SMN or SCH

[-DMR-]

For a while now, I've been taking up and leveling up the DoM/DoW classes (LNC skill lagging behind abit), and soon, according to my characters ACN skill, I'm not far from transferring to a job for a first time, either SMN or SCH jobs.

I'm just wondering what's best to start with, thats all.

[Mimilu]

Do you want to do damage or heal?
If damage, Summoner.
If healing, Scholar.
Scholars can do acceptable damage too but you need to be able to prioritize healing while in a party or raid.
Plus, Summoner plays more like Arcanist.

[Naria]

Basically it comes down to do you want to be a healer or a dps? Do you want to min/max or not? Scholars are healers and Summoners are DPS. The attribute bonus points are tied to Arcanist however. The best build for sch is to put them all in MND, and the best build for smn is to put them all in INT. I have all my points in MND and play sch as my main job. I play summoner sometimes, although mostly solo. If you don't care about having the biggest cures or damage numbers possible then you can split the points between both. Some people like to put some points into VIT. If you are uncertain, I'd recommend unlocking both and trying them out. If you decide you like one more than the other later than you can always respec your bonus attribute points using GC seals.

[Estellios]

For what it's worth, SCH will have much faster Duty Finder queue times and therefore level up much more quickly so if you have the available accessories (as they share the same left-hand-side gear until 50) you can probably swap between the two depending on what you are doing so you get a bit of experience in both. Their level is tied to your Arcanist level so leveling up one levels up both.

They share most of the same skills and SCH is the one of the two that would probably take the most getting used to as well so extra time on it wouldn't be a bad thing.

[Asheilin]

Unlock them both. Even if you do SCH more often, being able to switch to SMN (and topaz/titan pet) for Main Story content can sometimes be helpful.
Additionally, it makes you use to using both and at end-game you might like one over the other.

[NyarukoW]

Use the SCH to level your SMN. SCH queues are short. SMN queues are long. In any case when your ACN is 50, you can do both SMN and SCH at 50. So the only real decision you need to make is what is your main going to be at 50, so your can either put all your attribute points in MND or INT.

[Niwashi]

I agree that you should unlock and try out both. I tend to like Scholar, but that's really just a personal preference thing rather than a recommendation. You're the only one who can really decide what you enjoy best.

Going scholar does involve a change of role if you've only done DPS so far. That means a shift from focusing on the mobs' condition to that of your teammates. To help ease you into the new role, you could try re-running a few of the low-level dungeons before moving on to the latest on-level ones. Your Eos fairy can take care of most of the healing in low-level dungeons, and whenever she's got everyone near full health you can DPS the same as you did as an arcanist. You'll just need to get used to keeping an eye on your party members' health so you can add in some extra heals when needed. That's a good way to get used to the targeting controls, as you'll need to alternate between targeting mobs and targeting party members. Then, as you move into harder content, you'll be healing full-time or near to it. Level 32 Brayflox's Longstop isn't too hard (unless the tank gets over-ambitious about how many mobs to grab at a time), but at level 34 Titan can be a challenge to keep up on the healing.

If you focus primarily on Summoner, that's a more direct continuation of what you've been learning as an Arcanist, so you have the benefit of familiarity there.

So, try both and follow up on whichever you like best.