Expansion Ideas: Systems, Features, and Content Types - What would you add?

[MartaDemireux]

A separate thing I hope happens is a major change to SMN without actually changing SMN as I like that it shares a class with SCH and the gameplay itself feels pretty fluid, minus some of the pet problems.

Bahamut was a move in the right direction. I know it’s like beating a dead horse but I feel strongly about how SMN doesn’t feel like much of a SMN. Our spells should be replaced with abilities that show an aetherial (ethereal as well lol) projection of the appropriate primal. Bio/Miasma could stay as is for that FFIV flair and I wouldn’t change any of the existing potencies or core gameplay but:

Ruin III: Replaced by an Ifrit animation.
Ruin IV: Replaced by a Ramuh animation.
Bane: Replaced by a Garuda animation.
Fester: Replaced by an Titan animation.
Energy Drain: Replaced by a Leviathan animation.
Tri-Bind: Replaced by a Shiva animation.
Tri-Disaster: Replaced by a Magus Sister’s animation.
Painflare: Replaced by an Odin animation.
Resurrection: Replaced by a Phoenix animation.
Shadowflare: Puddle animation the same but placed by Diabolos.

I’d keep the Bahamut things as-is.

I’d also keep Carbuncle as a pet for FFXI flair and so SMN is still recognized as the magical DPS pet job (and to not interfere with Bahamut). I’d move Summon II to SCH only. Carbuncle would be melee with physical auto attacks but magical abilities like Ifrit, but it’s abilities could be used at a greater distance than Ifrit. Instead of wind attacks I’d have Carbuncle use familiar abilities (all magical):

Shining Ruby = Radiant Shield
Poison Nails = single target damage.
Searing Light = AoE damage.
Holy Mist = Contagion
Glittering Ruby = Aetherpact/Devotion

Enkindle could be used to transform Carbuncle for a short time into Fenrir and reset pet cooldowns. Same moves but dark themed and stronger. It would be a buff equivalent to a 300 potency attack.

Shining Ruby = Lunar Roar
Poison Nails = Eclipse Bite
Searing Light = Howling Moon
Holy Mist = Lunar Bay
Glittering Ruby =Ecliptic Howl

Rouse would be repurposed as an enmity dump to carbuncle for soloing purposes and could potentially keep the buff as well.