P3.

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I just think maybe we, as players, aren't making enough noise then! Clearly it's on their radar since they teased us with the concept of egi-glam (even though that went nowhere in the end).

Maybe in 3 years when the next expansion comes out they give Summoner something actually new and interesting. Can’t wait *bangs head against wall*

I'd do Alexander instead of Odin. Alexander appears (briefly, in post credits) in the MSQ. You never have to face Odin. Baha Blast and Mega Ultra Chicken blasted their aether all over Eorzea which is why you can summon them. Just can say the same for Alex when he was summoned. Odin is just a lame sword made by a better primal.

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Originally Posted by RaideDuku

I'd do Alexander instead of Odin. Alexander appears (briefly, in post credits) in the MSQ. You never have to face Odin. Baha Blast and Mega Ultra Chicken blasted their aether all over Eorzea which is why you can summon them. Just can say the same for Alex when he was summoned. Odin is just a lame sword made by a better primal.

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I don't think appearing in MSQ is necessarily a requirement. Solar Bahamut doesn't appear in the MSQ and neither does Phoenix. Odin is a really iconic Final Fantasy summon and using him as the combo finisher leaves Alexander as an option for a really cinematic LB3.

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Originally Posted by OvernightSiren

I don't think appearing in MSQ is necessarily a requirement. Solar Bahamut doesn't appear in the MSQ and neither does Phoenix. Odin is a really iconic Final Fantasy summon and using him as the combo finisher leaves Alexander as an option for a really cinematic LB3.

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Solar Bahamut is just a spoiler-free stand-in for a primal who becomes very prominent in the MSQ. ;)

As I’ve said in other threads in the DPS role forum, I can see where they might be going with it (and where I’d like it to go)… but only if we get Levi, Shiva, & Ramuh. Otherwise it doesn’t really make sense. And honestly even Solar could have been an upgrade instead of a separate summon. But the way they did it, I think it’s leading to 4 Demis and (hopefully!) 6 gem summons total.

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Originally Posted by Daralii

People have been asking for the other "core" primals since HW at least. They decided instead to triple down on Bahamut, and I'm fully expecting the 110 skill to just be Phoinix from P3.

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Funny how the spell animations from bahamut 2 looks like something that could come from Titania.

Also would probably swap Shiva with Ramuh. Don't see the old guy sliding across the map.

The best route, in my opinion for 8.0 changes:

- Make Solar Bahamut an upgrade from Demi Bahamut at level 100, and doing so also changing the gameplay during the Trance window. I won't tinker with this because there's literally a vast array of approaches that is not a the same gcd with 2 ogcds to weave between. Phoenix stays as is.
- The next capstone is the 3 new gemstones with a distinct rotation from the previous ones, and then there's the "new feature", which is a job specific interface, similar to the Blue Mage spellbook, where you can arrange an elemental wheel with the gemstones and the demis before combat.
- Physick scales with INT and becomes Lux Solaris when you activate Solar Bahamut.
- Energy Drain and Necrotize reworked to something that is more integrated into the rest of your kit.