A fix for SMN MP problems

[Starkbeaumont]

easiest would be to just lower energy drains potency to 100, while doubling or even tripling it's mp regen. Rise Fester's potency while all 3 dots are up to 400. now in shorter fights smn will be a bit stronger, while in longer fights it remains to the same potency output as it is right now using all stacks for festers, but still keeping your mp high.


on top of that switch contagion with tri disaster, so garuda is more suited for aoe, control and heavy movement fights, while ifrit is for single target, static fights.

(and lower enkindle to 2min timer, this won't break the job but actually close the gap to blm)

[Zorzi]

easiest would be to just lower energy drains potency to 100, while doubling or even tripling it's mp regen. Rise Fester's potency while all 3 dots are up to 400. now in shorter fights smn will be a bit stronger, while in longer fights it remains to the same potency output as it is right now using all stacks for festers, but still keeping your mp high.


on top of that switch contagion with tri disaster, so garuda is more suited for aoe, control and heavy movement fights, while ifrit is for single target, static fights.

(and lower enkindle to 2min timer, this won't break the job but actually close the gap to blm)

SCH gets Energy Drain as well, and this would break them entirely. Buffing SMN without changing SCH is extremely hard - for example, they get the pet SS buff as well, so any changes to it would need to take SCH into account as well. (Personally I don't think a few seconds of refresh or whatever would break them, but it still needs to be considered.)

I wonder if balance issues are why they're moving away from classes in the expansion. It's a shame, despite the headaches it causes, I like the idea of split classes. All things considered I think SCH/SMN was done pretty good for a first try.

[Tex_Mex]

I wonder if balance issues are why they're moving away from classes in the expansion. It's a shame, despite the headaches it causes, I like the idea of split classes. All things considered I think SCH/SMN was done pretty good for a first try.

SE has mentioned on a few accounts that they were unhappy with the way the ACN class worked out, and that they would not be implementing split classes again in the future. It makes sense though, because base classes severely restrict the ability to make jobs unique from one another.
The only difference between SCH and SMN is 5 spells, that's it. Think how much better the classes could be if they did not have to share ACN.

[Tex_Mex]

in regards to the changes you suggested in post#11

Unfortunately, I think these changes are a bit too strong.
1)The energy drain change would greatly buff SCH, which does not need any buffing at the moment.
2) the fester potency change would add A LOT of dps to the SMN. I agree that SMNM should get a ST damage buff, but this seems heavy handed. I would have to see the numbers to be certain though.
3) the enkindle timer reduction will likely happen in the future, but probably to 3min
4) swapping contagion off of garuda would likely result in the pet never being used in end game scenarios. Contagion is the only reason that garuda is good at AoE DPS (because contagion+bane=love). Tri-disaster is not useful enough for anyone to ever warrant using garuda in anything but solo content. If Contagion will be removed, then Garuda needs to be reworked to not lose its usefulness completely.

[Tex_Mex]

The important factors to consider while brainstorming for ways to buff SMN are these:

1) The buffs can not increase SCH in any way. That class is already very strong.
2) The buffs should affect SMN single target dps mostly. Stay away from buffing Bane or their AoE potential. We already have a class that specializes in AoE
3) The ideal place for SMN single target DPS is about 2-3% ahead of BLM. This would give them the boost they need to be considered in FCoB

Using this list is how I came up with the idea I mentioned earlier in this thread:

Give fester a 50% chance to make the next energy drain cost no aetherflow.
This change would marginally buff SMN single target damage while also helping to resolve some of their MP management issues. Simple and effective

[Darkstride]

I suggest something like Sublimation from FFXI (and no, I don't want this game to be XI):
http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Sublimation
Gradually creates an MP pool while your health slowly drains. Recasting it stops the effect and applies the stored MP to you. It's sort of like the DoT version of Convert, which fits Arcanist's theme.

Or if you want to help Summoner without affecting Scholar, then the Egis are the best way to achieve that. I would suggest that when an Egi de-spawns, a portion of its remaining health is transferred to the Summoner's MP. It wouldn't really be able to be abused under normal circumstances due to Egi summon cast times. Swiftcast would allow you to re-summon your Egi for a quick MP boost.

[Tex_Mex]

I suggest something like Sublimation from FFXI (and no, I don't want this game to be XI):
http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Sublimation
Gradually creates an MP pool while your health slowly drains. Recasting it stops the effect and applies the stored MP to you. It's sort of like the DoT version of Convert, which fits Arcanist's theme. I would suggest that when an Egi de-spawns, a portion of its remaining health is transferred to the Summoner's MP. It wouldn't really be able to be abused under normal circumstances due to Egi summon cast times. Swiftcast would allow you to re-summon your Egi for a quick MP boost.

I like the sublimation idea a lot, however, I would like to see it be usable with all egi's so that we are not forced to use garuda every time we want to recover MP. And the MP boost on summon is a cool idea, but it kind of devalues our combat res because we have to use our swiftcast to get it.

[Darkstride]

I like the sublimation idea a lot, however, I would like to see it be usable with all egi's so that we are not forced to use garuda every time we want to recover MP. And the MP boost on summon is a cool idea, but it kind of devalues our combat res because we have to use our swiftcast to get it.

I'm not sure I said anything that referred to Garuda being necessary for any of this... Sublimation would be an ability on the Summoner, not the Egi. Maybe I am misunderstanding your response.

As for Swiftcast, tell people to quit being dead so that you can manage your MP :-P.

[point09micron]

What about a job action that works like FFXI's Elemental Siphon. It was a summoner ability that drained MP from the pet to the SMN. Pets don't have MP in this FFXIV, but maybe something that drains pet HP to restore player MP, the opposite of Sustain. Or better yet, to give it some opportunity cost, have an ability that resets all the pet's CDs to restore some MP to the player.

[ShiroSteve]

I think the big issue is that summoner needs a consistent increase in MP regen and not something that is proc'd or RNG based. Because you are guaranteed to run out of MP; and not being able to DPS because of bad luck is bad indeed.

Easiest fix I think is simply an enhanced energy drain for summoner only with an increased potency and mp refresh in addition to making ruin cost less mana. Its more in line with the way SE commonly buffs thing and wouldn't buff SCH in anyway.