First off, let me just say I'm a level 16 Rune Fencer. While I've played FFXI since American release, I recently took off for almost a year and came back with "Seekers" release.

Reading the post I think Rune Fencer should be what "Redmage Tank" used to be. Physical stances and job abilities while nice I'd prefer a method to avoid using the RUN/NIN or RUN/WAR mode.

Two easy spells to add... a Stoneskin II and/or Blink II. How these spells would behave could be worked out at some other point. My basic wishlist is a spell/rune reliant caster to mitgate damage. Unlike, Paladin doesn't rely on heavy gear. Unlike Ninja that doesn't rely on Ninjitsu(though this is purely thematic).

I could even support a modifier on rune use to increase the base effect of regular stoneskin and/or blink spells.

While were at it, why not include a fire rune "provoke". Something that attachs directly to mob that increase all enmity effects by X %?