How do I shot spell? No, seriously, help on DoM classes?

[Ninster]

I will admit first that I'm easily distracted. I think I've said once in another thread that I've lvled SMN to 50 then immediately went on to CNJ and THM (now that I'm post-30 on both, WHM and BLM) instead of working on postgame content.

So I'm now at lvl 38 with both WHM and BLM and I'm actually fairly taken with them. Things don't seem as busy as with SMN, and I'm actually realizing now that I may not be able to play SMN as effectively as I did when I didn't have as many options. So I really am hoping I can fall back on these other two jobs and find my niche before I move on to more serious content.

Just so I can have something before I hit the character limit (I'll add more later when I have time):

BLM: How do Fire III and Blizzard III fit in now that I have both? I'm noticing it's nice to have spells that grant full stacks in one cast instead of having to build, but how should I use them? Also, is there any reason for Thunder or should I be using Thunder II exclusively?

Edit: Thanks for the responses, going to add stuff for the other classes here now that I have time.

WHM: Just got Regen and Shroud, and I've never healed content where I recognized a need for Cure II (DR has never put me in anything past Haukke Manor, which I'll admit is probably the borderline of where I'm comfortable healing content at this point), so I'm not positive as to where those fit in. I've seen posts mentioning the problem with enmity and Regen ticks, so I've noted that bit, but other than that... I guess I'll probably have to try for myself. Is it fair to comment if I'm in a particular dungeon for the first time as a healer, even if I've run it before on DPS (SMN) or would that induce rage? I also need to ask: I've gotten eventually to the point where I can sort of judge how much damage-dealing I can get away with (between "some" and "absolutely glue myself to the tank"), but I've NEVER thrown on Cleric Stance in such cases given I'm just a bit scared I might not be able to keep track of it well enough and cause problems. Ignoring high-lvl content (lvl 50 dungeons, trials, and raids), is this acceptable?

SMN: My FC got me to try Ifrit HM for the first time and I... think I need work. Somewhere between macros and just being able to react to the last half of the fight I suppose. I think in general I felt totally out of my skin and totally couldn't keep track of what I was doing. Ultimately the fight cleared thanks to my FC but I was nomming dirt for everything after the nails. One thing I'm curious is how I should handle pet mobility when the big attacks start showing up (plumes). Again, maybe this just isn't my class (despite doing just fine in pre-50 content) so that's why I'm falling back to WHM and BLM. Another thing is... Shadow Flare is awkward for me. I can string along the regular DoTs just fine but... maybe SF needs to be set first? Urgh, this is mildly frustrating and embarrassing for me.

[Anova]

Summoner has a very powerful niche in late game, especially in their ability to kite mobs and deal damage despite the movement mechanics involved. It is likely you simply haven't reached content where those movement mechanics come in to play.

Fire3 is used almost exclusively to quickly ratchet up the damage and gain 3 stacks of astral fire. It's cast time and mp costs are simply too high to be used regularly. At lv.44, it becomes integral to your rotation with the trait, Firestarter. You will basically use fire until you get a firestarter proc, switch to blizzard and astral ice, and then use the instantcast-mpfree fire3 from the fireproc to switch to fire and in to a flare rotation. Blizzard 3 does not have a similar trait to proc it, so it is simply used to quickly enter umbral ice and recover mp after a firestarter proc.

Until then though, fire 3 is simply used at the start of your fight or if you need to switch to astral fire quickly or if your fire/ice stacks drop. You can pair swiftcast with astral fire to optimize your speed in the latter 2 examples, although later levels will probably want you to save those for flare.

The damage in thunder or thunder 2 doesn't really matter initially, as it is used primarily to proc Thundercloud. Thunder is sometimes preferable in this case because it costs less mp and may be enough for you to eke out an extra scathe or fire. When you deal damage using Thundercloud however, you will want to use the highest level possible as those deal greater amounts of damage.

An argument can be made for higher level thunders though if your BLM has very high Determination from their gear. Determination scales much better than other secondary stats with dots, so there's some players who use a higher level thunder because of that.

[Snuggle]

Wat.

Firestarter procs are going to be one of your three hardest hitting skills, among flare (which should be used sparingly since it drains all the mana you have remaining. On boss fights, I only use flare when I have swiftcast and convert available) and thundercloud procs. You want to use these firestarter procs when you have 3 stacks of Astral fire whenever possible, not after you've already switched to Umbral Ice. More damage with your fire stacks and no mana cost, so... Use up your firestarters before you start to regen mana.

