Summoner Demystified: A Guide for Beginners

[FeliAiko]

Okay, after reviewing this again more fully (was skimming through with my phone), I can see that while your intentions are good, it probably would've been better for you to become a bit more 'seasoned' on playing SMN before deciding to make such a guide.

Stuff like "it's okay if you let your DoTs fall off" shouldn't be encouraged in what's meant to be a basic guide, as keeping DoTs up is a basic requirement of the class. The player should be informed from the onset the importance of keeping DoTs up, as that then sets a foundation for them to build on for when they want to go to the next level in maximising damage (which you state you aim to do with this guide). Or if they don't stick with SMN, other classes that use DoTs (e.g. BRD, DRG), or have timer-based buffs (e.g. Heavy Thrust, Huton) that always have to kept up.

As for your rotation, while you do acknowledge it's not optimal, it still shouldn't be promoted as something others should do either. The 'optimal' SMN rotation is not something you should view as something only for raiders or min-maxers to worry about, but rather something that all SMNs regardless of level should be striving to do. Of course, learning/doing the rotation in itself won't make you the best SMN, but it sets you up better towards being a decent enough one.

SMN at its basic level amounts to:

(Pre DWT)
1. Controlling pet (i.e. Obey for Garu, Sic for the others)
2. Knowing the opener (ST and AOE)
3. Reapplying your DoTs, including Shadowflare
4. Aetherflow management and oGCD usage
5. Ruin/Ruin II spam when #3 and #4 aren't needed

(Post DWT)
6. See #1-5
7. Tri-D and Ruin III only while DWT is active (followed by Contagion if up, or at least before those buffed DoTs fall off)
8. Deathflare when DWT has 3 secs remaining (bonus points if you go Ruin II -> Fester/Painflare -> Deathflare as the finisher)

That should cover the fundamentals really. After all, there's plenty of more advanced guides out there for others to refer to if they want the full spectrum.