Summoner buff

[Sanguisio]

The issue with SS was is it has a very limited impact on SMN dps as it doesnt affect DOTs, whereas it directly increase BLM dps, and the newly released gear is loaded with SS.

The buff helps a little with one of the problems but not by very much, it also doesnt help the whole situation with SMNs, as it only affects roughly 50% of our total DPS.

[Sen_Terrechant]

The buff made managing my mana a good amount easier in FCoB.

I also gained maybe 5ish DPS from being able to Ruin II for OGCDs more. Overall a decent baindaid fix until the expansion.

[Judge_Xero]

T13 my MP barely moved off 3k until add Phase where I decided I may as well use Blizz II for the extra damage.

With the MP changes it feels like you almost have to TRY to burn your MP. So in a way I guess it lets you focus purely on optimizing your DPS without worrying about resources.

I guess it's an okay Band-Aid until 3.0 since at least you wont have to worry about Ballad at all. Which aside from the extra damage BLM does at least it wont effect the overall dynamics of the party.
i.e.
- Lowering Bard DPS due to Ballad on top of the loss of not using BLM
- Parties that may not even use Bard.

[Tex_Mex]

SMN is still not competitive with BLM in coil. that is the heart of the problem.

In order for them to fix this they would've needed to:

1) Adjust SMN MP resource management - This one is complete
2) Increase SMN single target damage to be roughly 2-3% higher than BLM ST damage
3) Adjust SMN Uility to give them something that is actually useful in FCoB

Only 1 of these issues has been addressed. All 3 need to be looked at if SMN will ever be on par with BLM.

[FranSeara]

SMN is still not competitive with BLM in coil. that is the heart of the problem.

In order for them to fix this they would've needed to:

1) Adjust SMN MP resource management - This one is complete
2) Increase SMN single target damage to be roughly 2-3% higher than BLM ST damage
3) Adjust SMN Uility to give them something that is actually useful in FCoB

Only 1 of these issues has been addressed. All 3 need to be looked at if SMN will ever be on par with BLM.

Or, give Smns their OWN gear mostly free of Spell Speed. this might help...

[Tex_Mex]

Or, give Smns their OWN gear mostly free of Spell Speed. this might help...

Sure, that would go along ways towards helping my second point.

[FranSeara]

Sure, that would go along ways towards helping my second point.

The other point number 3, is POINTLESS. Smn is one of few classes that can fight alone outside of raids (same gos for Dragoon) giving them worthless "Raid Utility" is really silly. Smn is a job built as self - sustaning, they can heal their summons and themselves, also raise the dead. What "Utility" would you add that wouldnt break Smn?

[Tex_Mex]

The other point number 3, is POINTLESS. Smn is one of few classes that can fight alone outside of raids (same gos for Dragoon) giving them worthless "Raid Utility" is really silly. Smn is a job built as self - sustaning, they can heal their summons and themselves, also raise the dead. What "Utility" would you add that wouldnt break Smn?

I would love to see pets be able to provide raid buffs at the expense of their DPS. Maybe something like - Ifrit - Inner Fire - Ifrit stops attacking and channels an ability that increases damage dealt by all party members by 10% for 15 seconds. Ifrit cannot attack or move during this time.

Of course, this would have to be tested to balance it properly, but at least it would add some utility.

[Wintersandman]

3) Adjust SMN Uility to give them something that is actually useful in FCoB

Swiftcast raise isn't utility?

[ViviAnimus]

Swiftcast raise isn't utility?

It is at this point in time. Although again, SCH and WHM when mana effecient can take it upon them to raise. There is nothing unique about a Raise and it is very situational to use one on SMN. Basically, in every serious group, healers will actually heal and raise. If you have to raise as a SMN, it's probably at the point where they are OoM. Also, in case ballad will have to be played, it will be for either SMN or healers. In case of using Raise as a SMN, the chances of having to play ballad is still a lot higher when you have SMN raise than when you let healers raise.
The utility a SMN has is good, but it's not really useful. Also, nice strawman. Never did Tex Mex claim that Swiftcast raise isn't utility. It's just not really useful.
Personally? I would delete the useless Raise and give them something in return. Something unique to the class. Every class has like unique utility, except for SMN.