Summoner is the most fun, highest DPS and awesome side-support job.

[Kevee]

What parser are you guys using? Mine tracks DoTs and everything . Most of the time i out dd blms combined with garuda egi's dmg. The job is quite OP and only noobs post crap about it. Yes it's a very bland class designed by SE but very busy and fun to use.

Stop saying this misinformation.


No parser accurately tracks DoTs. They can't, they aren't in the combat log.

PERIOD.

[Ryuko]

I will support your thread because I am so sick of all the SMN hate threads I see. It is a GREAT class, and very unique.

Could the class be improved in certain ways? Definitely! Pet AI could definitely use some tweaking, for example.

But, as a whole, I am more than happy with it. I usually out-DPS most people in similar/identical gear if you add my pet into the mix. The extra damage and Contagion helps a LOT. The class is fairly easy to play but difficult to master (timing everything perfectly so there is no wasted time when reapplying DoTs), thus inviting new players and veterans to try it out and play it well. In a pinch, we can 'switch roles' temporarily. I was doing Turn 1 in coil the other day and our dps was TOO FAST for the strategy we were using (knock down all the stacks before snakes split), so I simply put on my DoTs and started backup healing (the melee) so that the healers could focus their attention on the tanks. Summoner is a great 'think outside of the box' job...

What parser are you guys using? Mine tracks DoTs and everything . Most of the time i out dd blms combined with garuda egi's dmg. The job is quite OP and only noobs post crap about it. Yes it's a very bland class designed by SE but very busy and fun to use.

When parsers first came out, they were notoriously inaccurate with every type of DoT. I don't know if they work(ed) with HoTs or not. Now, some parsers claim to 'accurately' track SMN DoTs. I don't know if I believe it and I don't run parsers for this reason... However, when people DO run parsers, they make it a note of telling me how my DPS tops everyone when you factor in my pet's added damage (since it is a part of me, even though it is a separate entity on the parser). It is my assumption that the reason I 'top everyone else' is because I am reapplying my DoTs at the right time (so there is no 'downtime') and my pet never has to dodge/move/anything between attacks. That's all up to me. And Fester/Aetherflow is instant...

If it couldn't track DoTs, how is it tracking my damage? Is it just assuming my DoTs are hitting for normal damage? I stack a LOT of Crit and I doubt these parsers are tracking 'Crit' DoTs if the DoT ticks themselves do not show up in the log... my dps may be even higher. I don't know for sure, but I DEFINITELY know our DPS is enough to keep up with every single other DPS class. SE did a good job of balancing dps between jobs. I've yet to see someone rejected from a group simply because 'that class doesn't put out good dps'.

[Alenghil]

Shhh don't tell anyone that we have the highest dps or everyone will make a summoner

[Ryuko]

Shhh don't tell anyone that we have the highest dps or everyone will make a summoner

A lot of people quit the job for the arbitrary reason that "OMG THE PETS DON'T LOOK AS COOL AS I WANT."

I'm perfectly okay with this.

Everyone and their grandmother was an arcanist/summoner during the first week. At least it's slowed down a bit. I'd be interested in seeing a poll of what people use as their 'main' job (can't just count 50s because so many people have so many different 50s).

[Kevee]

If it couldn't track DoTs, how is it tracking my damage?

All parsers run a simulation. They can see when a debuff is applied, or falls off.

They're either wildly inaccurate, or can't account for a multitude of things. SF still isn't reliably tracked on any parser, they can't account for crits, Foe Requiem, Raging Strikes, or Contagion. Clipping is still iffy, too.

[Ryuko]

All parsers run a simulation. They can see when a debuff is applied, or falls off.

They're either wildly inaccurate, or can't account for a multitude of things. SF still isn't reliably tracked on any parser, they can't account for crits, Foe Requiem, Raging Strikes, or Contagion. Clipping is still iffy, too.

The reason I am more inclined to believe the parsers that now 'claim' to be more accurate is because two independent parsers running on two different machines will usually collect roughly the same data during a fight. That is really the 'checker' for me... But still, if my damage on the parser was LOW, I would see your point... but my damage is HIGH, even without it (presumably) accounting for Crits or DoT extensions. I don't think I'm exceptional; I do have good gear, but the class isn't that hard to play. I'm personally just happy that we can keep up. I don't need to be the best as long as I have my niche to fill.

[Kevee]

The reason I am more inclined to believe the parsers that now 'claim' to be more accurate is because two independent parsers running on two different machines will usually collect roughly the same data during a fight. That is really the 'checker' for me... But still, if my damage on the parser was LOW, I would see your point... but my damage is HIGH, even without it (presumably) accounting for Crits or DoT extensions. I don't think I'm exceptional; I do have good gear, but the class isn't that hard to play. I'm personally just happy that we can keep up. I don't need to be the best as long as I have my niche to fill.

See: "Wildy inaccurate."

What I meant by that is that sometimes the parser will register Bio as hitting for 800+ a tick, and Bio II for 200+ a tick.

Sometimes the Miasma DoT only registers 9 damage a tick, etc.

[Kevee]

And, again, you cannot parse what isn't there.


Period.


A parser gets the data by going through the combat log.

It can't get what isn't there, so it runs a simulation.

[Alenore]

!?

[Ryuko]

See: "Wildy inaccurate."

What I meant by that is that sometimes the parser will register Bio as hitting for 800+ a tick, and Bio II for 200+ a tick.

Sometimes the Miasma DoT only registers 9 damage a tick, etc.

Perhaps the actual numbers are skewed, but I am inclined to believe that my damage is STILL more than sufficient -- and by that, I mean, AT LEAST equal without parser numbers. Unless you are implying that every single person I have ever played with is bad... in which case, I have no answer for you. Some classes have aggro-reducing abilities. Summoners also have access to Quelling Strikes, for example. However, there is a reason I am usually pretty high on the hate table even WITH these abilities. It can't be because my damage is bad, right? It wouldn't be fair if my damage was horrible and yet somehow I was pulling more hate than even the other dps? :O Keep in mind that my pet accounts for some of my damage... and my pet has a different aggro number than me.

My argument is simple: summoners keep up with other dps classes if the class is played correctly. Summoners may even surpass other dps classes if the class is played correctly. The exact numbers don't matter and I don't know why people are spending so much time arguing about that. You'll clearly see in a group if you are pulling your weight or not without a parser proving it.