On Red Mage melee...

[ManaKing]

I just want to be effective in my AF3 with Almace because they look amazing and every other job is able to do so. Unfortunately, to make RDM effective while doing this would require RDM to be able to convert more than just HP to MP.

(I personally prefer the Murgleis to the Almace for the image of RDM. But with that setup, presently, you aren't going to be able to do anything but cast. Your sword is only a fancy sword-shaped wand.)

I still would most prefer to push the spell sword image of RDM, because it is the one that is most vivid in my mind and it is what I was sold on. The only 2 things I think we need to worry about are HasteGa and our Enspell damage.

I agree with Hyrist, I think our solution for our spells, that would keep us up with the rest of the jobs in the game, would be to add HasteGa for RDMs. Garuda already gets Hastega, COR can already lower weapon delay for everyone in the party, BRD have their marches. There is nothing imbalanced about RDM getting something that 3 other jobs have access to.

Make it so you can cast it on an entire party at a time. If you cast hastega on a person in your party, everyone in range gets haste. If you cast it on someone in another party, everyone in range of that person gets haste. RDM spends less time buffing everyone. They have more time to spend on however they think they should play their job.


We need new Enspell 3s at 75+ (For the purpose of clarity I'll just refer to it as Enspell X)

The functions I am looking for are:

• Greater Enspell Damage that can be modified by gear
• Less or No TP Feed for your man hand
• Elemental Resistance Lowered matches the element of the Enspell and can be increased by gear
• While under Enspells, we get Weapon Haste = The recast reduction of our Fast Cast
• While under Composure, Magic Accuracy is added to our Regular Accuracy

The purpose of these changes are so that RDM can wear mage gear, which is what our AF1-3 is, and still be able to melee. RDM converts magical strength into melee prowess. Sword and Sorcery.

Damage
The biggest problem Enspells currently have, is that they don't give us enough of a reason to be meleeing. Their damage is insignificant. Enspell X would apply Enspell damage with every hit we do with our main hand. We get screwed out of our Joyeus and our 2-4 Khanda +2 unless we use Enspell 1s, no to mention a bunch of other gear and abilities. Enspell 2s aren't worth the price we pay for them after 70+.

Enspell X would have the same base as the other Enspells, but would be modified by INT. The options I see for this are either you get 1 base damage for every point of additional INT you get from your gear and buffs. Or you get a scale where every 4 points of INT = 1 point of base. Tarutaru has the highest Enspell damage naturally, Elvaan has the worst.

Enspell X's damage would also be subject to Magic Attack bonus. This includes RDM's natural job trait, magic attack bonus from gear, and magic attack bonus from buffs like COR's Wizard's Roll or Atmas such as Ultimate or Hell's Guardian. It would also apply to corresponding Elemental Attack bonuses from sources such as Atma of the Beyond if you were using Enblizzard X.

Enspell X will calculate it's base damage based off of your enhancing skill at the time of cast. It will calculate the bonuses from INT and MAB on hit. Enspell X will not tick up like current Enspell 2s, Enspell Xs damage will be superior for a well geared RDM. Enspell X will not allow users to cast it in mage gear and then switch to full DD gear, the point of this change is to get RDMs meleeing in their AF so that everyone knows what we are.


TP Feed
While under the effect of Enspell X (main hand only) you would not give the mob TP. A RDM that only uses their main hand to attack with would never give the mob TP. If you choose to dual wield, both DNC and NIN have subtle blow for your offhand. You can choose to dual wield and gain additional on hit effects and better stats from a 2nd weapon, but your offhand will be giving the mob TP. The argument of RDMs feed TP is now completely out the window.


Elemental Resistance Lowered
Elemental Resistance Lowered by Enspell X would correspond to the element of the enspell. If you cast Enfire X, you will be dealing fire damage on hit and you will lowering the mobs ability to negate that damage by lowering their fire resistance. Enspell X will exploit enemies' elemental weakness and open them up to full elemental damage for not just the RDM's spells, but also to the entire party's spells as well.

The amount of elemental resistance can start at 10 and can be further increased by MND. I see the same options for MND as I do for INT. Either it's off bonus' from gear and buffs, or it is off total MND. In the case of the later, Elvaan have the best elemental resistance lowering and mithra/tarutaru have the worst. MND, like INT would be calculated on hit and would override your previous effect.


While under Enspell X, we get Weapon Haste = The recast reduction of our Fast Cast
Our Fast Cast now counts double. You still get the full affect of reducing casting time. Your Recast still get's lowered by 1/2 of the value of your cast time reduction. BUT what you get is attack speed reduction equal to your recast value. This value counts against your equipment haste cap, furthering the idea that you can melee in your AF.


While under Composure, Magic Accuracy is added to our Regular Accuracy
Same idea as above, we take what we can actually gear for, and make it work to our advantage. Murgleis will make it so you will not miss either spells or melee. I would also change it so that composure gives +10 Magic Accuracy instead of regular Accuracy. ALSO our Tier 1 Merits wouldn't be so bad anymore. Every merit would be +3 accuracy with the corresponding Enspell X. You could get +15 accuracy with 2 different Enspell Xs or distribute them how you like.


Ending Statement
RDM has a B in both of their main weapons. We would have the accuracy to hit and we would provide DD that does not feed TP. Our reasons for being at the front line would be to debuff elemental resistances for our party and deal significantly more efficient DPS than if we were on the backline. We would have the time to front line with the addition of HasteGa. We would be able to reach our equipment haste cap easier and could equip ourselves in Mage gear to further enhance our casting side. We would have the tools inside of Aby and outside of Aby to be useful in a party and be able to contribute damage. Our Tier 1 merits would be significantly more attractive.

Our Job identity would be significantly more defined, we would get to be able to wear our AF more prominently, and a lot of our issues would be resolved.