On Red Mage melee...

[Duelle]

and if they do get a melee boost that will let them melee and backup-heal or whatever other backup duties they could do, while still lettign the party get the same exp/hour as if he was on heal/support duty only, we're going to get a lot of mad melees who want their jobs to be able to solo lv95 NMs.

I'd feel no pity for anyone who feels that way. I have two other melee jobs at high level, and while the change in play is notable between, say, my DRK and my RDM, I also acknowledge there's a difference in how the classes are designed.

Something I was kicking around that no one seemed to like was the idea of splitting what a RDM could do in the front and in the back. Say, heal and buff while in the back, melee and enfeeble while in the front. I've never been in favor of just having melee mixed with heals/refresh/haste because that creates redundancy while at the same time causing us to lose potential melee time due to casting cycles. It's certainly doable, but not fun and casting-intensive.

[wildsprite]

Something I was kicking around that no one seemed to like was the idea of splitting what a RDM could do in the front and in the back. Say, heal and buff while in the back, melee and enfeeble while in the front. I've never been in favor of just having melee mixed with heals/refresh/haste because that creates redundancy while at the same time causing us to lose potential melee time due to casting cycles. It's certainly doable, but not fun and casting-intensive.

I like this idea

[rog]

Ehhhh. I dunno. Maybe. I'd need more details to really say.

[Pyrsos]

i still think better enspells would really fix a ton of problems. if a meleeing rdm could make the same amount of damage per hit as other DDs, but at the same time give less TP to the mob, enfeeble it, make use of weather/day bonuses and weaknesses, all at the same time... that's a DD i'd want to invite!

and btw people do change their minds. aby has changed the value and use of lots of jobs in the game (MNK, THF, NIN as main). we could probably change this if we got the tools.

[rog]

and btw people do change their minds. aby has changed the value and use of lots of jobs in the game (MNK, THF, NIN as main). we could probably change this if we got the tools.

It's not the same. Those jobs were never considered useless, or to hurt more than they help.

[Duelle]

Ehhhh. I dunno. Maybe. I'd need more details to really say.

Admitedly, the idea never really fleshed out due to lack of discussion.

A bare bones way to look at it is that melee RDM would have an easier time enfeebling a mob than a back row RDM (maybe through increased accuracy, shorter cast times, shorter recasts, longer durations pre-saboteur). Conversely, a back row RDM would have an easier time supporting a party than a front row RDM. That could create enough room to start developing both roles in a way that both are beneficial to a group in their own way (and allowing some of those coveted adjustments to our melee side to start coming our way), while at the same time not stopping either role from being able to cast the opposing spell (a melee RDM could still cast single target buffs like we currently do, while a back row RDM would still be able to enfeeble, just without the longer durations, shorter cast and recast and increased accuracy, for example). Sadly, due to lack of fleshing out, I never did figure out how nukes would come into play.

[rog]

a melee RDM could still cast single target buffs like we currently do, while a back row RDM would still be able to enfeeble, just without the longer durations, shorter cast and recast and increased accuracy, for example

Sounds decent enough to me.

I can't even begin to imagine SE agreeing though. Stances MUST come with a downside.

[Trangnai]

The issue with rdm melee is simple, the jobs frontline and backline skills are unbalanced.

- We lack High damage Weapon Skills more so on the sword side, the weapon which we have more access to.

- We lack the Light DD gear which all other non-2handed jobs are accustom to.

- We lack something to make our job unique on the frontlines, to make it more wanted, and increase damage output.

First off, if blu can have access to both Melee and Mage gear, why can't rdm? Our Melee gear choices are low I think and our skill will be more reflected in our gear then anything else, While a melee role is possible I believe that the playerbase isnt seeing it due to lack of gear/Abilities/Traits that "melee" jobs get. But yet, we get all sorts of Mage Abilities, Traits and Gear. We are suspoed to be a "Jack of ALL trades" not a jack of one trade, its upsetting that blu outshines rdm in the aspect of what a jack of all trades should be. Blu and rdm should play Similar Roles, but preform it in different ways.

[wildsprite]

Blu and rdm should play Similar Roles, but preform it in different ways.

I totally agree, its almost like RDM is SE's redheaded stepchild that they hate

[RaenRyong]

- We lack High damage Weapon Skills more so on the sword side, the weapon which we have more access to.

Minor thing here; Chant du Cygne is very powerful even on RDM but obviously that's not something most people will have.