Summoner and the upcoming changes

[DkDerek]

I don't even understand how this made it live. This is actually disgusting.

[SoloWingMetatron]

I haven't gone into the EX trials of Stormblood yet, so do not know what the actual numbers are. However if it is true that our DPS output is lacking somewhat, then I hope that gets addressed in a future patch. Having said that though, whilst leveling and running lvl70 dungeons I didn't feel like my DPS output had been gimped all that much. The one thing I did notice however, whilst leveling. Is how much I miss Sustain. It was a great way to keep the Egi alive enough in tight situations. Now we have no way of keeping our Egi's HP up ourselves.

In terms of Demi Bahamut blocking mechanic telegraphs. I'm not sure how much of that is actually Bahamut's fault vs the player in question's fault. During the final MSQ trial I completed that alongside another SMN. So we had double Demi Bahamut out for the entirety of that fight and everyone was able to see and dodge the mechanics just fine. Of course the mechanics of an EX trial are more unforgiving usually. But the aforementioned example makes me wonder how much of that is just players making excuses for dying or failing to dodge a mechanic on a fight that they barely know, considering it's only been out for about a single week.

However I think visually SMN is in a great place! I love Demi Bahamut! He's very reminiscent of the Avatars we used to have in FFXI and is a proper Summon in every sense of the word! Definitely a step in the right direction in terms of SMN identity! So in that regard the 4.0 changes to SMN were very much needed in my opinion.

[Nerisu]

During the XXXXXXX trial

Hmmm...didn't expect to see a spoiler on a SMN gameplay topic. Should have just said something like "during one of later trials" or something. Oh well.

[SoloWingMetatron]

Hmmm...didn't expect to see a spoiler on a SMN gameplay topic. Should have just said something like "during one of later trials" or something. Oh well.

Ah crap, my apologies. I didn't think about that whilst posting. I have now fixed that, thanks.

[DkDerek]

I can live with every change, except for aethertrail and aetherflow being on the same bar. If for some reason I lose a stack (missed bane) and end up with two stacks of aethertrail and no aetherflow, i now WASTE 2 more stacks when using the next aetherflow,

I can't even just get rid of aethertrail stacks. Let me click them off or something. Its actually brutal. As long as these two are combined on the UI bar, this class is going to have some serious problems.

[Tsukaasa]

I can live with every change, except for aethertrail and aetherflow being on the same bar. If for some reason I lose a stack (missed bane) and end up with two stacks of aethertrail and no aetherflow, i now WASTE 2 more stacks when using the next aetherflow,

I can't even just get rid of aethertrail stacks. Let me click them off or something. Its actually brutal. As long as these two are combined on the UI bar, this class is going to have some serious problems.

Yeah, if you miss a fester on an invincible boss your dps is pretty much screwed, because you have to wait for the next aetherflow stacks, and you wont get 3 stacks but just 1(since there is only one slot available), at least they could give us the ability to reset the aethertrail stacks.

And the removal of sustain is so annoying. Also when you get raised you don't have enought mp right back so summon your pet iirc.(not sure about that actually)

I just got to lvl 70 yesterday, and maybe it's my latency or something i don't know, but when bahamut is out, he doesn't seem to attack 3 times if i cast ruin -> ruin 2 -> fester.
So i don't know if it's really important to wait for aetherflow to cast bahamut, or maybe only spam ruin 2 in this phase instead of ruin and use ogcd skills.

[Dyvid]

Yeah, if you miss a fester on an invincible boss your dps is pretty much screwed, because you have to wait for the next aetherflow stacks, and you wont get 3 stacks but just 1(since there is only one slot available), at least they could give us the ability to reset the aethertrail stacks.

And the removal of sustain is so annoying. Also when you get raised you don't have enought mp right back so summon your pet iirc.(not sure about that actually)

I just got to lvl 70 yesterday, and maybe it's my latency or something i don't know, but when bahamut is out, he doesn't seem to attack 3 times if i cast ruin -> ruin 2 -> fester.
So i don't know if it's really important to wait for aetherflow to cast bahamut, or maybe only spam ruin 2 in this phase instead of ruin and use ogcd skills.

Wyrmwave has a 1.5s recast

[Pyitoechito]

I can live with every change, except for aethertrail and aetherflow being on the same bar. If for some reason I lose a stack (missed bane) and end up with two stacks of aethertrail and no aetherflow, i now WASTE 2 more stacks when using the next aetherflow,

I can't even just get rid of aethertrail stacks. Let me click them off or something. Its actually brutal. As long as these two are combined on the UI bar, this class is going to have some serious problems.

So have there actually been reported cases of this occurring? Like, missing an AF skill or casting it on an invulnerable target expends the stack without gaining an Aethertrail Attunement?

I have zero experience with Summoner, but I feel like the solution to this issue is simple for the developers (if this isn't the case already): Have Aetherflow-spending abilities always proc Aethertrail Attunement when used, regardless of whether or not the ability hits or deals damage to the intended target. So spending three Aetherflow stacks will always grant three Aethertrail stacks, even if Bane misses or Fester deals zero damage.

I would like to know if there have been reported cases of Aetherflow-consuming abilities not granting Aethertrail Attunement if they miss or are fully-absorbed in 4.0.

[Tsukaasa]

Yes, for example if you bane a target without dot or fester an invincible boss, the aetherflow stack is used and you gain nothing, so you are stucked with 1 blank slot and for example 2 aethertrail stacks.

So next time aetherflow is up and you use it, you will gain just 1 remaining slot of aetherflow. (because since SB, aetherflow stacks and aethertrail stacks are fused on 3 slots)

[Draxxion]

Talking to my FC last night and mentioned I went from SMN to RDM for the time being till things on SMN get ironed out and one of the other resident Summoners called me jokingly a "heritic". I will still level SMN eventually, but from what I have seen and read as well as experienced I will continue as RDM for now.