Thread: What are your thoughts on 2.0's summoning system?

As you know there are primals – powerful demigods- in FFXIV. Summons are a staple to any Final Fantasy game, but to me, in recent games the summons have been cheapened because they are so easy to access. The current Ifrit and Garuda battles are hard, but I don’t want a world where everyone has summoned, and is walking around with, their own personal Ifrit. It cheapens how hard it was to get access to that primal.

Yoshi has expressed exactly what was wrong with SMN in FFXI. I totally agree with his direction on this.

Also, as others have stated, this quote is about the Free Company Primal Summoning System, NOT the upcoming Summoner Job (which will have different, and lesser avatars)

So we are really getting the best of both worlds here. Uber powerful summon versions of the FF classic avatars (Primals) and likely a more balanced SMN job as well.

Another thing that makes this approach ideal, is that they can release virtually endless new Primals without having to worry much about class/job balance.

My guess is that the Dalamud Horn is what Free Companies will use to summon a Primal. It can be worn by all Classes, so it likely has that 'meter' that you need to charge up before you can use it.

Well...according to that quote what he thought was wrong was that the summons were too easy to get. Back when XI first came out having an avatar to summon was a big accomplishment.

You had to first level a job to 65 for the fight (not SMN), then put together a solid PT, you had to have a bard too...for carol. Back in 2003/2004 bard's were rare. I only knew 3 >.> I had to literally beg people to fight them with me, then you had to get to the instance...which was (at the time) very high level mobs, you had to sneak/invisible yourself or attempt to fight your way there. If one person died or had trouble it was a huge ordeal for everyone.

Mind you..this again was in 03-04...once they made those mini fork battles, gave us more abilities, gear etc it became easier. But yeh I'd say XI had it right. Once I got all my avatars in December of 2003 when the game first came out..I remember leveling my SMN in Valkrum dunes. When people saw my avatars they freaked out and were like AWESOMEEE haha. I really liked what smn WAS in XI. What it is now is nothing like it was in 03 ^^

Isn't this jumping the gun a bit? I think it is entirely possible that Primals and Summons and a Summoner will be two completely different things in 2.0, at least that is what I can hope for.

Originally Posted by Maxthunder

Over all I find this a bad idea. Reason being it seem that yoshi is taking FFXIV away from how it was originally made. FFXIV is going in the wrong direction and hopefully other players see that. Now this is SE and we already know how SE is they tend to break things and never fix them or even bother trying to fix them so at this point in time I give Yoshi an F, and that is coming not only from his interviews but to what I see in game as well as what he is currently say.

Perhaps someone should make a: Do you want a Summoner which is similar to past FF and FFXI in FFXIV?
Simple answer: Yes or No

Originally Posted by Maxthunder

Let me say it another way and that is Yoshi is taking too much from other games and not enough from his companies past Final Fantasy series. Also I gave you my answer and my opinion, if you dont like it thats fine but I stand by it and just because others havent stated how they feel dosent mean I am the only 1 who has the same or close to same opinion. Now in the 1st sentence I should have said Final Fanatsy Series thats my error.

I understood what you said, I was simply trying to express that I feel much of the forums agree with you and that a survey may catch their attention. However I also know that there are plenty of trolls out there which can really put someone off to try to express something so clearly. I don't understand why you have taken my statement negatively perhaps you do not feel that the forums would share this idea. I also believe that having such a cut and dry question requesting a cut and dry answer may help spur a response or a look from the Dev. Team. One can hope.

I have only played a few of the FF series and I can tell you I never thought the Primals or Avatars were dummed down or any less beautiful or fantastic as they are in any other story.

I also felt like allowing a player to take part in making a Blood Pact with a Primal or Avatar really made that class special. I also thought being able to call your summon was something special, adding a dynamic to game play, like "Common Carby, lets go on a walk!" It didn't dumb them down it displayed a bond of affection between you and that Avatar.

Think about it Yoshi P.! This is a Final Fantasy, don't stray too far from the path!