Red Mage the Caster Tank

[Selvokaz]

oh i didn't mean that their cross class skills should have low recast times, i would guess they would have the same recast time as their parent class. So things like Blizzard 2, Raise, ect ect would still have normal cast times, but original Red Mage spells would have low or instant cast times.

[LeeraSorlan]

oh i didn't mean that their cross class skills should have low recast times, i would guess they would have the same recast time as their parent class. So things like Blizzard 2, Raise, ect ect would still have normal cast times, but original Red Mage spells would have low or instant cast times.

I meant raise would be instant because swiftcast > raise.

[Anova]

I meant raise would be instant because swiftcast > raise.

Your worries are unwarranted. Raise when cross-classed can only be used outside of combat (like stoneskin2). Just try playing Paladin. They have access to Raise, but they can only cast it out of combat. If you used Arcanist's Resurrection or Astrologian's Ascend though, those are combat-ready right out of the box.

I also don't mind the stance-dancing between int and vit, as there's a potential for balancing damage, enmity generation, and armor there. However, I'm not certain how I feel about making it so you're either doing damage or taking hits. Truth is the Red Mage would need about equal VIT and INT as you also need to maintain aggro while tanking (and it is really difficult to do that in high-end raids without also doing damage).

Otherwise, try to add a bit more of the swordsman to the concept of Red Mage. As it is, I would call this class a mage with a focus on mobility instead of cast time (like a cross between Astrologian and Black Mage/Summoner). I'm also wondering what you think should be their niche in the tank circles.

[BlueMageQuina]

I do love the idea of a caster tank and I have been thinking one up. The Red Mage just isn't th caster tank for me lorewise. But it's an interesting choice as a tank as I never would have considered it anything other than DPS. I would have to see an actual concept drawn out for this to get a feeling for a Red Mage as a tank.

I don't know why it would stance dance between INT and VIT instead of INT and STR though, as STR is the damage dealing factor and VIT is the HP factor. Don't forget however that it would also require a switch between skill speed and spell speed in its stance lest you want what should be a 2s cast time to be 8s.

If you used Arcanist's Resurrection or Astrologian's Ascend though, those are combat-ready right out of the box.

AST has a level 20 trait which allows it to cast Ascend inside of battle though you're right about ACN, its trait was removed.

[Selvokaz]

I also don't mind the stance-dancing between int and vit, as there's a potential for balancing damage, enmity generation, and armor there. However, I'm not certain how I feel about making it so you're either doing damage or taking hits. Truth is the Red Mage would need about equal VIT and INT as you also need to maintain aggro while tanking (and it is really difficult to do that in high-end raids without also doing damage).

Like I said, its not a fully fleshed out idea, but the my thoughts were that they would have a series of spells that build and hold enmity, kind of lack flash but a spell or two, one might be single target, the other might be aoe, with the stance being in vit mode it would build more enmity than normal but the trade off is you deal less damage, while in int stance the spell deals higher damage but doesn't build nearly as much enmity.