Why Summoner Needs Help

[Ferrasper]

While Black Mage's AOE effectiveness during HW was certainly only adjusted (Flare's dropoff saw to the end of its reign), Summoner gained a unique opportunity when Bane was buffed to apply to more than three targets, Shadow Flare being a powerful damage over time area, Miasma II was at least a fun tool, Enkindle's cooldown was shortened ever so slightly, and the addition of Painflare (a reliable 200 potency burst AoE) and Deathflare (a whopping 400 potency AoE without dropoff) all provided the tools for Summoner to become one of the most powerful AoE users in the whole game, with only Black Mage as a possible contender.

I know the history of it, but with SB, BLM has resumed it's rain of AOE king with T4, Foul, and quad flare. There is not a lot SMN can do to contend with that.

[EllieShadeflare]

I know the history of it, but with SB, BLM has resumed it's rain of AOE king with T4, Foul, and quad flare. There is not a lot SMN can do to contend with that.

Summoner doesn't actually have anything to contend with ANY aspect of Black Mage, single target, AoE or otherwise, and it is with this topic that I hope SOMETHING can be addressed.

[Ferrasper]

Summoner doesn't actually have anything to contend with ANY aspect of Black Mage, single target, AoE or otherwise, and it is with this topic that I hope SOMETHING can be addressed.

That is the issue with SMN. I think it should be compared with RDM more then BLM. BLM is supposed to be the pure dps caster which packs a punch in Aoes and single target because it doesn't have utility. RDM is your true challenger because both classes have it. The challenge is making both RDM and SMN on equal footing each offering different play-styles and buffs. May-hap make Devotion more powerful and target-able with magic buffs, while RDM focuses on the melee buffs.

[Angry_Evil]

Summoner doesn't actually have anything to contend with ANY aspect of Black Mage, single target, AoE or otherwise, and it is with this topic that I hope SOMETHING can be addressed.

Even on dummy top summoner does more dps that blm lol(or at least comparable) Problem with this is - the moment mechanics go into play - BLMs are losing a lot of their dps cause they need to move. So in actual combat good SMN should show similar numbers to good BLM. Which is actually a problem in itself and shows how broken BLMs are too. Obviously average RDM can out dps both good blms and smns.

[Sunako]

Even on dummy top summoner does more dps that blm lol(or at least comparable) Problem with this is - the moment mechanics go into play - BLMs are losing a lot of their dps cause they need to move. So in actual combat good SMN should show similar numbers to good BLM. Which is actually a problem in itself and shows how broken BLMs are too. Obviously average RDM can out dps both good blms and smns.

If you are comparing sss dummy parse, I can say that is cheesed every possible way. Try compare 10min smn and 10min blm dummy parse and you can see the difference.