How can SE make sure in melee Range RDM isnt squishy as a caster?

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Originally Posted by Cabalabob

A lot of ranged players think that being at ranged somehow means they take less damage, which is entirely untrue, as long as you dodge AoEs and don't stand in front of the boss and get swiped you take no more damage in melee range than standing far away, on top of that you make it easier for the healers to heal everyone at once when you're all grouped up.

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This. I started as a ranged player, then when I first started a melee class it was scary how close I had to stand to the mobs, but really as long as you aren't either the target of the mob or standing in front of its face when it cleaves, you can stand right in its asscrack and take no damage at all, other than unavoidable partywide aoe.

Red mages will be fine standing in melee distance.

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Originally Posted by thegreatonemal

its prob not going to be at melee range at all most likely jumping back and forth creates all kinds of animation lock not to mention gcd clipping. Melee attacks are probably going in the form of sword beam attacks from range.

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Considering the trailer show-cased a lunge in, rapid thrusting melee with rapier and then a jump back, there is going to be at least one instance of hokey-pokey-ing with the class. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFg-lEuHRMI

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Originally Posted by JunseiKei

Considering the trailer show-cased a lunge in, rapid thrusting melee with rapier and then a jump back, there is going to be at least one instance of hokey-pokey-ing with the class. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFg-lEuHRMI

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I'm aware but I'm also aware that things change in development as well. Sure it could be there but it could also be a skill you wont ever use in your rotation.

I'm fairly certain it won't be an issue since 75% of attacks are cleaves, and 15% full area AOE. Most likely they'll have a spell or 2 for protection. Like Blm manawall, even SMN have titan for protection.

You can alleviate some of RDM's squishyness by giving them VIT to match MNK BRD or MCH, then giving them a trait for the 28% physical defense they're missing off of those jobs. Then their gear turns into a reverse DRG with heightened mDEF and normalized pDEF. [assuming they're wearing INT gear]

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Originally Posted by thegreatonemal

I'm aware but I'm also aware that things change in development as well. Sure it could be there but it could also be a skill you wont ever use in your rotation.

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Considering it is "a hybrid ranged/melee style achieved via high-speed positioning", I think you're very wrong

Plus if the jumping in and out are part of the combo it's not an issue

Its not terribly risky if jumping in and mostly staying out at range. I think Caster gear's PhysDef is too low for RDM and it'll either have an innate adjustment (trait) or have its own gearset. Leaning toward the latter really in spite of how inconvenient it is to increase the loot pool... but its a better solution for how RDM should look, bypassing glamor restrictions, and getting the right defense ratings. Personal defense cooldowns are fine too, but not really functional when you're talking rotation timing if even a small fraction of your moves are at melee range. They'd have to be really short cooldowns to use them that way and would still compete for rotation placement with your offensive oGCDs. Defense buffs/shields are better served as being reactionary/strategic- i.e pop them when you're taking damage or when you know you're about to.

For that matter RDM could make use of more than one main stat and/or speed substat given its doing melee and magic damage. And while SE is likely to choose the simple option of using just one main stat and one speed, having its own gearset could let it double up if they chose not to do things the simple way.

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Originally Posted by thegreatonemal

I'm aware but I'm also aware that things change in development as well. Sure it could be there but it could also be a skill you wont ever use in your rotation.

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With Stormblood being only 6 or 7 months away, I highly doubt they would change a fundamental play style so late. By this time, they would be tweaking minor things and ironing out bugs. It would also make no sense to show old content if that wouldn't be how Red Mage would ultimately function, or no longer have the skillset they showcased; a trailer is generally a tool to showcase what you will be getting.

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Originally Posted by thegreatonemal

I'm aware but I'm also aware that things change in development as well. Sure it could be there but it could also be a skill you wont ever use in your rotation.

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I am reminded of DRKs Darkside and MCHs other animations that did not make it once Heavensward was released. I guess we'll find out more in a few months