The Egi Conundrum: Heavensward and Beyond!

[Zohar_Lahar]

Shiva was also confirmed by Yoshi as the Egi that's cute shrouded in Ice.

Do you have a link?

[SoloWingMetatron]

Do you have a link?

Here you go: Translation from the F.A.T.E In Tokyo Event (Scroll to the sub section "About Summoner")
http://www.bluegartr.com/threads/120...9-Translations

As you can see Yoshi-P confirms Levi and Ramuh as Egi, and also hints at the confirmation of a Shiva Egi. He also acknowledges the unbalance between the three current Egi and claims to be working on that.

[Akiza]

The problem with Egis is they don't play a role in the party outside of soaking damage. Each Egi needs a niche role to play in the party.
Ifrit- single target bursts
Titan- party wide hp shield that increases maximum hp.
Garuda-AoE Bursts
Leviathan- Support Pet provide party wide increases the amount of hp restored by healing spells
Ramuh - AoE Debuffer Pet
Shiva- provide party wide reduction in damage recieved.

[Akiza]

Garuda should be the caster AoE Pet
Leviathan should be the melee AoE Pet.
Shiva and Ramuh I agree with.
Ifrit should be Melee
Titan should provide shield buffs.

[SoloWingMetatron]

Well in regards to Ifrit and Titan, we know Yoshi-P has acknowledged the balance issues between the three current Egi. But I wonder how he actually plans to tackle this and bring Ifrit and Titan on par with Garuda, and ultimately on par with the new trio as I assume the new Egi will not have the same balance issues. Also in terms of debuffs/status ailments, every Egi has at least one attack that inflicts these as a knock on effect. The only problem is the duration of these debuffs/status ailments are far too short. Personally I think the duration of these effects should be increased so they last longer than just a couple of seconds. This would mean every Egi would then provide some form of useful support/utility without being dedicated to a support role.

I also think the Egi are the perfect way to sort out SMN's DPS issues. All the Egi need is an increase to their damage output to allow SMN to be on par with BLM.

[Jandor]

I don't think perfect balance is such a big concern. I'd prefer to make sure they all have a niche and that swapping them mid-fight can become a common tactic.

[Jranmaia]

Until they add some form mechanic revolving around swapping summons mid fight rather than just summoning 1 at the beginning I honestly hope they don't add any new summons outside of skins for existing ones because if they act like Summon III its going to be a case of we have 2-3 wasted skill slots since one egi out of the combat ones will be the mathematically superior one and will be a repeat of the one pet fits all situation.

[Akiza]

SE would have to add primal boss mechanics to the Egis to promote pet swapping because each Primal fills a unique niche.
Ifrit- Melee DPS that has single target bursts
Titan - Multi-target Tank that provide party wide defense shields and buffs
Garuda-Massive AoE Burst potency
Leviathan- Sustainrd Single target Damage and interupts.
Ramuh - Sustainded AoE DoT and interrupts
Shiva- Crowd Control Pet with AoE heavy and slow.

[Jranmaia]

SE would have to add primal boss mechanics to the Egis to promote pet swapping because each Primal fills a unique niche.

They wouldn't. they just need to add a simple skill that lets you insta summon a new egi and some mechanic that forces the egi to be swapped by either killing it or making it weaker over time.

Them unique niches you suggest wouldn't counter the issue, on 99% of fights Leviathan would be used in your suggestion you might swap maybe once to Garuda since I've yet to see a fight with sustained AoE instead of burst. You will still be summoning 1 pet at the beginning of a fight then maybe swapping it once IF your lucky. Doest really bring the feel of a SMN out anymore than its current state.

[SunDriedRainbow]

I like the idea of Egis gradually weakening and needing to be swapped. Think Pokemon Trainer from SSBB, where your attacks gradually weakened over two minutes. It would simultaneously excuse the new egis being somewhat similar to the current (Because you wouldn't like being forced to swap from Ifrit's single target to Ramuh's weaker AOE, for example), and make the Summoner focus more on the actual summoning.