Why do you play SMN?

[Tivul]

I am really thinking about playing SMN, as it seems somewhat underplayed and really the only advanced caster job (besides BLU now, I suppose). However, from guides and such that I've read, SMN just sounds like a souped up WHM in a sense. It appears to me (and believe me, I opinion holds little merit as of right now since I don't even have the game and I'm purely speculating ) that WHM is the norm for SMN's, and they are expected mainly to heal. Occasionally they have the option of tossing out a summon and having them use their little special ability before pulling them back and continuing their healing duties. Is that all there is to it? WHM with some extra buffs?

I'm just a bit curious as to why you guys play 'em. Not trying to take a shot at the SMN or anything, I'm still strongly considering playing one. I just wanna know if my perception of them is anywhere close to what it's really like.

[Jei]

Re: Why do you play SMN?

It depends on the PT set up too.

1-30 SMN doesn't offer much at this point. Pretty much what you said is almost always true - watered down whm

30+ it gets better. garuda's Blinkga is somewhat useful depending on your PT set up. And enthunder is a really fun spell.

40+ is where SMN starts to shine IMO. The fenrir's status boost is sweet, Titan's stoneskin is Ninja's second best companion to haste.

70+ SMN are just awesome. They don't fit well in burn style merit PT but for end game activities, you have 70 SMN you're almost guaranteed a place in HNM shells.

[Tivul]

Re: Why do you play SMN?

That's kinda good to hear. It's nice to know that at least at later levels I won't be sitting around tossing weakened cures. Was hoping that SMN's got something unique to offer at later levels at least

[MadCrom]

Re: Why do you play SMN?

Summoner is my favorite job to play. Jei is right about it being kinda slow from 1-30 but after that is really picks up.

As for the Healing part, I have another SMN buddy that i party with (shes same lvl) and that way we take turn's Healing. One fight I heal while she DD's and MB's, then we switch.

I have not run into a party that tells me i have to main heal yet, but i don't really mind if they did. As long as you have some Juice you can still throw out a Bloodpact every now and then, and still be able to heal. Smn is really a job that is what you make of it, I have in my comments that i can back up heal, main heal or DD-MB!

When you Hit lvl 24 you get your first Party Buff Shining Ruby (Carby) and then as Jei mentioned Lvl 25 Blinkga (Garuda) then Ice Spikes (Shiva) at 27-28 i can't remember. And more at later lvls.

It still makes my heart pound when I Summon Ifrit or any other Avatar and just have it out pounding on a Mob for a bit.

Another thing that is quite fun (for me atleast) is soloing. Walking through and area building up TP and seeing what SC's i can do just with me and my avatar.......sometimes even get a MB on the end of it.

It really is a fun Job (for some), and if you have another friend that is a SMN the fun just increases.

So i guess what i am trying to say is Summoner is a great job for some---------and not so great for others!

[Tivul]

Re: Why do you play SMN?

I appreciate the thoughts Mad, and I'm anxious to give it a try. I think the toughest part for me will be taking WHM to 30 first...or RDM, but I'd probably go with WHM simply for the fact that it appears to be the most useful subjob.

So it's not like what I've read in the sense that parties practically forbid having your summon out to dps? I'm a bit confused to this, as I don't really understand the drawbacks of having your avatar out constantly?

[MadCrom]

Re: Why do you play SMN?

Indeed....

I took Rdm to 30 first then took SMN and now i am taking WHM.

If you like Mage Jobs i think you will Enjoy SMN quite a bit.

[Tirrock]

Re: Why do you play SMN?

The drawback to having your avatar out constantly is the perpetuation cost. You lose MP while you have the avatar out. It generally doesn't justify the damage the avatars do to what you're exping on.

I played SMN because I liked it in FFT and really enjoyed it in FFX. I'm easily influenced like that. I keep playing it because it's a pretty self-sufficent job at high levels. I can solo AF1 and AF2 quests without breaking a sweat, as well as some of the AF3 quests. I can farm easy preys for money without down time (connection willing), which is hard for most jobs at level 75.

Plus I get to do things like this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ck/guppies.jpg
and this really old one...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...k/thongman.jpg

[Gwynn]

Re: Why do you play SMN?

Not to nitpick, but SMN's first party buff is Level 24: Shining Ruby (Carbuncle). Nice to throw out when you get roped into main healing at lower levels and can't do a whole lot else to protect the party.

