This. Yes do this.
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This would require RDM's Physical Attack scaling with INT. I'm not against this (in fact, I suggested it a while back).
Granted, at that point you might as well have RDM do more in the front lines, which I'm also not against.
I would not be opposed to this idea.... Red mage already auto attacks while casting, so being a casting job that does better if in melee range could be interesting and different. There are a few other things to adjust to this. For example, you could make this a trait that happens at level 72 and just have engagement replace displacement entirely.
It would add an additional 20% or so to red mage DPS, though, so I might expect the job would get other nerfs if this were implemented.
Once upon a time I could meld STR materia and do exactly this.
Honestly, more than it being weak, I'm surprised by RDM's auto-attack being so slow. They use friggin' rapiers, for crying out loud; their auto-attacks should be weak but quick.
But, I suppose their weaponskills are calculated based off the weapon damage, and the offset to making them melee-comparable was speed...
MY TIME HAS ARRIVED. My Lvl 80 Culinarian with DH/Crit melds will finally offer better uptime then a melee RDM.
People called me crazy, a loon, but here I am about to run circles around the Formidable fate with insanely high dps, frying pan in hand or be damned.
Any Dragoons I'm with please give me your Dragon Sight, and Dancers, you would be a fool not to pick me as your dance partner!