SMN 4.06 Changes

[AlphaSonic]

Are FFXIV's BLM, RDM, BRD, SCH, blah blah blah exactly the same as in other versions? The point this is FFXIV and SMN is a pet job in this version of the series. To remove pet would be to piss on everyone who actually likes playing Summoners in FFXIV. We even got a big flashy summons that needs a little work

P.S. To answer your question; FFX, FFXI, FFXII, and FFXIII treated Summons as pet like.

Counterargument:

Pets in FFXIV are just glorified DoTs with 1 clunky ability that makes them desirable:
Garuda -> Contagion
Ifrit -> Radiant Shield
Titan -> LOL

I think it would be easier to fulfill the SMN fantasy by getting rid of the pets, making SMN a DoT class (like it was in 2.x and 3.x), replace some Aetherflow abilities with Summonings and give them more abilities with summonings. Then balance around it.

Ex:
Fester -> Summon Ifrit (Same effect as Fester, better animation)
Bane -> Summon Garuda (Same effect as Bane, better animation)