Can someone give me an in-depth explanation why Summoner is arguably the worst DPS?

[Sen_Terrechant]

There's no point in discussing this topic like this, since people obvious are on different grounds.

This is what smn who have cleared T13 or close to it feels about blm:
You just have to work so hard to achieve the same level of dps as a blm. Personally the effort in playing smn to achieve the same level of dps as a blm or a good brd is just ridiculous. I've been playing smn since 2.0, and I have to say I am proud of my dps for almost hitting 480ish on T13, but compared to my static's blm who just started playing like a month ago (switched back to blm) and doing 450dps, I feel mistreated. And I have a good idea of where other T13 clear smn's dps is around......

So to the casual:
You guys can argue what utilities smn have, for the small portion of us who are HC progression, we all know what smn can do. What's smn utility? Is it edible? lulz. I don't think I can argue this point with anyone who haven't cleared T12 yet, our worlds are just too different.

/end of rant

Pretty much this. Pulling 455 unmerged, 480ish merged DPS on T13 while tryharding your pants off and knowing that the BLM can easily pull 10-20 DPS more then you is frusterating. Even moreso when you realise that most of that DPS is coming simply from the add phase boosting your numbers through AoE which the BLM can abuse far better then you can. Not to mention to really pull good DPS we have to be in melee range, unlike the BLM. Yes, book whacks add a good 20 DPS guys.

Couple that with the fact our utility isnt really that great (not any more then a BLM. Remember kids: They have a virus and E4E too, along with Apocostasis which is godly for progression, and Manawall/Manaward/Aetherial Minipulation which are all godly for progression as a caster class) and its just ugh.

The issue people have with summoner isnt at the lower or mid level of play, it simply comes about at the very high levels of play with people that are min/maxing. Most people will never encounter a SMN feeling subpar, but for those of us playing at that very high level of play its frusterating. We have to micromanage our mana, our pets, and be in melee for book whacks all while managing the normal DPS stuff like DoTs and cooldowns- all for subpar DPS. We really only BEAT a BRD, and thats only because they sing songs (we would be about equal with a bard if they didnt, and we have half the utility)

Yes SMN can clear content, Yes SMN can pull okay DPS. Yet for 95% of content BLM does it better.

[ViviAnimus]

snip.

Amen, brother. A-men

[Ronove]

Yes SMN can clear content, Yes SMN can pull okay DPS. Yet for 95% of content BLM does it better.

^ all this

[Lilyarel]

snip

This guy gets it.

[Dyvid]

This guy gets it.

This guy is also on FCoB where SMN are having issue where as you and I are not. At the tier I play and content I do, I have never felt subpar to my BLM except in certain boss fights that I would love burst damage (Tam-Tara HM). I mainly do Crystal Tower, Dungeons, PvP, and Hunts. I really need to try Primals and Coil more but haven't found the time to devote to it.

I also think SMN on FCoB are in the best position to say what is actually needed for SMN like better solution for MP than just adding support abilities to make SMN feel useful.