The Problem with Red Mage . . .

[Ophannus]

I found it lame that they made SCH into the DoT damage and DoT heal king. I figured let SCH be a BLM and WHM at once, that's their kick. But I always felt that RDM should have gotten the Regen/Refresh/Adoloquiem/Helix/Embrava/Kaustra not the SCH. The mistake SE made was giving high level enfeebling to BLM WHM and DRK. Every enfeebling spell after level 50 should have been RDM only. The only unique enfeebles RDMs have are our merit enfeebles. No other mage has only their merit spells as their unique main spells. BLM's moved past AM2 with Tier5 nukes and ajas. WHMs use protectra/shellra5 but they dont need to cuz they have the single target. RDM is nothing without its merit spells which are level 75. Level 99 RDM still holding on to their precious level 75 spells when WHM and BLM have new cures, new regens, new nukes and new enhancing spells to play with.

>>>Turn rdm merit spells into scrolls and then just make RDM's tier2 merits into traits that enhance those spell lines.
Bio Mastery
Dia Mastery
Paralyze Mastery
Phalanx Mastery
etc...

[Economizer]

WHMs use protectra/shellra5 but they dont need to cuz they have the single target.

lolwut?

I'm all for fixing the Red Mage merits in the manner you describe and then some but let's not speak mistruths when doing so. Protectra might still be a bit of a joke but there is a reason we call White Mages without 5/5 Shellra gimp.