An Idea for a 7.0 SMN rework

[Darkcast]

TL;DR: A Carbuncle that fights, separate Bahamut and Phoenix to make new core mechanic with Ahk Morn, 3 new summons and tweaks to summon rotation.

My proposed changes would add 4 more buttons to summoner and rework some of the core mechanics, to be more engaging while still trying to keep the core of what people like about the new summoner as well and addressing to a few issues I have seen people complain about, unfortunately this iteration doesn’t address the ‘ruin spam’ issue that some people have with the job, but I think to do that would require an even bigger rework, but this rework does hope to at least spice up the ruin spam feeling to make it more engaging.

I would change the function of carbuncle by adding Carbuncle attacks to the summoner kit, changing Gemshine to a Carbuncle instant single ranged attack, and Precious Brilliance to the Carbuncle instant ranged AOE attack and also changing carbuncle summon to an instant cast.
To keep carbuncle still relevant at higher levels, there would also be a new trait that would allow Gemshine or Precious Brilliance to become empowered dealing bonus damage when used after 3 Ruin or Tri-disaster/Outburst casts. At even higher levels a new spell would be learned called ‘Lustrous Sheen’, an instant cast spell which can only be used after an empowered Gemshine or Precious Brilliance cast which would do single target damage and 80% to enemies around target, effectively functioning like a combo off of the empowered hit.

In terms of the regular summons I would also lower the cast speed of ifrit’s spells (ruby ruin and ruby rite) to be at 2.5 both cast time and recast time, slipstream to be 2.8 cast and recast time and then keeping the other summon stuff the same.

A new trait that would change Physick to Drain, a weaker hitting spell that also heals the user.

Ruin 4 would still be triggered from Energy Drain or Energy Siphon but would give 2 charges of Ruin 4. This would allow Ruin 4 would also contribute to triggering empowered Carbuncle.

Cont'd...

[Darkcast]

I would also change Bahamut and Phoenix to be separate, filling a similar but different role in the summoner kit. Changing the mechanics of Bahamut and Phoenix so that they are a more important part of the kit. The next new (technically) spell would be that summoners will be able to cast Akh Morn on their own as a regular insta-cast spell, doing only single target damage, and putting 1 stack of Akh Morn of the target and user. When Bahamut is summoned Carbuncle is then replaced, and ruin and Tri-disater/outburst are replaced by the single target and AOE Bahamut skills, just like previously but are now oGCD spells, this would also apply to Phoenix as well. This change would then allow for the summoning of other summons too, to effectively have the ‘Bahamut/Phoenix phase’ be the strongest point in the kit, as you would then combine it with the summoning of other summons and cast your Phoenix or Bahamut single/AOE as an oGCD between regular spells from the other summons. Akh Morn would continue to be on both Bahamut and Phoenix respectively. Bahamut’s Akh Morn would have 2 charges that it can cast each time adding a stack of Akh Morn to the target and user. Phoenix on the other hand would have 3 charges of Akh Morn to cast, each giving a stack of Akh Morn to both the mob being hit and the user. Max stacks starting at 4 when Bahamut is Learned and later up to 6 when Phoenix is learned. Deathflare would now be the most important spell, being changed a bit so that it does more damage according to how many stacks of Akh Morn are on the target. Phoenix’s Rekindle would also be adjusted so that the heal on it is stronger depending on how many stacks of Akh Morn are on the user, the heal on it would work on the user as well as one other targeted person, so 2 people total. These changes would be the new core mechanic to summoner, building Ahk Morn stacks and having Deathflare do tons of damage during your Bahamut phase, as well combining one of your summons during that phase. Phoenix would be the fastest way to build stacks and then using Bahamut and Deathflare for damage, and using regular Akh Morn to help build and maintain stacks. The Stack timer would be short, making the user have to switch between Phoenix and Bahamut to optimally build stacks up and deal damage.

Some of the high end summoner skills would need to be lowered as well, such as Enkindle II, tri-disaster, and Elemental Mastery as well the catastrophe spells, making it feel like a full summoner sooner, levels 80 and up you would get 3 new summons of Ramah, Shiva, and leviathan. When Bahamut or Phoenix is summoned the user would be granted 1 stack of ‘Greater summoning’ allowing for the use of one of the new summons.

Cont'd...