My SMN is only level 30, but once I get RDM to 75 and DRK to 37 (and obtain Fenrir, Diabolos, and Carby Mitts... have the items required for all of them, just need the fights ; ; ), its going to be the next thing I level up. I'm currently planning on taking it all the way, but who knows, that might change. Doubt it though

[Tivul]

Re: Why do you play SMN?

Tirrock, those pictures alone might be enough to convince me! And now I guess I understand a bit more about the whole not keeping it out thing.

It does my heart good to hear that they are at least a somewhat self-sufficient job for end game. Nothing that sucks more than having to use parties as a crutch. Don't take this as me saying I hate to group or nothing, I just sometimes don't have as much time, and having the ability to perhaps still do something makes me happy

[MadCrom]

Re: Why do you play SMN?

Not to nitpick, but SMN's first party buff is Level 24: Shining Ruby (Carbuncle). Nice to throw out when you get roped into main healing at lower levels and can't do a whole lot else to protect the party.

I knew i forgot one.....its been a while. thanks

[Kazuki]

Re: Why do you play SMN?

Not to nitpick, but SMN's first party buff is Level 24: Shining Ruby (Carbuncle). Nice to throw out when you get roped into main healing at lower levels and can't do a whole lot else to protect the party.

Actually, this gets a lot better at higher levels. If I have a paladin tank, I can stack this and Noctoshield on them. The damage over time that this prevents is just amazing.

Back on topic...I play Summoner because it's so versatile and fun. I can fufill many more roles than most jobs are capable of filling, and pretty damn well too. Not only, it's freaking summoner! C'mon, we've always been cool.

[Gobo]

Re: Why do you play SMN?

Like others said, I play SMN cause its a very versatile job (I really only like playing those types of job heh). Sure, many people think we're just a watered down WHM, and yes to a point we can main heal. We get some pretty nice buffs through Avatars, like AoE Blink, AoE Stoneskin, AoE Phalax, all BRD's etudes smashed into 1 BP etc etc. But not only can we do that, we can do tons of damage to a mob (see sig) and give it 0 TP in the process, which is a very nice thing.

SMN can also solo many things most other jobs cannot. Somewhere in this section is a thread about soloing the KSBC (KSNM/KS30, whatever you want to call it) "E-vase-ive Action", which normally takes 6 people to do (or a trio BLMs lol). Once I get NIN lvled to 37, I am going to try to solo the ENM "Like the Wind", something I've had my eyes set on for a while. Incase you ever need gil at later lvls, SMN can solo mobs that drop high lvl BLM scrolls, which go for a pretty penny.

Oh, we look pretty hot in Artifact and Relic gear as well.

[Medalink]

Re: Why do you play SMN?

Summoner can solo so well 51+, and decent before that. You can solo alot of NM's, a few BCNMs, and lots of Quests (AF, Limit Breaks, Missions, General Quests). By far SMN is the most versitle.

I play simply as it has the potential to do anything in this game. I also play it as its very very complex and very hard to fully understand.

A few things I myself have done:

Solod Aquaruis (NM).
Solod most AF Quests.
Solod 3 BCNMs.
Solod All Avatars but Shiva.
Solo VT-IT's for alot of EXP (Chain4's)
Done over 2.6k Dmg to a normal mob.
Done over 1.5k to an IT Mob.

The list goes on and on, but most what I listed is very hard and some cant be solod by any other job.

Medalink
P.s If you dont understand what some of the stuff means lemme know, I will exsplain.

[Tivul]

Re: Why do you play SMN?

Not entirely sure what the BC stands for in BCNM. Like, I know that NM means named monster, but, y'know, hehe. And to Gobo, what does KSBC stand for?

Anyhoo, you guys have basically convinced me to try out SMN, as it sounds like a ton of fun. Cool looking armor, cool looking summons, cool little Taru Taru. I'm stuck trying to find something that's not to love :D

[Mog]

Re: Why do you play SMN?

Not entirely sure what the BC stands for in BCNM. Like, I know that NM means named monster, but, y'know, hehe. And to Gobo, what does KSBC stand for?

BC = burning circle
NM= notorious monster
BCNM= burning circle notorious monster (save your beastman seals!!!!! You need them for this!)
KSNM= Kindred Seal Notorious Montser (save your kindred seals!!!!! You need them for this!)
KSBC= Kindred Seal Burning Circle......even though nobody that I know calls it that.