Starting your rotation should look something like: thunder 3 > fire 3 > raging strikes > fire until low on mana, throwing in procs wherever possible > swiftcast flare > convert > fire > blizzard 3 > thunder 2 > fire 3 > fire until low on mana > blizzard 3 > thunder 2, etc. You'll want to use thunder 3 whenever you proc a thundercloud, as well.

I've seen too many BLMs at end game not have a clue how fire 3 and blizzard 3 work, it's painful to watch.

[Estellios]

I've seen too many BLMs at end game not have a clue how fire 3 and blizzard 3 work, it's painful to watch.

Nearly any time I get Cutter's Cry in low level roulette it becomes a lesson on Fire 3 and Blizzard 3 and why Fire 3 spam is bad. I don't mind it but it has been very frequent.

[Snuggle]

Nearly any time I get Cutter's Cry in low level roulette it becomes a lesson on Fire 3 and Blizzard 3 and why Fire 3 spam is bad. I don't mind it but it has been very frequent.

It's especially fun when you're trying to be gentle about it, but it ends with "DON'T TELL ME HOW TO PLAY MY CLASS".

[Urthdigger]

I'm gonna second snuggle's comment. Once you get firestarter, use Fire III to open with, then spam Fire while casting Fire III whenever Firestarter procs. Once you don't have enough MP for Fire anymore, cast Blizzard III. While your mana tics up, cast Thunder II. Repeat. If at any point Thundercloud procs, cast Thunder III.

[Ninster]

Sorry guys, thanks for the help, but I added in the rest of the post now that I have time. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated, especially on the dilemma I'm having with SMN. I really can understand if a job isn't right for me, but if it's less the job and more the post-game content, then there's plenty of other classes to level if I just want to be stuck in pre-50 content forever, I guess. =D

[ruskie]

I tend to ignore the pet mobility there. More important to move myself than my pet that I can swift resummon if needed.

As for cure II and regen and shroud.

Regen helps you do cures more easily since you get a heal over time while at the same time using cure I - cure II you will generally use on procs or when you know/need to do mass heals. Or if you want to be lazy really.

Shroud you need to undrestand has 2 uses... one is the MP regen the other is the enmity drop. Don't be afraid to use it for either.

Regen/medica II enmity just don't do it pre pull. Medica II usually you won't use at start so shouldn't be a prob but regen you can generally pop on a tank when they get inital damage and have enmity on them(the mob names turn red) - true you still have a chance of getting enmity but then you can pop shroud and you'll dump a ton of enmity off you.

It's fine to mention you are healing something for the first time - I always did and still do.

[Snuggle]

SMN is easily the most difficult DPS class, but if played correctly can throw out as much single target damage as an equally geared, equally skilled monk. It's not for everyone, but your troubles in primal fights are probably mostly because you're new to the fight itself. I wouldn't worry about that too much.
Pet placement is important in some fights, not so important in others. Just experiment with whether keeping the pet on follow or placing it somewhere on the field is the best choice of action.
As far as rotation, I'm probably not the best person to ask about it. I know for sure you must use Raging strikes before throwing your dots up. Since your dots are your main source of damage, and the game screenshots your stats before attacking, your dots will tick harder if you use raging strikes beforehand rather than after. Swiftcast should be used on emergency raises, resummoning a pet if it dies, and shadow flare if no one needs a raise and your pet is alive.

[Snuggle]

Regen should be used after and only after a tank has pulled. I try to keep it on the tank at all times. You'll want to use Cures as your main source of healing, since spamming Cure 2 will quickly render you out of mana. When you use Cure, you will have a 15% chance to proc a Cure 2 for no mana cost. I only use Cure 2 when I have a freecure proc, if the tank is taking so much damage that spamming Cure would not be able to keep him alive, if I know a big hit is coming, or if the tank is below 30% life. As for Shroud, I hate having to use it as an enmity drop, but sometimes it's necessary. Your main use of it, however, will be to regenerate mana. Personally, I use Shroud when I'm around 2/3 mana. I find that it regenerates just enough mana to bring me back to nearly full even if I'm constantly healing. As for Cleric stance, I always use it when I'm dealing damage in between healing. However, that's something you will need to get comfortable with. Don't feel like you're a bad healer because you aren't comfortable with managing cleric stance just yet. Doing damage between healing at all is more than can be said for most healers.