We have finally come full circle, SMN's need help!

[Orrias]

Well, I can't make sense of your post because it contradicts somewhat so I didn't even want to try to understand it. What really is the point you're trying to make in that post? Also Aetherflow mp returns are dependent on how much mp you have; you restore 20% of your max mp. It may not be the best fix, but it is the quickest and somewhat tiny fix that kinda matters at this point, and it doesn't affect the SCH counterpart. I don't want to see a SCH buff/nerf coming into effect just because of how many issues a SMN have.
I play both SMN (main character) and SCH (alt character). A change to both Aetherflow and Energy Drain that you're suggesting right now would make it so SCH's have no mp issues whatsoever and can up their dps potential as a healer. Basically, they can use more of their stacks to Lustrate and use Sacred Soil. Really good SCH (with reliable WHM) could probably be in Cleric Stance for like 40%-60% in high-end fights. Right now SCH is at a good position for being a healer and has decent dps to help out with pushing. They can even get more dps than a tank, depending on the fights.

You found my post contradicting, and hence "didn't want to try to understand" it, and yet you want to know what "is the point [I'm] trying to make in that post"... (¬.¬)7

As this is a SMN orientated thread, what I mention is going to be related to them, and not SCHs. Why would I advocate adding more Aetherflow stacks to SCHs..? I know full well that the Jobs are intertwined, and I take iit for granted that the people posting here have the intelligence to know that too.

In any case, my post before the one you quoted made mention that I thought "Aetherflow is also a nuissance, as any buffs it could potentially receive are, under the current Job system, [are] going to be subject to watering down due to it being a ACN ability". I've also mentioned in several other thread posts that having SMN & SCH linked via traits, and crucially Aetherflow, is a bad idea. Personally, I'm all for splitting the two Jobs apart from one another, or removing the shared traits factor between the Jobs.

In regards as to why I'd like to see more Aethflow stacks, as opposed to PIE or stat 'band aides', if you play SMN competitively, then you'll know that Festers are needed to keep up with every other dps apart from BRD, in FCoB. As it stands, once the initial stacks (that can be used from the start of the fight) are gone, and you now have to wait for Aetherflow to come off of CD, your dps drops very quickly, because you have nothing with which to spike your dps. I was arguing that SMNs need more stacks, not SCH's, however, that doesn't seem likely given that it is an ACN ability, as is Energy Drain.

As for Energy Drain, because BRD's won't sing ballads for SMNs only in FCoB (as it's a dps loss), a SMN has to resort to either mp pots or Energy Drain. If you were to use Energy Drain instead of Fester, then you've lost a huge chunk of damage, and, the mp returns on its use are meager (e.g. ~250-275 mp when it doesn't crit, and ~400-430 on a crit, and Energy Drain hardly ever crits). It is essentially a waste of Aetherflow stacks for a SMN and should have the Aetherlfow stack requirement removed from it and it's potency increased to improve mp returns.

Even if you were to buff Energy Drain, and you were to 'solve' the mp issues SMN has in FCoB, you haven't solved the problem of them dropping such a large amount of dps due to not having an Aetherflow stack at-hand to be able to fester. Both SMN & BRD are inherently flawed, as they both rely heavily on nuanced fight mechanics to cover up the fact that they peak quick, but fade to a timid lull, whilst over Jobs either treadmill up to a high plateau (e.g. MNK/ NIN/ DRG), or have the ability to spike their dps based on lucky procs (i.e. BLM).


.

[ShinryuReishiki]

As for Energy Drain, because BRD's won't sing ballads for SMNs only in FCoB (as it's a dps loss), a SMN has to resort to either mp pots or Energy Drain. If you were to use Energy Drain instead of Fester, then you've lost a huge chunk of damage, and, the mp returns on its use are meager (e.g. ~250-275 mp when it doesn't crit, and ~400-430 on a crit, and Energy Drain hardly ever crits). It is essentially a waste of Aetherflow stacks for a SMN and should have the Aetherlfow stack requirement removed from it and it's potency increased to improve mp returns.

Energy Drain restores a fixed amount of MP regardless of damage done; the HP restoration is what's based on damage.