Summoner is a Final Fantasy 14 summoner (not a warlock wow clone)

[Superskull85]

On that same line of thinking you could do that with pretty much the entirety of tank and DPS jobs too. I think square just wants SMN to need to use hotbar space. RDM has a similar issue.

[Rin_Kuroi]

Because if they actually properly compacted this class and didn't bloat out the hotbar it would literally be a one-hotbar job, not including role actions.

Elemental summons could be reduced to one button, Carby shield and not-devotion could be merged into one button because there's no reason to not use them around the same time, ruin IV could just replace ruin III for a GCD (or just not exist at all with how useless the skill is), Energy drain could be trait upgraded to siphon and have AOE damage falloff, same AOE damage falloff trait upgrade for Fester+painflare, Astral flow could just be merged into the summon GCD itself, and as you said, the gemshines could become replacers for outburst and ruin. That's 13 buttons that could be merged down to 6, or 5.

Tanks have more buttons we commonly press than this. FFS they should've done that and replaced all the missing hotbar space with heal OGCDs, that way we could finally get the healer we've all been asking for, too.

I don't know about all that. But I've found myself trying to cast Gemshine/Precious Brilliance when I should have been casting Tri-Disaster/Ruin III or vise-versa many many times today. Its because they are both filler abilities used in the same situations but on different keybindings. I also really dislike Gemshine being a casted ability while under Ifrit and an instant while under the other attunements. It completely destroys muscle memory. I would use Ruin II when I needed to move and Ruin III when I was safe to cast. Different abilities for different situations. Not so anymore.

[Dyvid]

Because if they actually properly compacted this class and didn't bloat out the hotbar it would literally be a one-hotbar job, not including role actions.

Elemental summons could be reduced to one button, Carby shield and not-devotion could be merged into one button because there's no reason to not use them around the same time, ruin IV could just replace ruin III for a GCD (or just not exist at all with how useless the skill is), Energy drain could be trait upgraded to siphon and have AOE damage falloff, same AOE damage falloff trait upgrade for Fester+painflare, Astral flow could just be merged into the summon GCD itself, and as you said, the gemshines could become replacers for outburst and ruin. That's 13 buttons that could be merged down to 6, or 5.

Tanks have more buttons we commonly press than this. FFS they should've done that and replaced all the missing hotbar space with heal OGCDs, that way we could finally get the healer we've all been asking for, too.

I think that does speak something of the current design though doesn't? They say SMN is the new third job but I feel RPR has more depth than SMN. SMN is basically the same job 90 as it is at 30, they just keep upgrading the same basic spells (Ruby, Topaz, Emerald, Aethercharge, Gemshine, Precious Brillance). This is truly the art of phoning it in.

[rewd]

I think that does speak something of the current design though doesn't? They say SMN is the new third job but I feel RPR has more depth than SMN. SMN is basically the same job 90 as it is at 30, they just keep upgrading the same basic spells (Ruby, Topaz, Emerald, Aethercharge, Gemshine, Precious Brillance). This is truly the art of phoning it in.

I wonder which job doesn't have more depth than SMN. Maybe only MCH, and that's a maybe.

[Superskull85]

MCH can be trickier with overheats. So, no.

But your answer is RDM.

(Or Glare Mage, for DPS.)

[rewd]

MCH can be trickier with overheats. So, no.

But your answer is RDM.

(Or Glare Mage, for DPS.)

I wonder if you ever optimized RDM because the job has a nice amount of depth and optimization and it's not a secret. It's quite funny to even think that MCH could have more depth.

[Roda]

I wonder which job doesn't have more depth than SMN. Maybe only MCH, and that's a maybe.

Mch has resources they build and monitor throughout their rotation.

MCH can be trickier with overheats. So, no.

But your answer is RDM.

(Or Glare Mage, for DPS.)

Rdm has procs, mana, an internal mechanic that sets a rhythm for its casting which can be exploited for utility, combos, finishers, resource management tools...

We have three buttons that come off cooldown that are all pressed at the same time, and some ammo we have to spend as soon as physically possible.


(and if one person comes at me with "primal order" literally every non-phys-ranged job has to worry about uptime. That is a BARE MINIMUM level of engagement. And with fights being so damn predictable, that will become less of a factor the more familiar you are with a fight. A job is more than just pressing buttons.)

Once again, we are not summoning, we're waiting. And we have just about as much interaction with our summons as we would if we were to just look up the opening cutscenes for primals in the unending journey.
SE is doing that thing again where they focus really hard on making a video, and neglect the second word in the product they're making. The "GAME". The fights are too scripted to have jobs that play themselves.

[Bonkleberry]

I have been spending more time playing, of course, and had time to do content beyond leveling. I suppose SMN now is just the easy mode job for casters, if you can demonstrate willpower. The most difficult part of the job is holding back the urge to double weave during Garuda and Carbuncle phases and not weaving during Ifrit. The job still feels busy during stressful content, but it is WAY easier than any other DPS I have played before, if you have self control.

In the end, I think I am happy after all. This new SMN seems to actually punish you for trying to use your spells and abilities too fast during some moments, or even hitting glowy buttons too soon, and it forces you to strategize a bit and think about what you need to do next. SMN, to me, is now a job that has many choices at any given moment and rewards self control. I cannot think of any other job I have played in this game that does not want to mash their special skills as soon as they come up, so it is unique.

[Rolder50]

I cannot think of any other job I have played in this game that does not want to mash their special skills as soon as they come up, so it is unique.

But that's pretty much any other job that has oGCDs. For example DRG doesn't want to use more then one jump in a GCD window or else they might clip. Or MCH who only wants to use one charge of Gauss Round or Ricochet during an Overheat GCD else it clips. I could go on.

[Bonkleberry]

Yeah, but those are not special skills. At all moments during a fight, I usually have two or three icons flashing at me as SMN, like any of the pets that I have not used yet or Ruin IV. Even after the initial Bahamut and Pheonix summons I have Enkindle and Astral Flow flashing at me and I need to take care not to mash them all at once.