Summoner Changes 10/18/06 Anyone test yet?

[Khamsin]

I find it funny how everyone gets so angry at the mere suggestion of exping with anything less than their ideal setup.

I find it funny how people don't get angry at SE for not fixing a seriously flawed and underpowered job.

Giving SMN haste finally was a step in the right direction, but theres a long way to go.

SMN always had haste... well, ever since the celestial avatars were introduced, anyway.

[Minions]

I find it funny how everyone gets so angry at the mere suggestion of exping with anything less than their ideal setup.

I find it funny how people don't get angry at SE for not fixing a seriously flawed and underpowered job.

Giving SMN haste finally was a step in the right direction, but theres a long way to go.

SMN always had haste... well, ever since the celestial avatars were introduced, anyway.

I'm pretty sure he was refering to haste that lasted a decent period of time... justifying mp usage.

[Aodh]

Actual Tests!!

The following tests are for Enhancing Blood Pact: Wards. With the exception of some Blood Pacts where the duration did not change with Summoning Skill, here is the basic formula.

New Duration = Original Duration + (Original Duration / 30 * (Actual Summoning Skill - Cap))

Examples:
Warcry@289 = 30sec + (30sec / 30 * (289-269)) = 30sec + (1sec * (20)) = 30sec + 20sec = 50sec
Rolling Thunder@289 = 60sec + (60sec / 30 * (289-269)) = 60sec + (2sec * (20)) = 60sec + 40sec = 100sec
Hastega@289 = 90sec + (90sec / 30 * (289-269)) = 90sec + (3sec * (20)) = 90sec + 60sec = 150sec

Wards which had durations of or exceeding 180seconds have no change in duration. This leads me to believe that the update notes were literal where everything caps at the 3min mark. Since the 3 initial durations were 30/60/90 sec, here are the following "Theoretical" Caps if the Total duration cannot exceed 3min (180sec).

Theoretical Cap (Max Duration = 180sec)
180sec = 30sec + (30sec / 30 * ([x]-269))
180 = 30 + 1[x] - 269
[x] = 419 Skill

180sec = 60sec + (60sec / 30 * ([x]-269))
180 = 60 + 2[x] - 538
[x] = 329 Skill

180sec = 90sec + (90sec / 30 * ([x]-269))
180 = 90 + 3[x] - 807
[x] = 299 Skill


I think I've seen cases of 300+ skill resulting in > 3min total durations, so below are the adjusted caps for the Normal Duration + 180sec.

Theoretical Cap (Max Duration = Normal Duration + 180sec)
210sec = 30sec + (30sec / 30 * ([x]-269))
210 = 30 + 1[x] - 269
[x] = 449 Skill

240sec = 60sec + (60sec / 30 * ([x]-269))
240 = 60 + 2[x] - 538
[x] = 359 Skill

270sec = 90sec + (90sec / 30 * ([x]-269))
270 = 90 + 3[x] - 807
[x] = 329 Skill

Test Data
The missing durations (?? sec) are as a result of the Below Cap and +20 Cap having the same duration. After the first few I skipped +10 when +20 showed no effect.

[Shining Ruby]
262 Skill: 180 sec
269 Skill: 180 sec
279 Skill: 180 sec
289 Skill: 180 sec

[Glittering Ruby]
262 Skill: 175 sec
269 Skill: 175 sec
279 Skill: ?? sec
289 Skill: 175 sec

[Ecliptic Growl]
262 Skill: 180 sec
269 Skill: ?? sec
279 Skill: 180 sec
289 Skill: 180 sec

[Ecliptic Howl]
262 Skill: 180 sec
269 Skill: ?? sec
279 Skill: ?? sec
289 Skill: 180 sec

[Noctoshield]
262 Skill: 180 sec
269 Skill: ?? sec
279 Skill: ?? sec
289 Skill: 180 sec

[Dream Shroud]
262 Skill: 180 sec
269 Skill: ?? sec
279 Skill: ?? sec
289 Skill: 180 sec

[Frost Armor]
262 Skill: 90 sec
269 Skill: 90 sec
279 Skill: 120 sec
289 Skill: 150 sec

