Sustain on SMN

[echoica]

I will say that I play a SCH and know exactly what you guys mean. I also play with a controller. I've tried healing a pet before, but 9 times out of 10 my target indicator will not highlight a SMN pet and after like 5 tries I give up and start worrying about the players more.

This. Maybe a QOL adjustment where pets are on the healers party list? I don't know. But until they are easier to target on controller it's too much of a hassle to bother. Sorry xP

[Xenos74]

As a sch, I don't get the luxury of super long range aoe regen medica 2, so the whole git gud doesn't apply as much. I do know the issues with pets as I usually have to upkeep mine so it doesn't embrace itself. That said, it's not so much the aoe dmg that harms them, but secondary effects like bleed or poison. Neverreap wamouras will kill a pet easily with their poison cone (pet shouldn't be getting hit, but sometimes the tank turns it etc). It's easy to eye over an ifrit and see he needs a heal, but not so easy to see the poison and then target him..

I usually do all my targeting via keyboard while keeping my mouse use to a minimum, so having to mouse target a pet is a hassle, and it does cost me personal dps to heal the pet AND to make sure I'm also upkeeping the tank before I can go back into cleric stance.

Anyways, since I do most of my targeting via F# keys, it would be an easy fix to say hit F# to target the smn, then hit that F# key a second time to target the pet. This method would allow me to easily target a pet and more importantly it wouldn't clutter my pt window which already feels fairly full now that they added TP bars

[Fevelle]

"I do know the issues with pets as I usually have to upkeep mine so it doesn't embrace itself"

For some unknown reason I laughed too hard at this.
The targetting is even worse for controller users.

[Xenos74]

"I do know the issues with pets as I usually have to upkeep mine so it doesn't embrace itself"

For some unknown reason I laughed too hard at this.
The targetting is even worse for controller users.

It's most likely that aurum vale traumatized my sch back when pets were vulnerable to boss poison stacks and the fairy would move to a heal a dps while standing in that yellow acid for like 5 seconds and suiciding....Even now, if there's a reason to run AV, I rather go whm

[Cynfael]

It's pretty rare that a pet should be in danger. Very few attacks aside from those that are single target and those that cleave inflict significant damage to summons.

If I notice that something wonky is happening, like perhaps the tank unnecessarily spinning mobs around so that an egi is getting smacked in the face, I'll throw a Regen, direct an Embrace, or whatnot to help the SMN. In most cases the occasional AoE heal that just happens to fluff the summon does just fine, though.

However, I expect the SMN to do his/her part to manage the pet and place it so that it isn't eating easily avoidable damage. I'm not really inclined to babysit Ifrit, for example, if he's being force-fed all the tank cleaves just because the SMN can't be bothered to reposition him.

[Saggo]

Sorry but no, your own pet is your responsibility.

That doesn't logically follow. Losing a pet is no different than a SMN or MCH getting a debuff on 20-something% damage or a SCH debuff that locks a third-is healing abilities.

It is not only a healer's responsibility to keep people alive but to also keep them fighting/healing at 100%, you do remove paralyze, bind, pacification, and all assortment of debuffs that don't kill but debilitate, don't you?

Obviously, if a person can remove their own debuff they will, and in that same regard as a pet owner I will do whatever I can to keep my pet alive. We all want the damage, heals, or buffs from a pet. But that doesn't waive the healer from ignoring a critical component of a job, even if there are obstacles in the way (like targeting). That only means people should be more forgiving if a pet dies (and most are).

[braneri1]

I will say that I play a SCH and know exactly what you guys mean. I also play with a controller. I've tried healing a pet before, but 9 times out of 10 my target indicator will not highlight a SMN pet and after like 5 tries I give up and start worrying about the players more.

Set up a targeting filter for pets only and you can then pick them out really quickly to heal. I would much rather heal their pets than let them die and then the other person has to blow tons of mp and swiftcast or sit there hard casting summon. Much less detrimental for me to spend one gcd to toss it a regen or physick/embrace. If the person is having issues with continual bad placement then I will of course mention that as well.

[Gandolf]

Just a friendly reminder, if you go into your Character Configuration, Control Setting, under Target scroll to the bottom. There is a section called: Click Filter Settings. In this section, if you check Pets/Minions, you can then target said Pets or Minions, even with controller by pressing the Left or Right D-Pad buttons.

I do agree that Sustain should get a buff but, it is only a 1 second cast so, it really doesn't hinder the player's dps. No, it not the smn's responsibility to heal their pet, they are a dps class. However, they should learn proper placement of their pet. If their pet is badly positioned, a simple Heel command followed by Sic or an attack, or even Place will solve the issue.

[Gandolf]

But, keep in mind, all this comes with experience. The only way to get this experience is from practice, or Veteran Players that are willing to share in a helpful, productive fashion. Not just saying, "you suck", "git gud" and kick them. Hell, I didn't learn about Placing a pet until my first run of T-5, for soak team. So, how can I expect a newer player to know about it, if I didn't learn it until after I was 50?

My point is, if someone doesn't know something that is important or could benefit them and/or the team, take/make the time to help and teach them. A few minutes before the pull, could save a wipe....

[File2ish]

As a WHM/AST I must say "git gud" isn't the answer. I am using Medica II and Aspected helios to help keep the pets up of course, but unless i can safely target your pet (which can be quite difficult for us controller players) without having the tank nearly die or die, even, i'm glad to pop a regen or cure on your pet. But of all the things we need to heal, your pet is our lowest priority.

Tanks>Healers>DPS>NPCs of import (such as Estinien in the Aery)>Other players pets.