Summoner feels really, really dumbed down now

[aveyond-dreams]

Old SMN had 8 years to prove itself worthy of continuing to exist. After failing on multiple levels, before Shadowbringers bringing it home with a "spectacular" finale, we got a rework. Is it perfect? Not exactly, but given the state of the job prior to 6.0 there was no way to go but up. Hopefully not just SMN but every class can get more of its kit earlier and we can finally see the remaining pantheon added, without the slew of clunky and exhausting mechanical hurdles that were already taken out.

Imagine having to try and justify why such a horribly-received class should be brought back in spirit, and this is the way the group vouching for a return to the old decides to act. I will not be surprised if 7.0 brings with it no caster and instead just a melee, or who knows maybe even a limited job. As it stands now, it makes no sense to further enable a crowd who throw around their elite/complexity! job status at people outside their own bubble, as opposed to something more likeable and approachable like Reaper.

The problem nobody wants to confront with that real issue is that it basically needs another small rework. There's nothing you can stack on top of current SMN to remedy the problem because it's an inflexible concrete foundation of boredom cycled every 2 minutes. Anything added in an attempt to remedy the issues the job has would have to significantly modify a part of this foundation, or it would be fruitless.

No, it absolutely does not, what we need are new abilities to weave in and out along with the remaining summons. Shiva/Ramuh/Leviathan or Sophia/Sephirot/Zurvan, either trio works. A bar to charge up to eventually summon Alexander or Odin. Upgrading the aetherflow charges to one-off attacks from Lakshmi or Susano. The possibilities are quite literally endless.

[Aikaal]

No, it absolutely does not, what we need are new abilities to weave in and out along with the remaining summons. Shiva/Ramuh/Leviathan or Sophia/Sephirot/Zurvan, either trio works. A bar to charge up to eventually summon Alexander or Odin. Upgrading the aetherflow charges to one-off attacks from Lakshmi or Susano. The possibilities are quite literally endless.

That'd be pure cosmetics, not interesting and wouldn't anything. An upgraded Bahamut in for of Neo-Bahamut or Zero-Bahamut could work. But no, I think the current elementral trio summon is good enough. The problem is the lack of engagement on the job right now, you can put lazy fixes with potency buffs, it won't help how awful it feels to play the job. You can have 3 different summons for Phoenix, it won't help the issues with the gameplay. Gameplay > esthetics at this point, I don't think people want them to invest ressources and money on cosmetics right now.

[zcrash970]

No, it absolutely does not, what we need are new abilities to weave in and out along with the remaining summons. Shiva/Ramuh/Leviathan or Sophia/Sephirot/Zurvan, either trio works. A bar to charge up to eventually summon Alexander or Odin. Upgrading the aetherflow charges to one-off attacks from Lakshmi or Susano. The possibilities are quite literally endless.

So make it into a 3 minute rotation.... genius....
That's sarcasm btw

If they change aetherflow to what you suggested, it wouldn't fix the problem. All you are suggesting is more flash and not the gameplay adjustment that the job needs to not be 1 dimensional