Getting the Most Out of Red Mage (as a new 99)

[Saefinn]

Hey folks,

I am a returning player, who is currently trying to work out which of his now level 99 jobs he wants to focus his attention on. I have been trying out a variety of my jobs and seeking the best ways to get the most out of them. Not necessarily to find the most sought after job or the best statistically, I didn't do that back when I played before.

I fear it might cause controversy if I were to say "RDM feels a little weak", but in fairness, I said that when I got my SMN to 99 and learned I was missing something.

I have had a read through a more recent RDM guide and it looks useful for gear progression to i119, however, I am sat at i117 trying to look at how to optimise for my current iLevel and then work on progression afterwards.

So I am looking on feedback on how to try and optimise RDM for:

Melee
Nuking
Tanking

I realise that RDM is the jack of all trades. I know already how to optimise for support at least. But in the other areas, even if I am chaining tier IV nukes, I feel like they could be more powerful. And when I jump in melee, I feel like my Corsair is doing better than my RDM, and my Merit WS feels inferior to my other weapons (gun and fists).

I know based on past experience people have said RDM to be weak or the job SE doesn't care about. An argument I am aware of, so I am pre-empting those, I don't need to know the arguments here. :P

I want to see if I can get the best out of what I've got at i117.
My current sets of gears:

Melee:
Weapon: Eminent Scimitar
Shield: Matamata Shield
Neck: Twilight Torque
Clothes: Full Espial Set
Back: Cerberus Mantle
Belt: Anguinas Belt
Rings: Enlivened Ring & Vehemence Ring
Earrings: Beetle & Bettle +1 (I realise I should upgrade these, but figure I seek advice before I upgrade)

Casting
Weapon: Eminent Wand
Shield: Harpy Shield (for the MAB & MACC)
Neck: Beak Necklace (only decent mage neck I have is for SCH only)
Clothes: Full Wayfarer Set
Back: Twilight Cape
Belt: Tarutaru Sash (with Spell Interruption -10%)
Rings: Acumen Ring & Perception Ring
Earrings: Hecate's Earring & Moldavite's Earring

Any thoughts? Recommendations?


[edit]

That said, now that I've finished redoing all of my macros, I think I am getting a more efficient at murderising with my RDM.