Quote Originally Posted by Duelle View Post
If you want the short version: Proper design has faculties that "are" when looking at the class at the baseline, and "get stronger" when you toss gear in. Things like Almace and CDC makes something that "isn't" into something that "is". I don't think I need to go into specifics, but suffice to say, a role or style of play that is not something you grow into (which is basically the larger issue with Red Mage melee) is an indicator of bad design. You want to play at the hybrid, you have to make the choices available. Almace should be something that makes RDM melee stronger, NOT something that takes it from lol to acceptable.
Somehow, I don't get you. You first say that it should make RDM melee stronger (it does) not making it acceptable....wait, what?

Nobody is going to mind you meleeing on trash mobs, even on seal mobs. Anything harder, you would have to justify the TP fed to the mob by the damage delt on CDC. Which you can, believe it or not.

Instead of being super negative about your job, why not strive to make it outstanding, which anyone can do inside Abyssea. Will you beat an Ukon WAR in terms of damage and tankability? No, but then again, you weren't supposed to either. Take what you got, and go with it.

Besides, Savage Blade isn't lol. Death Blossom isn't lol either. And that is a RDM only WS, incase you forgot or don't have.

Besides, is it that damn difficult to fix shields to work properly?
Wait, you want 100% block rate for all jobs who can equip a shield? Wouldn't that be broken and also make PLD worthless?