Summoner Early Post-Launch Feedback at level 80

[CecMiller]

I just wanted to touch upon the DPS capability of SMN in general as I don't think I talk about this too much.

Right now, both RDM and SMN are too low with respect to BLM. In fact, a lot of classes seem to be very close to each other but there are stand out jobs like DRG, MNK and BLM and SAM lagging slightly behind where as the others are a bit more closely matched. I'm certain SMN needs changes and with those changes, hopefully its DPS is brought up. But at the same time, the gap the top 3 (with SAM joining them if buffed) have over the other jobs is pretty mindboggling even when BLM is considered to be a purely DPS class, its ADPS should be higher but not its RDPS. RDPS ideally should be equal with a slight preferrence to utility classes. This is because they require good execution from everyone in the party to utilize their kit in these buff windows. Furthermore, the jobs with these utilities are always weaker in content that is solo or 4 man or anything less than 8 man content where as the "pure dps" jobs are always stronger in these areas. When these tools are not utilized optimally, their rdps would be lower and as such, when used at their maximum benefit, they should eclipse those "pure dps" jobs in terms of raid dps contribution via their own personal dps + the dps their utility has provided.

I would also note that ressurection does not provide ANY dps utility at a high level. However, their benefit is clear in pug groups when deaths are more common. The current state of balance is significantly worse than patch 4.5. If both RDM and SMN are being taxed for ressurection, then its better off removed entirely from both jobs as it creates an unequal balancing environment - I would personally already prefer this.

An example of patch 4.5 with the fastest speedkill in Final Omega:

https://www.fflogs.com/reports/x6ajk...pe=damage-done

SMN had contagion here (10% Magic Debuff every 60s for 15s). However it hits only 4 people: BLM, AST, SCH and PLD (If holy spirits are aligned) in this group (discounting the SMN as its contribution to their DPS is part of their personal DPS). Further, devotion was 2% as opposed to 5% so its contribution was a lot lower.

Evyerthing considered, the gap was certainly not made up by these buffs alone (almost 1.6k dps) and I very much think they would be very close but I cannot see that anymore as the website I used has been discontinued. Discounting the buffs from BRD, DRG, AST (BLM got 2 extra balances), SCH from both jobs personal dps and adding contagion and devotion to SMN would certainly mean their raid dps contribution was a lot closer.

Monk provided both mantra and brotherhood which is an incredibly strong buff on a low cooldown and physical only for whatever reason when there no longer exists magical buffs. Dragoon provides both crazy personal dps and battle litany and dragon sight.

Where I'm going with this is that SMN should have a similar placing to Monk if not higher when everything is balanced. Previously, the rankings in 4.5 would go BLM, SAM, MNK/SMN interchangeable and I think this was a good spot. Right now, it should go BLM, SAM, MCH, MNK/SMN, DRG/RDM/BRD, NIN/DNC in terms of personal dps contribution. However, I don't think this is close to being true at the moment - DRG's placement is the only one I'm actually unsure about.

RDPS lists should be much closer but it goes without saying that the jobs closer to the bottom in terms of personal dps should be higher on this list due to my reasons above. It is also worth noting that I only believe these difference should be evident at the very highest levels of play. The lower the level of play, the worse utility jobs should arguably be and the stronger pure dps jobs should be. I.e. NIN/DNC, DRG/BRD/RDM, MNK/SMN etc The problem then arrises in the dps discrepency between MCH, BLM and SAM where MCH would be lower in rdps purely because it is mobile. Its worth acknowledging that hard casting is harder than being mobile. As a result, the top percentiles should see this difference and hopefully its more balanced when player skill is a bit worse. We should ideally only see these rankings at the top level. To those that think that pure dps jobs should be at the top of both lists - what would be the point of bringing jobs that provide dps utility on top of their personal dps in that case? Why not just bring BLM/SAM/MNK and one last job that buffs them everytime? That is why there needs to be this difference in raid dps contribution where the jobs with dps utility are stronger than the pure dps jobs at the highest level.