I shall try to keep this short...

I have played XIV since the PS3 beta back in 2013. I wanted to play the 1.0 version before this point, however the lack of a Summoner class was the deal breaker for me. So naturally once it was announced as one of the new jobs for 2.0, I jumped straight on board! I have been a Summoner main ever since.

Naturally I have experienced every version and rework of Summoner and each version has had it's pros and cons. However, when I look at them all side by side I have to say the original version comes up on top! - Or rather a version akin to it comes up on top..

The original Summoner had a unique gameplay style that really helped give it a true identity - We could command our summons in the form of true pets whilst casting DoTs to keep a constant flow of DPS - When I played as this version of the Summoner, it really felt like my summons (Egi) were fighting alongside me and the ability to issue them commands added to that feeling because I was interacting with them!

However, if we look at the current Summoner - All of the unique gameplay/mechanics have been stripped away - We no longer have the Egi engage in combat (it just sits there doing nothing....) and we can no longer issue commands or interact with them in any way. Furthermore, the DoT's have been removed also, meaning there is quite literally nothing left of the traits that made Summoner unique and gave it an identity!...

The current Summoner is all visuals and nothing more - Sure when you cast a Demi/Gem summon and see it fill the screen looks super cool!...But, there comes a point where you've seen those same animations so many times now that the visual element just isn't enough!...Summoner truly needs something more than just visuals!

I honestly believe that the community would have fully embraced the original Summoner had it's visuals matched closer to the current Summoner - So have the Egi look closer to their Primal version and actually look like a living being, and have the DoTs be Primal element based!

I do however think Demi-Bahamut was a great addition and is what the 3.0 Summoner should have got instead of Dreadwyrm Trance! - So I guess I believe the ideal Summoner to be something more like it's 4.0 version, but retaining a focus on the Egi being a true pet that fights alongside you!