SMN needs more utility in FL

[DeliriumTrigger]

After changes on magic resistance of ice in Fields of Glory, casters have been pretty much useless when it comes to killing the ice tomes. While casters can opt to DPS the enemy instead, healers in range can heal through the damage. This is where utility comes in. These is how the 2 match up against each other:

BLMs have: sleep 2x, Bind, physical and magic barriers, slow
SMNs have: Slow, Bind, Range reduction, Buff remover

While range reduction and buff remover is useful in The Feast, it's not quite really useful in FL since mostly everyone stay close together. Also BLM's bind is a ground AoE spell which can be precast to oncoming enemies (no need for Swiftcast), while SMN's bind requires the target to be in range and takes almost 3 seconds to cast (need Swiftcast or you'll be dead before you finish casting). Furthermore, BLM's sleep spell can really make a difference when it comes to ice DPS. BLMs can sleep enemy melees to prevent them from doing damage. SMNs have...nothing?

I am not really sure what to suggest to fix the disparity since it could affect The Feast and PvE. A few things that comes to my mind are the following:
-Lower or remove the cast time for Tri-bind or make it a ground target AoE
-Add an AoE stun to Titan-Egi's Landslide

Maybe other people have better suggestions but I just wanted to point out how SMN is lacking in the utility department.

[itsoni]

It's lacking CC because it has mobility. BLM needs to be planted to throw out F4's and can easily be singled out then burst down, so it needs some kind of defense to actually get those casts off.

Also - if you're using Wither to actually remove buffs in FL then you're doing it wrong. It's too unpredictable to be used properly and is on a long CD. If a melee dps does end up close to you with low health or if you have no burst and need to secure a kill - just run up and hit them both. It's 340 potency together without points. The range reduction is good if you're being chased down by a player and need to escape. Swiftcast > Tribind not possible? Hit Misty Veil and sprint.

One will always be better than the other under different circumstances. Sleep around Ice DPS is just an advantage BLM has - it doesn't mean SMN needs it too.

[Enlial]

Wither is 170/200 potency
edit: oh, you mean wither+aetheric, my bad

How about instead of 50% magic resist they give tomeliths 50% resist to all damage, but give a buff to anyone within 12y or whatever that negates it? Putting magic resist on them was a horrible idea

[DeliriumTrigger]

It's lacking CC because it has mobility. BLM needs to be planted to throw out F4's and can easily be singled out then burst down, so it needs some kind of defense to actually get those casts off.

Mobility doesn't matter much unless you're in a small group fighting against 1-4 people (e.g. The Feast). In 72 man, anyone can be a target and the ice objectives are more of a priority now since the score was lowered to 1600 (The 1600-1800 post ice endgame doesn't exist anymore). I play both BLM and SMN in Fields of Glory and nobody bats an eye if I do my leylines+enochian PVE nuke on enemy melee when the ice is up (exception of other BLMs and healers doing sleep/stun).

[DeliriumTrigger]

Wither is 170/200 potency
edit: oh, you mean wither+aetheric, my bad

How about instead of 50% magic resist they give tomeliths 50% resist to all damage, but give a buff to anyone within 12y or whatever that negates it? Putting magic resist on them was a horrible idea

Also I forgot to mention that BLM has Phantom Dart that lowers magic resistance which is also a plus. I also agree that the magic resist was a terrible idea. It made BLM more favorable cos of the utility and ended up "nerfing" SMN.

[itsoni]

Mobility doesn't matter much unless you're in a small group fighting against 1-4 people (e.g. The Feast). In 72 man, anyone can be a target and the ice objectives are more of a priority now since the score was lowered to 1600 (The 1600-1800 post ice endgame doesn't exist anymore). I play both BLM and SMN in Fields of Glory and nobody bats an eye if I do my leylines+enochian PVE nuke on enemy melee when the ice is up (exception of other BLMs and healers doing sleep/stun).

http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodest...cter/10149657/

You don't have a lv60 BLM as far as I can see, looks like you've just started to lv it doing Yokai quests? But if nobody bats an eye while a BLM is doing their PvE rotation then obviously under those circumstances they aren't seen as a threat, or, the opponents aren't too bright. Regardless, SMN has less CC because they have more mobility in their rotation. They did get nerfed a little too much for feast but I know a few SMN's that are still strong threats.

It just comes down to the circumstances at the time.

[DeliriumTrigger]

...

The Feast isn't the same as FL. My post is was meant to raise the issues of SMN in FL. I don't play competitive Feast but I know the differences between the 2 and how changes in one of them may have some drastic effects on the other.

And my main in PVP gear. I main BLM for Frontlines but I play healer, range, caster, tank as well if needed.

[itsoni]

The Feast isn't the same as FL. My post is was meant to raise the issues of SMN in FL. I don't play competitive Feast but I know the differences between the 2 and how changes in one of them may have some drastic effects on the other.

Nice to see you've played a good chunk of matches. I'm fully aware there's a difference between Feast and FL as I never said otherwise but the point is, you're saying SMN needs more CC to compete with BLM, when it just doesnt at all. Ive played probably around 600 FL matches where I'd finish as SMN with 20/25+ kills consistently back when SR was a thing that people queue'd for, even after the nerf. CC is not a thing SMN is big on, but the fact you can hit 4 oGCD's and take someone from 75% - 0 every 30s/60s is its strong point. You know for a fact BLM secures kills using procs most often than not because actually planting to shoot out F4's is much higher risk... and using procs gives you mobility. If someone's running away? You need to be able to chase them down. SMN can do that much easier than BLM can and because of that mobility SMN has, it's harder to catch one too.

Mobility doesn't matter much unless you're in a small group fighting against 1-4 people

Saying mobilty doesnt matter unless small group fighting is just false. If you say otherwise then there's not much else I'll discuss with you. I thought after over a thousand matches you'd understand that much at the least. Planting yourself for that extra DPS and having the mobility to kite/chase with enough DPS to secure is important in both Feast and Frontlines.

The Feast isn't the same as FL. I don't play competitive Feast but I know the differences between the 2 and how changes in one of them may have some drastic effects on the other.

Your OP literally suggested this: "Add an AoE stun to Titan-Egi's Landslide".

Wat even.

[Xenosan]

Infirmary is nastyt debuff, but so underrated it didn't make the list T.T

CC though might just have to wait until Enkindle II and see what plans SE has for the next tier of pet abilities (3.0 focusing on the SMN, next ability set will focus on the pet, is something they said around a year ago iirc).

[Evangela]

I agree. SMN has almost nothing to defend themselves beside Tri-bind.

In the past, SMN has high burst and can do high damages so it's ok if they had to trade it with the low defensive abilities but now.... they're just bad at both offence and defense.