Summoner duties

Zerayla

Zerayla

Cuetlachtli ヾ(´･ω･｀)
Adventurer
Joined
Sep 27, 2005
Messages
1,532
Location
California
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Main Job
Paladin-Female
Secondary Job
RedMage-Female
Third Job
Dragoon-Female
Server
Quetzalcoatl
Linkshell
SpiritOfTheWolf
FFXI
Zerayla
Can someone who's played SMN or is familiar with their duties please give me the details as to what they bring to a party?

From my experience, which is very little as i've hardly partied with them, they can use their avatars either to buff the party, or to do an MB. Now, I believe that the blood pact move is a 1 minute recast time?

In all the parties i've been, the majority of summoners would not use their avatar for regular melee. The avatar would only be out to do the Blood Pact move, and then released. My assumption was that maybe this was because the avatar did little damage, and would only contribute to the monster getting TP. (is this right?)

So, here's my question. I know that SMN job, is not WHM. I understand, that in comparison, their healing capabilities is no where near as much as that of a WHM and that in some situations, having them as "main healer" would not be recommended.

What I don't understand, and this is what i'm hoping for some clarification on.... other than a BP move, what else does a SMN do? Lately when i've been in parties, I find that the SMN don't toss any cures to help the main healer at all, they sit there with a good 70% MP every single fight, only doing the 1-2 BP's per battle. Is this normal?

I'm not trying to turn this topic into an arguement or anything, however I'm wondering if i'm completely wrong in thinking that due to having the availability of the cure spells, and more than 70% MP per battle would call for that job, SMN, to do more than just the BP's. Is there a reason why so many SMNs do not aid in the curing at all?

Lately i've been partying with SMNs as my RDM, and now that I have refresh which i'm still trying to get the hang of, I find that being main healer is a bit of a task and while i'm getting low on MP, and seeing a SMN just rest most of the fight just bothers me. I feel that if I were in that position, seeing another healing job get low on MP would compell me to assist and toss out some cures to conserve MP. I do this as my BLM job even.

So.... anyone with any good explanations?
 
Zerayla said:
Can someone who's played SMN or is familiar with their duties please give me the details as to what they bring to a party?

From my experience, which is very little as i've hardly partied with them, they can use their avatars either to buff the party, or to do an MB. Now, I believe that the blood pact move is a 1 minute recast time?

In all the parties i've been, the majority of summoners would not use their avatar for regular melee. The avatar would only be out to do the Blood Pact move, and then released. My assumption was that maybe this was because the avatar did little damage, and would only contribute to the monster getting TP. (is this right?)

So, here's my question. I know that SMN job, is not WHM. I understand, that in comparison, their healing capabilities is no where near as much as that of a WHM and that in some situations, having them as "main healer" would not be recommended.

What I don't understand, and this is what i'm hoping for some clarification on.... other than a BP move, what else does a SMN do? Lately when i've been in parties, I find that the SMN don't toss any cures to help the main healer at all, they sit there with a good 70% MP every single fight, only doing the 1-2 BP's per battle. Is this normal?

I'm not trying to turn this topic into an arguement or anything, however I'm wondering if i'm completely wrong in thinking that due to having the availability of the cure spells, and more than 70% MP per battle would call for that job, SMN, to do more than just the BP's. Is there a reason why so many SMNs do not aid in the curing at all?

Lately i've been partying with SMNs as my RDM, and now that I have refresh which i'm still trying to get the hang of, I find that being main healer is a bit of a task and while i'm getting low on MP, and seeing a SMN just rest most of the fight just bothers me. I feel that if I were in that position, seeing another healing job get low on MP would compell me to assist and toss out some cures to conserve MP. I do this as my BLM job even.

So.... anyone with any good explanations?
Click to expand...

I call these SMNs Bandwagon smns, most real SMNs can handle the Main healing task and understand that there BPs are useless if thats all they are doing for the PT. If the dmg was static then I might understand, but a RDM can usally Out DD a SMN post 70 with their tier 3 spells.
 
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SMN to me, is healer (main or backup) and Buffer (Earthen ward, aerial armour, hastega) or we can Pull with carby if needed, no links either, or MB 60+ with our teirIV nukes if there is no BLM about.

We are a jack of all trades, master of none really.
 
If you got a whm (not likely) Sub heal and use avatars to buff up as much as possible, let avatar melee if you feel like it.

If you do not have a whm you get to heal almost full time, Do AOE blink/Stoneskin/Hastega, Hastega as priority one, I don't have Fenrir yet, but i'd use the Stat boost tech he has. Otherwise Summon the shiny things to make it look like your doing something, I tended to use Whispering Wind and Spring Water a lot when I Played smn.
 