[Crimson Howl]
262 Skill: 30 sec
269 Skill: 30 sec
279 Skill: 40 sec
289 Skill: 50 sec

[Hastega]
262 Skill: 90 sec
269 Skill: 90 sec
279 Skill: 120 sec
289 Skill: 150 sec

[Aerial Armor]
262 Skill: 900 sec
269 Skill: ?? sec
279 Skill: ?? sec
289 Skill: 900 sec

[Rolling Thunder]
262 Skill: 60 sec
269 Skill: 60 sec
279 Skill: 80 sec
289 Skill: 100 sec

[Lightning Armor]
262 Skill: 90 sec
269 Skill: 90 sec
279 Skill: 120 sec
289 Skill: 150 sec

[Earthen Ward]
262 Skill: 900 sec
269 Skill: ?? sec
279 Skill: ?? sec
289 Skill: 900 sec

[DrObvious]

FFXIFlux you sound like a RDM who knows he's outdated and going to be replaced by SMN or your a SMN who doesnt understand the job at all.

That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Rdm replaced by smn? Maybe whms have something to fear.

As long as you occassionally toss an Earthen Ward on your party they should take very little damage. Shadows gone? get hit by mob for 0 so no interuppted casting so next uts goes through, no healing required.

Right, because war/nin or nin/war never get for more than 200, especially not with berserk up.

[aurik]

It's too bad smn/whm can't cure when someone gets injured for more than stoneskin.

[BerenTebogo]

Not gonna bother reading this crap

but tonight in limbus, one of our SMNs (SMN AFv2 hands +1 and like everythng else you all have for skill+) was absolutely DESTROYING mobs.

Appolyon NW run Bugard mobs for example, 1 PClaw did approx 45% of the mobs life.

SMN got pumped if you got the gear and capped skill from what ive seen.

[Miji]

Where are you people partying that everyone gets hit for 200+ on any duration of Earthen Ward? Comparing MP costs of curagas and Earthen Ward just sounds silly. Don't get me wrong, it's nice that people will consider SMNs for burn parties, but don't overestimate yourselves for what should be a non-issue for a good party anyway.

[Aodh]

Where are you people partying that everyone gets hit for 200+ on any duration of Earthen Ward?

Halvung, Thickets and Mire. RNG Trolls have an AoE attack and many moves which ignore shadows. Thickets have tons of multi-hit moves which usually connect after wiping shadows and the puk's spamming knock-back DoTs 200 damage pretty fast, even if it's not in one hit. Mire has AoE casting Imps and Cursed Sphere. Oh and whirl of rage on deco's, but that's usually blinked by a good party.

[Faranim]

Not gonna bother reading this crap

but tonight in limbus, one of our SMNs (SMN AFv2 hands +1 and like everythng else you all have for skill+) was absolutely DESTROYING mobs.

Appolyon NW run Bugard mobs for example, 1 PClaw did approx 45% of the mobs life.

SMN got pumped if you got the gear and capped skill from what ive seen.

SMN has always been like that in Limbus.

[FFXIFlux]

Where are you people partying that everyone gets hit for 200+ on any duration of Earthen Ward?

Halvung, Thickets and Mire. RNG Trolls have an AoE attack and many moves which ignore shadows. Thickets have tons of multi-hit moves which usually connect after wiping shadows and the puk's spamming knock-back DoTs 200 damage pretty fast, even if it's not in one hit. Mire has AoE casting Imps and Cursed Sphere. Oh and whirl of rage on deco's, but that's usually blinked by a good party.

Hello double attacking wyverns. You're not pulling 20k+/hr without the wyverns.

[Slott]

been playing around with rush on tiamat, it's doing the same dmg w/ pred claws (302 smn skill)

not too shabby ;D

[Aodh]

Grand Fall tests on Tia plz.

[JoOeetheplatypuS]

Or how about this guys. Realize that SMN can DD as well (even if not as much as a normal melee). Even if you don't heal as well, 1kish (estimated, I don't watch SMNs often) pred claws kind of helps get exp. A little bit.

