In an "efficient" exp party we aren't spamming double slap/predator claws we're using hastega and healing just as well as a WHM or RDM because we're filling that role.

SMN can do a passable job, but without dispel and refresh (not to mention cheap debuffs) it doesn't come close to filling the role as well as a RDM.

SMN is probably the single most versatile job in FFXI. In an "efficient" exp party we aren't spamming double slap/predator claws we're using hastega and healing just as well as a WHM or RDM because we're filling that role. The low level Rage focused smn in an exp party only exists on Nasomi because the BPs were overtuned. They are much closer to in era retail now.

What you heard is wrong. You must not have been playing at the time, but a particular single SMN BP was doing fully unresisted damage on all targets, including lv 99 mobs people EXP'd on. The BP was programmed to never resist because whoever wrote it many years ago forgot to put it's damage through the proper functions. That BP was brought to my attention and people argued to me that it was not an exploit to use that BP to obtain absurd amounts of EXP from lv 99 mobs at very low levels. Nas addressed the exploit and now SMNs have their magic BPs all at least having a chance to resist, as they should.

I pushed nas to make sure the exploit was fixed as people were using it more and more. I have never and will never tell people not to do "SMN burns" and I'm sick and tired of people accusing me of being against "SMN burns", nor have I ever told anyone not to do a "SMN burn" nor does nas think people shouldn't be able to do a "SMN burn".

I understand you have some sort of grudge against me now because I asked you not to PM nas about an issue that you shouldn't PM nas about, but you really should take the things people tell you in stride instead of assume they are trying to be mean to you. It's infinitely faster for a player to get advice about a quest, mission, or almost anything really, than it is to PM nas - especially when he will actively ignore it if it's not something he's supposed to deal with.

If someone were against "smn burns" all they'd have to do is look at wiki to see the fix that could truly end them.

...TopShelf told Nas to roll back all your ZNM gear, do the gilpocalypse and nerf Fishing/RNG into the ground.

who made you this way

...TopShelf told Nas to roll back all your ZNM gear, do the gilpocalypse and nerf Fishing/RNG into the ground.

I didn't comment about versatility, but since you bring it up. Is smn deserving of the versatile description when it is pigeon holed into a main healer only role in efficient xp parties? I get what you mean, I got far in CoP duo using 4 smn, but levelling mostly as a healer isn't nearly as fun. This is why I would say PUP is much more versatile because it can reliably perform numerous roles well in the right hands throughout the entire journey 1-75.

First there was the death of smn/bst goblin suicide parties after mob tp spam fix and now this nerf for further reinforcing smn into it's pigeon holed main healer role; it's going to be even less common seeing smn use BP rage in xp parties. Don't know how others feel but to me it seems boring af to lvl smn now, glad I hit 75 before these two patches came in