I've been lvling SMN lately as a sub.
I don't find it hard at all to be main curing(lv22+), MBing and throwing in Aerial Armor or something here and there. Inviting someone to just BP every time its open is just a plain waste of a spot imo.
Honestly, if a SMN is not curing then they are really leeching (at low levels anyway).
 
.....
 
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Ill tell you what I tell every new starting SMN.
Cap dagger skill but dont use them until level 20ish.

Be a healer through the dunes, then screw /WHM.

Once you can use em, buy a Silence Dagger +1 and a Poison Dagger +1. Then sub ninja for dual wield and melee.

This is how I dodged having to heal up until roughly level 55. Then I switched over to PLD.
 
I have played with 3 types of summoners.

1) only does BP
2) main cures + BP
3) DD and backup cures

In my opinion, smn have enough mp todo much more than rdm and whm (taru smn's especially), but most only do a bp every few fights and just sit back and leech exp.


"This is how I dodged having to heal up until roughly level 55"

Wow, why not just tell the pt you dont want to main cure? On rdm if I dont want to main heal, I say so and im either asked to leave or pt says ok.
 
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DarkMagnus said:
I have played with 4 types of summoners.

1) only does BP
2) main cures + BP
3) DD and backup cures
4) Melee between BP
Click to expand...

Fixed for my case.
 
Rufus_Shinra said:
Ill tell you what I tell every new starting SMN.
Cap dagger skill but dont use them until level 20ish.

Be a healer through the dunes, then screw /WHM.

Once you can use em, buy a Silence Dagger +1 and a Poison Dagger +1. Then sub ninja for dual wield and melee.

This is how I dodged having to heal up until roughly level 55. Then I switched over to PLD.
Click to expand...

Are you joking?
 
DarkMagnus said:
Its cool you want to play the way its fun for you, but thats just a waste of space imo. Smn will do more damage doing mb and bp.
Click to expand...

Well, they can still use their BP no problem. As for MB?

Hmm......

Oh! You still get to use your Elemental Ichi spells....lol....at level 30....at half strength.... <.<
 
I'm going to ask the dumb ? and ask why you would really put yourself through that much trouble and not just help main heal or sub heal. People act like it actually hurts the exp.

Every job makes sacrifices like rdm giving up melee41+(or really 32 but its ok until refresh)
 
Khidir said:
I'm going to ask the dumb ? and ask why you would really put yourself through that much trouble and not just help main heal or sub heal. People act like it actually hurts the exp.

Every job makes sacrifices like rdm giving up melee41+(or really 32 but its ok until refresh)
Click to expand...

RDM melee outside of soloing (pt situations) at pretty much any level, is nothing but free TP for the target.
 
Khidir said:
I'm going to ask the dumb ? and ask why you would really put yourself through that much trouble and not just help main heal or sub heal. People act like it actually hurts the exp.

Every job makes sacrifices like rdm giving up melee41+(or really 32 but its ok until refresh)
Click to expand...

You gotta do what you want to do. As long as you can still do your duties and not completely smash your party into a brick wall, then do whatever you want.

I melee'd as a RDM on and off all the way to 75. They aren't the best at melee but nobody complains about a little more extra damage. So long as your other duties dont fail.

If your quick with the keyboard, then you can still do your refreshy cycle, heal and enfeeble as normal while still getting in your hits.
 
Moriki said:
RDM melee outside of soloing (pt situations) at pretty much any level, is nothing but free TP for the target.
Click to expand...

=/ to me I see it as a transition phase, not a constant but at those lvs i mentioned its really best if you do, you have a lot more responsiblity.

I would like to see a rdm that can haste refresh x3-5ppl debuff(still sticking), and mbing and sub/main healing.

If they can do that well in one single measly fight then they put a bit too much effort to the pt and will eventually over exert themselves
 
Khidir said:
=/ to me I see it as a transition phase, not a constant but at those lvs i mentioned its really best if you do, you have a lot more responsiblity.

I would like to see a rdm that can haste refresh x3-5ppl debuff(still sticking), and mbing and sub/main healing.

If they can do that well in one single measly fight then they put a bit too much effort to the pt and will eventually over exert themselves
Click to expand...

Its really not that hard. Your already targeted onto the mob for debuffs and MBs, so that isnt a problem. The only thing you have to learn is to whip out your spells and target your party members using the F1-F6 keys.

Granted, you will probably hit the wrong F key sometimes. (Your party will not be happy when you Haste the WHM....) But everyone makes mistakes.
 
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