The problem with Summoners

[Akiza]

So basically SMNs hit puberty in the expansion. The horn gets bigger, we start getting hair in funny places.

The Summoner is a late bloomer.

[Roshidon1]

I agree with the above posters about the summon just "taking over." Of course the entire class would have to be reworked to make this happen.

[Dyvid]

I agree with the above posters about the summon just "taking over." Of course the entire class would have to be reworked to make this happen.

No thanks, I don't want to be a primal. I would rather Shiva, Ramuh, and Levi just be temporary pets with a timer like WoW's Infernal.

[Roshidon1]

That’s a pretty interesting idea. Would the original pets have temporary forms also?

[zeroaru]

Completely disagree to suggestions of wearing a summon like a suit of armour - people need to stop imagining this, it wont work and it does not fit the theme for the summoner at all.

I do agree with Dyvid - While I wouldn't usually look at outside influences for the FF series summoner the timed Summon would fit quite nicely to how Summons in most FF games are single attack/temporary party members and allow/encourage quick switching between the Egis - obvious MP cost reductions would be a necessity depending on the timer of each pet, or maybe a firecaster style proc would work?

Honestly, summoner is fun and effective - sure i'd love more burst to be a little more viable in a wider range of fights but that doesn't mean the class needs a re-design, a few tweaks to recast timers for our heavy hitting abilities would balance and keep it fair. A firestarter/Cure2 style proc would work wonders on Summoners for either resetting X abilities recast or giving free cast of X Egi.

[Roshidon1]

Completely disagree to suggestions of wearing a summon like a suit of armour - people need to stop imagining this, it wont work and it does not fit the theme for the summoner at all.

Of course this is your opinion. I do like your idea however.

[Sanguisio]

Sorry I also disagree with the armor idea, points for originality though

They need to make it so switching pets isn't detrimental to SMNs, or allow a SMN to crossclass skills from the pet or something. There is no reason contagion or anything else that might be released should be the sole reason you have to gimp your DPS to have.

[Akiza]

The standard bearers for the Summoner are Rydia and Yuna and if a Summoner doesn't meet those standards then they're not a Summoner. This is the only game where the Summoner is a DoT poisoning Mage which doesn't fit with the theme of the Summoner. The Summoner was a Black Mage with a emphasis on Summoner with a bit of White Mage abilities. A White Mage DPS with an emphasis on Summoner. A Time Mage with an empasis on Summoner or a Elementalist with an emphasis on Summoner. All of those Summoners have in common Direct Damage, High Bursts and AoE Bursts. Rydia and Yuna make the Final Fantasy XIV Summoner look like a steaming pile of shit.

[Nym-Phox]

I have to agree with the awkward dot-mage vibe when playing as a summoner ;_;.

I really would like to see a rework of the summoner class as a whole. The class is interesting, and perhaps it could be handed over to scholars as is and break it off as a whole, but it just doesn't feel like a summoner to me.

I'd like to see a standard casting rotation mixed with a short cooldown summon use. Need that extra healing? Summon carbuncle for a small heal, maybe even small buff. Need AoE? Summon Ifrit who uses hellfire like in some of the older FF titles. Quick single target attack, perhaps Ramuh appears and unleashes a bolt. Something of the sort. I guess a good reference would be the special attacks in FFXI, but quick and temporary such that we don't see complains from other classes on "I can't see around this fat freaking primal in my way."

That was the class I was originally hoping for. The egi's, while an interesting idea... I just feel are so lackluster and unappealing to me.

[Nym-Phox]

Char. limit previously.

But I did want to say that the armor idea was certainly an interesting one. I'm mixed on it, but I feel it could be interesting if done right!

And I really would like to see a nice incentive to swap pets.