New-to-SMN essential of essentials for 4.0

[tinythinker]

I've looked several pages into this forum as of this evening, and what I am looking to see is whether the core of SMN is the same in 4.0. Lots of guides go into a ton of detail assuming familiarity with this kind of DoT class in MMORPGs, so they jump right into cool-down this and off-cool-down that, and complicated rotations for blah blah blah.

That's all well and good and useful information, but for new players using jump potions or players who don't understand dps roles in this game who nonetheless have a SCH at 60+ (and therefore a SMN at 60+), it's too much to start with. Many people look at the pages and pages (or for short version paragraph after paragraph after paragraph) of "explanation" and either A.) say "Nope!" or B.) say "#$%^ it I'll just do it however I want". Neither is good for the SMN class or the people who get into parties with them.''

I did all but the last 2.0 SMN job quest last spring when I first started playing after leveling WHM then trying SCH, since I figured I got SMN for free. But that's all, as I was in the A.) category above when I considered actually playing the job. I was out for a very long time, most of a year, and have taken WHM to 70 and now SCH/SMN to 67. I started doing the SMN job quests again to get more of the story and extra shared ACN xp, and tried looking again at a guide.

This is from 3.x but I really liked the first lesson and the very start of lesson two. Need to read the rest (and yeah I know Blizz Two is no longer an option). I basically got from it to do what I used to love doing as SCH which is DoTing up, using Bane and Shadowflare, but also using my spent aetherstacks to be able to do Deadwyrm Trance and really boost damage for a bit. So it seems like the basic, basic summary of summaries is this: use DoTs, spend stacks to get Deadwyrm for big boost, reapply DoTs, spend stacks to get Deadwyrm, over and over.

Was that accurate for 3.x? Is it still accurate for 4.0? Yes, I'm sure there are tricks to helping to do both of those things and maximizing dps, but is that in a nutshell the idea? I'm sure some new toys/things to shoot for were also added in 4.0 but I want to make sure I have the most stripped down fundamentals first before trying to add anything else.

I am betting this info will be of interest to many other people considering playing SMN. I'm also considering trying a TP-based dps class or two since it's a great time to jump in since things were simplified/retooled and I have no preconceptions, but it seems a waste to not have any clue about the dps class I'm already nearly to 70 with.

Thanks for your opinions on whether I have a grasp on the simplest possible notion/explanation of playing SMN.

[tinythinker]

Hmm, well, if I did get the broadest possible overview wrong, please be sure to let me know. Personally I learn best by starting with such a dumbed-down explanation then adding in more and more details over time, so corrections are very welcome.

(SMN seems pretty cool power and story-wise, so, hopefully I'm not too far off...been getting some practice in for PvP and love using Bahamut, can't wait to unlock for PvE)

[JockHarley]

SMN is a dots manager with other role descriptions being but not limited to:
- Sickness spreader(bane on groups that have the bio and miasmas on already.)
- Pet Tamer (summon egis to do damage too as they count towards the damage total, you can manual these or macro them, people are all unique.)
- Fester expert (Single target hurt when all dots present before launching off.)
Dreadwyrm trance now vs 3.0 is slightly diff, ruin 3 hurt more and still cost the same, you could stack Aetherflow during it to either damage heavy or pre-roc ready dreadwyrm.
We are also a side lines rezzer, though be sure to macro a warning for it or you get a little butt hurt getting the good ol' double rez on one person.
we now tame dragons, buff a close team mate and feel strange now days^^

[Koyuki38]

"use DoTs, spend stacks to get Deadwyrm for big boost, reapply DoTs, spend stacks to get Deadwyrm, over and over."

That's the core of the job. You can't be wrong as long as you do it.
DWT once a minute, dot time always up, Fester whenever possible, Bahamut during crucial mechanics every 2 minutes.

That's how the job is designed. and i think it is easy enought to get used to without the need of a guide. But i agree, it might be hard for someone that jumped into the level 60 with a pot.
IMO, SMN is an easy job to play, but i find it hard to master (but that's the same for all jobs, right ?)

in 4.0 the core is still the same but ratio of what we are doing during a fight has changed.
As long as you understand the core play of SMN, you can jump into advanced guide without trouble, and get ready to break your rotation and discovery some tips.

And to get the max potency of the job, you need to be perfect on any plan. That's why mastering SMN is hard (also because there is a lot a buttons to press to achieve that)

[tinythinker]

Thanks for the confirmation/advice JockHarley and Koyuki38.

After I posted last night I tried lots of PvP on SMN since even though the skills are slightly different/condensed now you still get a sense of the job. Very fun putting on DoTs-->Fester-->2xDrain-->Dreadwyrm+Deathflare-->Summon Bahamut + Enkindle. The PvE version is longer and more complicated yes, but it was a good mini-version of some of the highlights. Catching a player low on health off-guard with an Akh Morn is pretty fun. I'm sure it's great drop on bosses as well.