Why Summoner Needs Help

[Sunako]

So better compare it with RDM, as they have similar utility like both have rez and both have something to buff other players.

Well summoner damage buffs are pretty smalls. Devotion is overall dps loss if it used for healer that not even do the damage because you have to sacrifice your pet dps using devotion. Devotion delay your wind blade attack by 2 second that is like 14 dps loss from yourself. If you can use it for dps class that do steadily 4k dps that boost the person damage by 33.33 dps over 90 seconds. So average what you gain from devotion is around 20 overall dps. SMN have contagion as well, but majority of setups favor physical damage only. If double caster would be viable SMN would boost other caster around 100 dps, but because blm is so far behind from samurai it is not worth run with double caster. Using radiant shield boost physical damage, but you lose around same amount damage from contagion yourself than what radiant shield bring for the party.

[Dyvid]

Well summoner damage buffs are pretty smalls. Devotion is overall dps loss if it used for healer that not even do the damage because you have to sacrifice your pet dps using devotion. Devotion delay your wind blade attack by 2 second that is like 14 dps loss from yourself. If you can use it for dps class that do steadily 4k dps that boost the person damage by 33.33 dps over 90 seconds. So average what you gain from devotion is around 20 overall dps. SMN have contagion as well, but majority of setups favor physical damage only. If double caster would be viable SMN would boost other caster around 100 dps, but because blm is so far behind from samurai it is not worth run with double caster. Using radiant shield boost physical damage, but you lose around same amount damage from contagion yourself than what radiant shield bring for the party.

Okay, honest question now. Have you tried using Ifrit and are you include the actual damage radiant shield does to your own dps? When I did V.1 I found RS damage comparable to Shadow Flare so it's not a huge boost but it's there along with the 2% physical damage debuff for 24s and the best chance off devotion hitting front line dps jobs; though it's really just hit and miss still.

[Sunako]

Okay, honest question now. Have you tried using Ifrit and are you include the actual damage radiant shield does to your own dps? When I did V.1 I found RS damage comparable to Shadow Flare so it's not a huge boost but it's there along with the 2% physical damage debuff for 24s and the best chance off devotion hitting front line dps jobs; though it's really just hit and miss still.

No i just calculated how much that vulnerability potentially bring you dps. And i calculated it as 20 seconds because 24 second is not gonna happen. Boss have to hit at same moment once radiant shield get applied and in the last moment before the buff fall off and if boss is doing something else than attacking buff may fall off in the middle of the duration so 20 seconds sounds way more realistic for me.

[Angry_Evil]

Well summoner damage buffs are pretty smalls. Devotion is overall dps loss if it used for healer that not even do the damage because you have to sacrifice your pet dps using devotion. Devotion delay your wind blade attack by 2 second that is like 14 dps loss from yourself. If you can use it for dps class that do steadily 4k dps that boost the person damage by 33.33 dps over 90 seconds. So average what you gain from devotion is around 20 overall dps. SMN have contagion as well, but majority of setups favor physical damage only. If double caster would be viable SMN would boost other caster around 100 dps, but because blm is so far behind from samurai it is not worth run with double caster. Using radiant shield boost physical damage, but you lose around same amount damage from contagion yourself than what radiant shield bring for the party.

Okay, I don't know if your math is sound (and actually don't care) but after I read this I've got this THOUGHT that actually summoner should do more damage than not only BLM but also SAM because of a single and simple fact that our utilities and skills are STUPID. Like just think about it - we have 2 utility from which devotion is just dumb and weak, and contagion is pretty pointless cause we don't have relevant mage party composition(4 SMN meta here I come). Then we need to pay attention to ridiculous amounts of CDs(aetherflow, pet skills, contagion\RS, enkindle(which is not even consistent cd time), rouse, SF, Addle(!ADDLE lol), 3D etc.) But not only that we also must line them up properly and use them perfectly in time when half of them can't even be used in time cause of stupid pet's ai. And somewhere between all this we need to properly do fight mechanics. Just look at this. And worse of all - even if I DO line up everything and execute everything properly I will still do subpar DPS. This is ridiculous. Job design is ridiculous. Square should fire everybody who designed or came up with this travesty. Seriously.