BTW has anybody tried a pure BLU burn? I'm thinking BLU BLU BLU COR (Evoker+Corsair rolls) RDM BRD (Ballads) could be amazing exp. I mean, hell, you've sure as hell made specific parties for MNKs back in KRT days, this might be even better. With 8-12 MP/Tick (Depeding on sanction refresh and rolls) with EXP bonus would be obscene. BLUs know how rediculous we are when we have as much MP as we want. Its not hard to be the best DD in the PT with a 5 MP/Tick refresh @68, with 8-12 (and hysteric barrage and disseverment) this would be redonculous.

[Rag]

Not gonna bother reading this crap

but tonight in limbus, one of our SMNs (SMN AFv2 hands +1 and like everythng else you all have for skill+) was absolutely DESTROYING mobs.

Appolyon NW run Bugard mobs for example, 1 PClaw did approx 45% of the mobs life.

SMN got pumped if you got the gear and capped skill from what ive seen.

smns at my ls (smn gear complete+merits) 1 shot them lol wth you talking about

[safer]

been playing around with rush on tiamat, it's doing the same dmg w/ pred claws (302 smn skill)

not too shabby ;D

that looks really promising.. if they increased accuracy significantly, Rush might just be the new PC =O

(always liked shiva more than garuda anyways D; )

also about blu burns max:
ive done a few blu blu blu cor brd rdm ... and yes exp is amazing.. exp in mire and literally never run out of mp - only thing holding you back is lack of mobs due to other parties

i was the cor and i subbed /brd
we were able to get evokers roll + Monks Roll (tried fighters, but monk proved more effective for us) + ballad1 from me
ballad 2 and march from the bard

not sure if they fix'ed the /brd glitch yet, but it worked for some time.. i i'll check later

[Toth]

Little update:

My LS just downed Vrtra in 95 mins with 6 SMNs. :D

Everyone's BPs was hitting on average for 550 and there was a sharp increase in criticals. TY SE. My SMN skill was 280 and my Claws never missed once.

[XxSlusherxx]

Or how about this guys. Realize that SMN can DD as well (even if not as much as a normal melee). Even if you don't heal as well, 1kish (estimated, I don't watch SMNs often) pred claws kind of helps get exp. A little bit.

BTW has anybody tried a pure BLU burn? I'm thinking BLU BLU BLU COR (Evoker+Corsair rolls) RDM BRD (Ballads) could be amazing exp. I mean, hell, you've sure as hell made specific parties for MNKs back in KRT days, this might be even better. With 8-12 MP/Tick (Depeding on sanction refresh and rolls) with EXP bonus would be obscene. BLUs know how rediculous we are when we have as much MP as we want. Its not hard to be the best DD in the PT with a 5 MP/Tick refresh @68, with 8-12 (and hysteric barrage and disseverment) this would be redonculous.

basically took my rdm from 52-60 in 2 days with this setup, first day went so well, we planned to get together for a longer session the next.

First day was BLU BLU BLU RDM COR SMN second day was BLU BLU BLU RDM COR BRD, we actually had the bard throw on a minuet instead of ballad one, it owned.

[Tomino]

Ouryu Cometh:

Predator Claws went 460 average, never tested it pre-patch. Never missed, did 370 and 650 once.

Wind Blade (0-10 TP) did 0, 130, 250 while Ouryu was in the air.
Nether Blast did 130, 250.

[Samhain]

smn skill does not just effect duration on ward bp's, on some of them it actually enhances the effect of the bp.
example:
carbuncle's shining ruby, i tried this as WHM75/SMN37 as i wasn't completely smn 75 with capped skill yet but my skill was capped for lvl 37.
with no smn skill+ gear shining ruby lasted 3 mins and gave around a +9% bonus to defense. (i'm not going to ramble on % bonus down to like .000001)
with elite beret, smn torque, smn earring, and nashira crackows for +19 skill the effect increased to +15% bonus to defense.
As i said this is with capped skill for lvl 37 smn atleast and it increased the actual effect of shining ruby by quite a bit for just 19 skill from equipment. So other bp's that weren't increased in duration might as well have an increase in effect.