Forum ppl have started hating the idea when some *ahem 'idealist smn' wanted to melee smn using elemental staves and avatars.
ok lets look at this as if smn was any other job you want to melee with and make a melee set
http://ffxigear.com/?ref=14734 <- this is the best set i could come up with "note its using sole sushi
vs lv 81 Greater Colibri(using wiki stats)
i get these numbers from dmg calculator on ki
melee dmg 29-73
crit, dmg 102-146
ws dmg 53-131
sa ws 184-262
that weapon has a 412 delay
so thats is about 6.87 sec per swing
you have 60 sec to get a chain greater then 6
in that time you may get 8-9 swings in
w/haste you get 10 swings
and 11.75 tp a swing
about 733 dmg a mob if you never miss and don't crit
(im not 100% sure aobut this but i been told there hp is around 6000 pls tell me if im wrong)
if there are 3 dd in the pt and you one of them you need to do a min of 2000+ dmg in 60 sec if you never stop swing (ie you never put your weapon away or cast a spell) meaning your light spirt would have to do 1267 dmg in the 60 sec with it casting flah for no reason and what not
i dont know how much dmg my light spirt would do in 30sec buy my money is not 1267 dmg
To my knowledge the Light Spirit's spell recast timer is basically 24 seconds with capped skill and unengaged. If engaged, recast timer is 48, but I don't know if that includes smn getting hate and having the elemental automatically attack the target without /assault.
For reference, an automaton can go as low as 30 seconds using a manabooster and harlequin (lower with other attachments/head/frame/maneuvers).
Spira has the best guide to the pacts, and i dont think any one will disagree
here is the wiki to it on wiki
http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Spirit_Guide_by_Spiraand here is the KI post of it
http://ffxi.killvoid.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=75469i would ask you to go test the light spirt out and see how it work but your too lazy to get all the spells for your job -.-
IF the light spirt cast its strongest cure spells when its timer was up every time there be no reson smn wouldn't just cast it over spaming cure III, sadly it dosnt work that why when your just about to die it might cast haste on you or dia II on the mob