[Darkcast]

These new summons would have 3 charges/Attunement stacks except for Leviathan which would have 4. When the new summons are cast they would do their entry damage and change Gemshine and Gem Brilliance to each respective element. These summons however would have specific functions, so Shiva’s spells would only be AOE, Ramah’s would be single target only, and Leviathan’s would be full damage first target 65% less for surrounding targets similar to other spells the summoner has, these effects would be for the spells and summon entry damage.
The Gemshine ability for Ramah would be a strong single target ability with a 1.5 cast time that consumes 1 charge, and the Precious Brilliance version would be a much stronger ability with a 2.8 cast time, and consumes 2 of the 3 charges, the Aetherflow ability would be changed to a 1.5 cast medium strong ability that has DoT on it (yes a DoT, don’t kill me it’s only one).
Shiva’s Gemshine ability would be a 1.5 cast AOE spell and consume 1 charge, Precious Brilliance ability would be a much stronger AOE ability with a 2.8 cast, and would also consume 2 of the 3 Shiva charges, Aetherflow for Shiva would be 2 combo ability like ifrit’s, first it would shoot a spike of ice up from the ground at a target doing full damage to first target and 80% to those around with a 1.5 cast time and have a 2.5 recast time the second cast would be instant and would shatter the spike of ice doing AOE damage where the spike was.
Leviathan’s Gemshine ability would be an Insta cast ability that does full damage to first target and 65% less to those around it, and consumes 1 charge, the precious brilliance ability would a 1.25 cast time that also does full damage to the first target and 65% to those around it, and consumes 2 charges. The Aetherflow ability for Leviathan would be similar to Titan’s which would work as a follow up ability to either of the Gemshine or Precious Brilliance abilities used, that you would weave in after you use either of them, also doing full damage to the first target and 65% to those close to it.

Cont'd...

[Darkcast]

This new summoner would then function as: Using Bahamut/Phoenix then using any of the 3 summons or 1 greater summon, either before or after the 3 mains summons, and repeat with the optional carbuncle phase at the end, all while managing Akh Morn stacks. There will be an optional Carbuncle phase will allow people to time their Bahamut/Phoenix phase for optimal uptime, but also fill a gap if Bahamut or Phoenix is not ready, as their timers would need to be a bit longer than they currently are. The Carbuncle phase would be mainly made of using Ruin 3/Tri-disaster and Ruin 4 to get empowered carbuncle with regular use of Gemshine/ Precious Brilliance and Lustrous Sheen, and repeating to line up attacks or until the next Bahamut or Phoenix.

I also think spells would need their levels and cast times adjusted to better fit and make more sense in the growth of the job like reducing the recast timer for Energy Siphon and Energy Drain, also I didn’t write any exact levels and other smaller details because this was mostly to talk about the gameplay and I didn’t want to make it any longer than it already is, but I can come back and add details if people would like to see those too.

Some other cool things I think could have been added as really cool post 90 stuff would be:
A post 90 trait Enkindle III which would change the max for akh morn stacks to 8, and change Bahamut to Lunar Demi Bahamut and Phoenix to Neo Demi Phoenix. Dealing damage on entry, as well as having stronger AOE and single target spells. Entry Damage would grant a stack of Akh Morn. A trait that allows another 2 casts of Ruin 4, let me know what you think about that.

This is by no means a perfect change but hopefully this iteration is engaging but still keeps its new core. I would like it if we could get summon glamour for other primals once they have been beaten, they would come as a quest from Thubyrgeim, in Limsa Lominsa. Sorry it this was so long. Let me know if you like it or hate it, or any corrections, thanks!

[Palladiamors]

Listen at this point nearly anything is better than what we got. I still can't believe current summoner got greenlit by anyone. This should have been its OWN new job, they shouldn't have destroyed a job that has existed for as long as summoner has.

[CJR]

Listen at this point nearly anything is better than what we got. I still can't believe current summoner got greenlit by anyone. This should have been its OWN new job, they shouldn't have destroyed a job that has existed for as long as summoner has.

I have to agree with this. I just came back to play a bit with my wife, she loves her Lancer, to find that my summoner pet job is now just another DPS job where there is little, or no, thought required. So, for now I am just running a Scholar to heal her and acting like I am having a good time, so she has fun.

[Iedarus]

I have to agree with this. I just came back to play a bit with my wife, she loves her Lancer, to find that my summoner pet job is now just another DPS job where there is little, or no, thought required. So, for now I am just running a Scholar to heal her and acting like I am having a good time, so she has fun.

Oooooh...about that...

[Axxion]

FYI, to bypass the limit, edit your original post