Shadowbringer: Summoner Changes Discussion

[Taranok]

Here's my thoughts on the new Summoner.

One, overall I like a lot of changes, such as the changes to Trances, Bane just always being available, EA 1 and 2 feel good. Each change when taken individually feel really good.

The problem is that the sum of the parts are greater than the whole. The class has way, way too many oGCDs to press. It's something like 13-15 per minute. EA accounts for 4 per minute, ED+Festers account for 6 per minute, Trances at 2 per minute (including deathflare) Bahamut accounts for 2 more albeit only every other minute. Tri-disaster is another 1-2 per minute (pending cycle rotation).

Do note that with a standard GCD of 24 per minute, you basically need to throw out a new oGCD for every GCD going out.

This is completely neglecting Bane, which honestly has me going "Why does this exist anymore? Just make Bio/Miasma and Tri-Disaster AoE abilities innately and be done with it." And the ruin 4 change with EA is nice, but I almost miss the random procs as well, especially since you just don't get enough ruin 4s to cast everything. Granted I'm not level 74 yet so I don't get 4 per minute, only 2, but the class still feels very...odd.

Honestly, if I could, I would at this point make Bane convert Tri-Disaster, Bio, and Miasma into AoEs and by extension get rid of Bane, and seriously consider either deleting the Aetherflow mechanic outright, or merging Egi Assault into 1 ability instead of 2 and then messing with the cooldown. The density of oGCDs is just insane on the class, even compared to the old summoner which was already somewhat high.

Also seriously, can Physick be made to actually do something on summoners other than eat up bar space? It's getting ridiculous at this point.

Something I've been wondering about...will you be able to double weave Egi Assault and Egi Assault II into a single GCD? Could save a lot of headaches if it's possible.

Edit: Ok, apparently you can. And the Ruin IV trait is permanent too, these 2 things are good news.

The answer is yes, but if you try to do more than 2 Egi Assaults it will consume a charge and throw it out the window with no damage done, and I think you might want/need to space it by more than 1 GCD between every double weave. Furthermore, if the pet can't get to the enemy fast enough it will also throw out uses of the skill, and it doesn't refund it. It overall feels good to press the button and the pet is somewhat snappy on using it.