After years of playing Summoner, I'm shelving the job and here's why.

[Marianno]

I actually enjoyed reading this analysis on the job as it matches everything thoroughly with what my partner complains to me about the job. She has been complaining about the same things about the job. I hope SE takes some time to actually address the core issues of the job and pay attention more to the community on this particular job. Sometimes I feel that the game developers do not play the job or simply do not know how to balance the job properly while addressing its core issues. Do not stop lobbying for changes to the job, as the more SE sees that there are multiple threads where players are requesting changes to the job, the more they will eventually get tired of seeing those threads and do something useful.

[PriyaJugulataris]

*

My dream has been timed summons with minor party buffs building up to Bahamut actually.

Cycle Elements to summon Bahamut, the more elemental summons you have, the higher damage he does (Min of 3, leading to 2 minute cycles?)
Each Summon lasts for 30~ seconds, Enkindle usage immediately makes the summon vanish. Using the Enkindle in the last 5~ seconds of a summon duration gives you swiftcast on your next summon.

The summons would have effects like:
(Numbers would have to be adjusted of course)
Ifrit: STR+ 5%, Enkindle: Inflict Slashing Resistance Down on Target(s)
Titan: VIT + 5%, Enkindle: Inflict Damage Dealt Down on Target(s)
Garuda: DEX + 5% Enkindle: Inflict Piercing Resistance Down on Target(s)
Ramuh: INT + 5% Enkindle: Magic Vulnerability Down on Target(s),
Shiva: STR + 5% Enkindle: Inflict Blunt Resistance Down on Target(s)
Leviathan: MIND + 5%, Enkindle: Mini HoT/Refresh around Egi
Bahamut: Parameters 5% based on elements, Enkindle: Flat Out Nuke

Weave in Dots + Fester/Bane, cut ruin spam.

Gain Utility and diverse rotations based on party, feels more like a "summoner", cuts the ruin bot.

[Flana]

I tried to sum it up as best I could without being too wordy again.

TL;DR:

1.) Summoner has too many themes at play, and none of them interact well, if at all. DoTs, Pets, Summoning, or Ruin mage. None of it meshes anymore.
2.) Summoner has core design problems, like sluggish pet AI or fact that Bahamut follows you when he has triple your range.
3.) Summoner's competing abilities have created a backwards logic, where your opener and Bahamut-phase have become a mess of decisions that never feel good to make.
4.) It's really not fun anymore. Send help.

[Revanslave]

I'm a little worried. I've only seen negative feedback and sadly...Summoner is my only class at 70 and I love playing it. I really don't know where to go if it's such a bad class I guess I could go back to healing like other MMOs i played

[paradigmfellow]

I'm a little worried. I've only seen negative feedback and sadly...Summoner is my only class at 70 and I love playing it. I really don't know where to go if it's such a bad class I guess I could go back to healing like other MMOs i played

Go RDM. It is fun and does more DPS than current SMN.

[VorpalSpork]

I'm in the switched to RDM crowd, as well.

I think that was a great analysis/summary of issues. I think a lot of changes are really needed, but unlikely to happen. They aren't going to rework the entire job now that it has been released. A number of things that would help for me, anyway (and assuming potencies would need to be adjusted appropriately).

1. Give me back sustain
2. Make Bahamut just a long CD, instead of tracking to two sets of aetherflows. have it line up with two aetherflow rotations, maybe, but at least this might make death a bit less punishing.
3. Improve response time on eigis.
4. Make Bane less of a nerf - at least make it usable, which it isn't currently.
5. Buff Ruin III and IV - they just feel so underwhelming to cast.
6. I'd have Ruin I replaced by Ruin II. Make us the mobile caster - these are just the same spell in a different wrapper.
7. Give Bahamut a different attack. Anything to make it feel new.
8. Let Aetherflow abilities be used during deathtrance.
9. Reduce the CD on shadowflare.
10. Reduce the CD on aetherflow.

I would never expect this whole list, but any of the above would be a plus, I think.

[Flana]

I'm a little worried. I've only seen negative feedback and sadly...Summoner is my only class at 70 and I love playing it. I really don't know where to go if it's such a bad class I guess I could go back to healing like other MMOs i played

If you like playing it, then you should play it. It's bad to me (and others) because it's so radically different from just 5 weeks ago. The playstyle pulled a complete 180 and for those of us that enjoyed it... it's not fun.

Their damage is quiet low, but SE would at least give some potency buffs eventually. That said I'd echo the sentiment and suggest Red Mage as well. Well designed and a verstraight forward job. Easy to pick up and play.

[Revanslave]

If you like playing it, then you should play it. It's bad to me (and others) because it's so radically different from just 5 weeks ago. The playstyle pulled a complete 180 and for those of us that enjoyed it... it's not fun.

Their damage is quiet low, but SE would at least give some potency buffs eventually. That said I'd echo the sentiment and suggest Red Mage as well. Well designed and a verstraight forward job. Easy to pick up and play.

Yeah it's just hard to give up on a class I've played since I started the game. I will most likely keep trying it out and see how I do, but if it's so underwhelming I really bring the team down then I relly have no choice but to change.

[Neela]

I'm a little worried. I've only seen negative feedback and sadly...Summoner is my only class at 70 and I love playing it. I really don't know where to go if it's such a bad class I guess I could go back to healing like other MMOs i played

Play whatever you like to play = first rule in mmos. ^^

Most of the complains are just based on endgame and raid-role. You should always stick to your personal likings and not to opinions others made. After all u play this game for yourself first than for the mmo-community in endgame later on.

No one should feel the preasure to switch cls just because it's recommended by someone else.

[Writer]

Okay, I can't be the only who thinks we need a "Rescue" skill (with normal GCD) for pets, can I?