SMN - knowing the class (part 1)

[FUNgineer]

On 2nd thought, maybe this isn't the end of the world:

with 3 dots up, the average tick that shows up is around 250 dmg. Assuming I was bad and only had 3 dots rolling at all times (conservative estimate, I used shadowflare and thunder as well), then there would be a total of 13330 / 250 = 53.32 dot ticks. Multiply the dot ticks by 3 and that gives us 159.96 seconds. According to the bard's dps, the fight lasted about 511 seconds, so I'm wondering whether dots are accurately being counted into the dot damage, or it may be rolled into overall damage done.

After servers are up I'll go to the dummies with the parser and see exactly what's going on :V

[tn2389]

People are not understanding the difficulty of a good summoner and therefore are not playing the class to their limit. They're parsing low and complaining that summoners are weak. To start this conversation, I have played many MMO's in my past and have been in top raiding guilds in World of Warcraft as a shadow priest parsing top 20 scores in the world.

We are also getting flak because the 3rd party application everyone is using to parse, ffxiv-app, does not correctly parse Bio or Bio II which are our two strongest spells. They will average anywhere from 15-25 EACH over the course of a fight depending upon gear levels.

[tn2389]

I have done about 10 keep runs and 5 Ifrit runs and have parsed on the training dummies. One mistake a lot of people are making is that everyone uses the Garuda pet. It does 10 DPS less than Ifrit (yet everybody uses it). The only benefit of Garuda is that it will refresh your dots every 3 cycles. This does not give you 10 DPS more from Ruin in your free casts (instead it would be about 3). So you're losing 7 DPS from even using Garuda.

On every single fight I have parsed between 110 and 140 DPS depending on how much movement is involved. This isn't even counting the 30-50 extra DPS I should be parsing. That would mean I'm doing on average 165 DPS. I also only have three pieces of Darklight so I have a lot more potential DPS to gain. I have the belt, bracers, and a weapon.

[tn2389]

One of the strengths of a summoner is in their ability to use cross class abilities. There are three which are very beneficial. Thunder, Aero, and Raging Strikes. The only ability I have in my current parses is Thunder which is doing 22 DPS across the entire fight. Aero would do another 15 DPS and Raging Strikes would give two entire dot cycles an extra 20% damage. That would probably be around a 5 DPS increase. So on average if I added in Aero and Raging Strikes I would be doing around 185 DPS.

Do other classes do more? Maybe. But a good summoner is definitely capable of pulling their own weight in a group.

[FUNgineer]

Aero isn't cross classable as summoner though, I was sad when I found out at lvl 30. I haven't tested ifrit and garuda damage so far, but I've noticed that using ifrit makes me drain mana (Sustaining Thunder, Shadow Flare, Miasma, Bio, Bio 2, and using ruin 1 as filler (cheaper mp cost than ruin 2) a lot faster because contagion isn't available to ifrit. With Ifrit I have to use more energy drains to maintain mana, and more endrains mean less Festers. Contagion as someone pointed out, can have a max potency of (40+35+35+35)x5=725 potency, which is quite hefty for something on a 1 minute CD. Either way, it's a new class and the parser may seem to have issues recognizing dots, but it doesn't feel that we're so terrible that we're not worth bringing to parties.

[Ribbon]

One of the strengths of a summoner is in their ability to use cross class abilities. There are three which are very beneficial. Thunder, Aero, and Raging Strikes. The only ability I have in my current parses is Thunder which is doing 22 DPS across the entire fight. Aero would do another 15 DPS and Raging Strikes would give two entire dot cycles an extra 20% damage. That would probably be around a 5 DPS increase. So on average if I added in Aero and Raging Strikes I would be doing around 185 DPS.

Do other classes do more? Maybe. But a good summoner is definitely capable of pulling their own weight in a group.

Are you sure you're playing a Summoner and not the base Arcanist?

[Malix]

Here's an HM Ifrit parse earlier today: http://puu.sh/4ibai/e93a287ff6.png

Whens Marvel: Bard
Anniemay: Summoner
Asami: Dragoon
Champion: Monk

Things of interest on the parse:
- Garuda does a hefty bit of damage, at about 1/3 of my total damage if you disregard the limit break. The 700+ dmg hit was from an Enkindle with Rouse and Spur applied
- Accuracy seems to be an useless stat because nothing ever misses... Give me something else on the darklight cowl T.T
- Summoner DPS is fine.

If you factor in the Bio and Bio 2 damage it does not track you are either either even with the guy or past him. Both cases proves that smn is powerful.

edit: actually i dont think that parser tracks bard's DoTs as well(could be wrong). However i consider bard to be the exception, they may be OP but that doesn't mean every other class is bad because one is dominating them.

[tn2389]

Yes, my mistake. I just leveled to level 4 Conjurer and even though the tooltip when you mouse over it says SMN, I am not able to use Aero as a Summoner.

[Amsai]

Someone sell me on virus. It doesnt seem terrible but seems too much trouble to worry with so many otber things like dots pet skills etc. To keep up. Maybe if the CD or durratiin wasnt so bleh. Anyways im open to otbers thoughts.

[Kevee]

I have done about 10 keep runs and 5 Ifrit runs and have parsed on the training dummies. One mistake a lot of people are making is that everyone uses the Garuda pet. It does 10 DPS less than Ifrit (yet everybody uses it). The only benefit of Garuda is that it will refresh your dots every 3 cycles. This does not give you 10 DPS more from Ruin in your free casts (instead it would be about 3). So you're losing 7 DPS from even using Garuda.

On every single fight I have parsed between 110 and 140 DPS depending on how much movement is involved. This isn't even counting the 30-50 extra DPS I should be parsing. That would mean I'm doing on average 165 DPS. I also only have three pieces of Darklight so I have a lot more potential DPS to gain. I have the belt, bracers, and a weapon.

Contagion + Raging Strikes > Ifrit

Contagion + Bane > Ifrit, too, even with the bug. Now just try to do Contagion + Raging Strikes + Bane. LOL