Am I doing SMN wrong or is there just a LOT to do?

[Trayes]

I was really excited to try out the new SMN changes because RDM got pretty much 1 new spell and that is it. I liked the idea of more uptime on big summons and I thought that would be cool. However it feels like I have a TON of buttons to push between each cast. Never have I played an MMO where I had to track so many different systems.

If you have any obvious tips you want to throw my way if you think I am missing something, let me know.

[Xiozen]

Another poster summed it up nicely:

...I've got to pay attention to
Energy drain/siphon
Bio/miasma timers on my target
tridisaster cooldown
DWT(FBT) cooldown/DWT(FBT) timer / bahamut timer
Bane (if aoe fight)
Fester
Painflare
Devotion
Enkindle
Egi assault 1
Egi assult 2
I mean I'm sure I'll get a better flow as I practice, but I don't think my experience will improve that much.

I mean... yea... but I "Like" it.

Between level 70 to 75 so far for me, it has allowed me to create my own flow which works towards heavy dps. So kudos to SE. I was kinda worried but not anymore...the dmg is real.

Keep practicing and it'll flow pretty smoothly.

See ya in game!

[AvenoMatt]

Honestly you get use to it. I don't think I'm an expert smn but I've played the job since hw and love all the managment that's involved.

[Averax]

The rotation was sped up because people were annoyed with the extremely long ramp up time.

[xXAzurePrimeXx]

I quite enjoy it. It feels like we have more options and choices rather than sticking to 1 be all end all rotation, which is pretty much how it's always been. And it feels even more satisfying to play at least in my opinion.

[Straynge]

It's not just you...there's a crap load going on with SMN. A lot to do which is one of the reasons I don't play them much. I'm a simple Bard and Summoner makes my brain hurt lol. Still, I have a lv. 70 Summoner but I'm not very good at it. When I level it to 80 I'll give it another shot and try to get better but it's not just you. It's a very rewarding class though if you stick with it and just like anything once you've got it down it'll feel natural over time.

[Taranok]

The class is pretty busy now. I don't like it because the class basically is taking the HW/SB Bard and ratcheting up the rotation to 11, when the class stylistically never really was much of a multitasking busywork class (but had tedious micromanagement because of Contagion), even back in the days of HW when its rotation was arguably at its worst.

I'd argue it's too busy. The class is approaching HW levels of layering with the crap you have to keep track of, and while you do get used to it, the class causes too much tunnel visioning and doesn't feel like a caster with a natural flow or rotation to it like BLM and RDM have, so it's suffering from a bit of an identity crisis at the moment.

Its rotation actually feels more set in stone now than it was in SB because you have so many oGCDs to push and so few GCDs to safely cast all of them.

[Palladiamors]

There is a ton to do, more then any other job in game currently. The Egi-assaults are just busy work that function to charge your Ruin 4 and need an auto-use option as is, since the damage they deal is paltry and unrewarding on top of being a distraction for an already busy job.

Speaking for myself, I really dislike the direction summoners took this expansion and will probably be shelving mine after I hit 80. This was the wrong direction to go.

[Rezef]

IMO summoner isn't that hard, it's all a matter of getting used to the things you have to look after. I've maimed SMN through the whole lifespan of SB it's only on the beginning that it feels really stressing. After a while you get used to it and you bring havoc to your enemies with ease

[Palladiamors]

I see you haven't done a raid yet with summoner. Paying attention to every single minute detail we have to while dodging boss mechanics IS difficult and one or the other is going to suffer because of it. Yes, I know, so does everyone else, but not to THIS degree.