Summoner and MP

[Ardan]

As some people have noticed, SMN runs out of MP very quickly when performing their optimal rotation. On most fights this isn't a problem, but it's incredibly apparent in final coil. All the turns have little to no breaks of any kind to allow time to recover. One could just ask for a ballad from their BRD or use items. On the off chance your group doesn't, (mine does) SMN is typically screwed. One could also forgo some spells from our rotation to conserve MP. This isn't an option either as all the turns are rather strict DPS checks.

Our two abilities, (Aetherflow and Energy Drain) are just not enough to keep us sustained on prolonged fights. At lvl50, Energy Drain restores 266MP, (at least for me). It's a complete waste of a charge, restoring barely enough to cast one Shadow Flare. I'm not asking for unlimited MP like BLM, that's their thing. Either an even further MP cost cut to our main DoTs, or increasing the effectiveness of Energy Drain would go a long way.

What are others' thoughts on this?

[Sleigh]

I agree, MP's an issue in final coil. The big issue is, SMN MP lasts about as long as a BRD/MNK/DRG's TP but the difference is if you're in a fight where one of those guys needs TP, everyone needs TP, so Army's Paeon gets precedence. At the end of the day, singing Ballad for one SMN instead of Foe's or Paeon is a waste (assuming healers don't need MP, which as of up to and maybe including T13, you never do except when a fight's unknown to the healers).

I'd personally like to see an across the board DoT MP cost lowering, or make Aetherflow a tiny bit stronger for SMN (SCH's fine as is). It's hard to justify bringing a SMN to a lot of these fights over a BLM who'd get Foe's, just because of resources, much like T8.

[Sunako]

Energy drain is enough mana but u lose 450 potency every min that is around 1500 - 2250 damage / 25 - 37 dps.

[dday3six]

I'm hoping SE either give SMN a new trait in Heavensward which increases the % on Aetherflow or just lets Scholar and Summoner share gear sort of like how pre-2.4 Monk does with Ninja. Doing it thay way would also get around the Spell Speed issue on Black Mage gear too.

[Zantusken]

Was actually just about to make a thread about this, I'm oom by the end of first adds in T10 and by adds in T11. This is assuming I don't use energy drain and lose a huge chunk of DPS. I run out of MP far faster than anyone runs out of TP, and I feel kinda silly asking for ballad, but I have no choice if I want to put out good DPS. It's to the point of where I've just considered switching to BLM, which I'm nowhere near as good at and don't like as much(that, and how stupid the gear is for SMN this patch). There needs to be something done to help our MP, but the problem is it would more than likely effect SCH, which would be kinda op if they got an MP buff. My only real idea is to give fester some sort of additional effect that absorbs 15%(maybe even less) of damage done as MP. It would still give energy drain some use for burst or if you really needed a lot of MP back, but would give us a tiny bit more sustainability while not buffing SCH at all.

[Ardan]

Energy drain is enough mana but u lose 450 potency every min that is around 1500 - 2250 damage / 25 - 37 dps.

If all Aetherflow stacks are used, sure, Energy Drain would be enough. But the issue is that if you want a meaningful amount of MP restored, you have to use those three stacks.

[Sequora]

Unfortunately I wouldn't expect any changes before 3.0. I think even a small band-aid fix would be to change energy drain. Initially it deals 150 potency and then converts half the damage into MP. You get a trait that doubles the amount of MP you get back. How about making it initially give you all the damage in MP and then the trait would double this. As a couple people have mentioned above, if you're low on MP one energy drain just isn't enough.

Caster gear needs to either be changed or split. Itemization is outright horrible for 2.4. If you look at both sets, it looks as if they didn't take SMN into consideration whatsoever. BLMs have so many build options this patch. Every piece can potentially be used as everything is loaded with spellspeed and they require less accuracy. I know it's too late for 2.4 but in the future, I think that caster gear needs to be split. We need to keep talking about it

[Ardan]

Unfortunately I wouldn't expect any changes before 3.0. I think even a small band-aid fix would be to change energy drain. Initially it deals 150 potency and then converts half the damage into MP. You get a trait that doubles the amount of MP you get back. How about making it initially give you all the damage in MP and then the trait would double this. As a couple people have mentioned above, if you're low on MP one energy drain just isn't enough.

Actually it heals half the damage dealt into HP. MP restored is a static amount, depending on your level.

[Sequora]

Actually it heals half the damage dealt into HP. MP restored is a static amount, depending on your level.

Well then this base amount should be doubled.

[jars]

I don't really notice mp shortages until multi dot situations come up, that really puts a hurt on my mp bar