Summoner Thoughts

[Superskull85]

I'm not at end game yet but Bane seems fine to me. During bosses I only need to use it for adds if there are any (some of the higher bosses right now don't even have adds worth a lot). In the case of single target I save Aether Flow for Energy Drain. For adds leading up to bosses they usually get controlled (slept or bound) so I don't want to hit them anyways.

I do agree that DoT may a problem. With Bio, Bio II, Miasma and Thunder I have room only for 4 Ruin's before I have to recast them. With Miasma II and Shadow Flare in the mix I foresee only about 2 Ruin's per rotation. Which I don't mind as long as the DoT is enough (I like DoT classes a lot and find that much more sustainable).

As for pets the caster pets Emerald Topez and Garduda are easy to control because their commands are clippable with DoT's. Using the Heel command is much better compared to Place which I see some SMN's use.

[Ryuko]

I'm not at end game yet but Bane seems fine to me. During bosses I only need to use it for adds if there are any (some of the higher bosses right now don't even have adds worth a lot). In the case of single target I same Aether Flow for Energy Drain. For adds leading up to bosses they usually get controlled (slept or bound) so I don't want to hit them anyways.

A really good example of where SMN runs into trouble with not being able to kill adds quickly enough is in the Sunken Temple. I mention this because it's a 37 dungeon and you'll be ready for it soon. On the first boss, there are two bees that periodically spawn. You need to down those two bees before it's too late, or the bees will 'Final Sting' someone for a LOT of damage. (Like in XI, final sting is dependent on how much HP the mob has left... but it can be deadly.) Even with Energy Drain and spreading dots (if the mobs stay together), you will have trouble killing these adds quickly enough. Hopefully, you will be partnered with a DPS who knows what to do and will help you down them quickly.

The last boss of that dungeon also spawns a lot of adds (staves) that need to be killed over time. The tricky part about these is that you have to keep moving (you'll see why -- I don't want to give it away). Your dps against these adds that can't be brought together will be very low compared to the other DPS. At some point, you will need to 'solo' one of these staves in a set time period. Unless you have cooldowns (fester/drain), you won't be able to kill it in time. Killing it is important because it reduces the dps of an AoE that hits the party. When I did this run with a black mage, the difference in our ability to down stuff quickly was really apparent. I can only imagine that these two examples are a sign of 'things to come'.

[Superskull85]

A really good example of where SMN runs into trouble with not being able to kill adds quickly enough is in the Sunken Temple.
[..]

Well I guess I'll see it when I get there as like I said I am not quite at end game yet. Did you use Raging Strikes in here? I don't see that mentioned as a buff a lot when talking about SMN. Switching your pet to the add should also be done if it wasn't (I don't know what your exact strategy would be in that situation).