On Red Mage melee...

[cidbahamut]

So basically you want to tie all our spells up and create the problem Scholar already has? No thanks, that's more of a kick in the nuts to SpankWustler than a buff/correction/whatever-you're-calling-it to melee capabilities.

Aside from en-spells there isn't anything in our spell book that doesn't work just as well or better from the back-line. Any new spells you introduce for this stance-spellbook idea of yours would also likely work better in the back-line provided you don't tie it to sword strikes, which is as GG said: an excuse to melee.

[Duelle]

So basically you want to tie all our spells up and create the problem Scholar already has? No thanks, that's more of a kick in the nuts to SpankWustler than a buff/correction/whatever-you're-calling-it to melee capabilities.

Not all, but some. And rather than leaving things open-ended, you remove things from the equation. As I mentioned, the alternative would have having each stance affect spells differently to create role emphasis through game mechanics. We don't have that at the moment. You can't tell me it wouldn't work, as I've seen it succeed and make all camps happy. Granted, it required specs to truly come to fruition, but I believe that element is not necessary to reach the goal. What we need more of is also one camp to stop trying to put down or halt the other. And if you don't agree with our ideas, then start posting your own. I'm interested to hear how you would fix us.

Aside from en-spells there isn't anything in our spell book that doesn't work just as well or better from the back-line.

Which, as I've mentioned is a problem for casters in general. RDM just happens to be hit hard because it's concept and archetype deal with more than just magic.

Any new spells you introduce for this stance-spellbook idea of yours would also likely work better in the back-line provided you don't tie it to sword strikes

Firstly, the idea is not so much about the spellbook (again, I haven't talked about what I believe should be split), but more modes for the class. Considering I'd reduce casting range for enfeebles and nukes to about 5 yalms when in melee mode, you're not gonna run into that scenario where your melee-stance spells are going to be cast from a distance. Curing I'd make more inconvenient so that it is truly used in emergencies, whereas buffing would just be changed to self-cast Refresh and Haste (with a JA later on to cut on the amount of times one has to rebuff when in melee), limiting your buffing or others to Protect and Shell.

As far as the "excuse" to melee, you do realize in order to wield our swords we are going to need some sort of design and mechanic change, right? Several of us here have that in mind and know it all too well. We need something to make melee a part of Red Mage play. My approach just happens to involve other adjustments because I tend to keep the balance mongers in mind. I know what their lot is like, and I hate their complaining about as much as I hate the BS the naysayers spout.

So, again, what are your suggestions to fix RDM melee?

[cidbahamut]

And if you don't agree with our ideas, then start posting your own. I'm interested to hear how you would fix us.

The thing is, SpankWustler doesn't need fixing.