Quote Originally Posted by pandabearcat View Post
This is a really neat assessment!

I hadn't really thought of it like in terms of FF13, but thanks for reminding me of the nature of the class quests and such.

Though it does highlight how silly (imo) the summoner job quests were in comparison.

(spoilers)

Well at least the other summoner has his priorities straight, he's looking for the ultimate mcguffin, but you beat him with a piece of popcorn (no offense titan egi, i love my popcorn), and his giant super summon is pretty useless. Sadface.

TBH I really really like arcanist as a whole more than summoner. The analytical such and such is totally what I imagine them being, and their lore makes sense.
I'll have to do the SMN quests to really get an idea.
Since the SMN uses the same things as the ACN, it's basically its successor. SMN gain power that facilitates offensive strategy well, while the ACN is a little more broad (allowing for branching into SCH) but still a dps so it leans to the offense.

Perhaps the SMN quests don't focus as much on strategy, but ACN is the root of the job so I can't imagine it being a whole different thing.
Maybe it's assumed you carried on the strength of strategy into being a SMN. I think you can still think of them as an offensive tactician.
Unless this is contradicted in the quests.

The class quests, lorewise, seem to teach you things you need to carry into your job.
Pugilist - Resolve
Lancer - Courage
Thaumaturge - Responsibility of Power

It usually translates well to the job. SCH is obviously has this. SMN might be less so but you can't take anything but being tactical from ACN.
And part of being a SMN is being an ACN.