Is summoner FFXIV's answer to the huntard?

[Ofiach]

I know the title is mean, but... I don't get what makes the class so hard. Unless it's the huntard mentality.

A) They refuse to control their pets.
B) They refuse to dps targets assigned.
C) They refuse to listen to anyone explaining boss mechanics and where to stand.
D) They do DPS similar to that of a 3 legged declawed kitten attacking a ball of yarn.

Am I just having bad luck with what should be a good class or is the class terrible?
It's really getting to the point where I want to drop every time I see a summoner in a group.

[ruinedmirage]

Your Hello Kitty eyepatch is adorable!

[Marveth]

Are we talking lv50 here or?
If we talk any of the first three dungeons (tutorial you might say) then a decent arcanist can tank and heal the entire dungeons singlehandedly, leaving it open for three more dps classes. If we are talking lv50 content then smn has some of the highest dps in the game, specially when it comes to multiple targets.

Smn is a dot class, meaning that for maximum dps they should apply their dots to one mob and spread it to the others, thus they will always get hate from all mobs but only because they do a ton of damage to all mobs.

I agree however that many people do not seem to know how to play their class properly, more so pre 50 but even after 50 this happens. I believe its due to smn class not giving the image of being a dot class, to a new player they believe it to be about pet management which in reality is like 30% of the smn dps.

[Ofiach]

I am referring to the higher level dungeons. Since I've hit 44 it's been one bad experience after another with summoners. I guess I'm just running into the people who go "my pet is EPIC it will winning!!!"
I guess that makes a bit of sense? Kinda sorta in a very odd way.
I can see where people looking at summoner go, hey that's easy mode I get a pet, heals, and spells! Then when they start hitting the more technical dungeons they just don't have a clue because they've been on autopilot before that.

It's also good to know the summoner isn't gimped, its just bad players, because I want to make a summoner for my second class :P

[Pinworms]

I HATE dot classes, ESP one where you can't even track your dots if there's other smn around. Won't play SMN until those 2 things change. I'm afraid only one might change and that's the tracking of dots...so no smn for me.

[Marveth]

You have always been able to track your own dots since their numbers show up in green on the bebuff icon. However since the latest hotfix its become even easier because now debuffs you apply to a mob are always positioned to the left of other players debuffs.

On the point that it was a bad move to make smn a dot class I can just agree. I don't mind dot classes but smn have way more compelling system in terms of pet management, but that discussion is for another topic.

[seekerofpower]

Just bad luck, I guess. I can easily be the top DPSer when I run as my SMN. All you have to do is keep your DoTs up 100% of the time. As soon as timer gets to 1 sec, start casting and you should have almost no downtime on them. Also, I always have my pet on obey, so I control exactly what enemies it attacks and which attacks it uses.

[Ofiach]

Sorry but summoner feels gimped endgame. It's just that simple. Dots don't kill boss adds fast enough. I would rather take a bard/blm for range DPS any day. Topping damage charts is "nice" but if that damage is spread out over a minute on each mob it just seems useless.

[CrisGer]

Rather than complain about summoners it might be more helpful to explain WHAT you think a summoner SHOULD do, that would be a lot more helpful and would actually be quite interesting. It is not easy to convey info prior to many dungeons as many people dont seem to like to plan strategy and wont stay to listen or discuss. I am all for educated playing, i am myself learning and many of us are NOT expert gamers and could always use help. So lets work together and help improve us all. That will be more fun.

[Ofiach]

That's just it, no amount of planning is making the summoner work. That's why I've gone from the view of them having "huntard" personalities to "SMN just can't do these tasks..." SMN is doing great in the 8 mans but in the 4 mans SMN feels lacking. I'm having trouble forming the concept into words so I'm just going to use an example that most people should understand.

Imagine getting hit with a baseball bat. Now if someone said I'll hit you with this bat one time really hard or 30 times at 1/30th the power of a single swing, which would you chose to get hit by? I know "da maths" there are off when you compare in game numbers but I feel that's the problematic trend with the SMN. It almost completely lacks an alpha strike. This is easy to cover up for in 8 mans but when you're in a 4 man and you're relying on the other DPS to help burn boss adds the SMN is gimpy.

Counter argument from an FC mate is this. SMN is just a bad combo with the Melee DPS, you have to have a BLM/BRD to carry the SMN. I've found this to be somewhat true but this is an issue in itself because if you are going through the duty finder it almost always puts in 1 ranged and 1 melee DPS in party. Its to the point where if I see a SMN while on my MNK I know the dungeon isn't getting finished.