Pipe Dreams: Red Mage the melee DPS

[Jonnycbad]

Black Mage- DPS
White Mage-Healer
Red Mage- Tank


Logic: There's really only one role that can both DPS, support themselves with heals, and fight close range, and that role is Tank (think PLD has Clemency and uses a sword, DRK has Blood Weapon and magic alongside a melee weapon, WAR can self heal with one of their combos).

Red Mage would more likely be a Tank and use Duelist/Fencer abilities imbued with elemental magic as their style. Also remember that RDM most likely will appear alongside Samurai in 4.0 (been referenced and talked about already), and I doubt they would release 2 DPS jobs in the same expansion (also: Yoshi P guaranteed SAM would not be a Tank...which also makes RDM more likely to be a tank).

As Tanks can DPS somewhat, and RDM never ever being a melee specialist, but proficient at 'dueling/fencing' and having intermediate level heals/nukes, Tank is really the most obvious role they would fill. They can borrow some of Rune Fencer's skills and spells from FFXI but give them a fencing rapier and a small shield. Imbue their sword with aether for various effects like how NIN imbues their weapons with various venoms for effects. Skills like Parry/Inquartata/Riposte/Lunge etc. Toss in classic RDM spells (which already exist in the game btw: Haste/Enfire/Blaze Spike/Enthunder/Paralyze/Poison/Blind etc).

RDM could lore-wise use Conjury, swordsmanship and Thurmatugy but focus the Aether on their sword instead of a staff/rod. Maybe instead of insta-heals. RDM in Final Fantasy Dimensions had "Aspir Blade" and "Cure Blade", throw these into one of RDM's enmity combos would be similar to Riot Blade damage+MP restore, or damage + 50% HP back restore etc. Level 50 ability could be Dualcast, which would be similar to NIN's Duality or SCH's Emergency Tactics, doubles the effect of the next ability.

Also, while Chant du Cygne is badass, I would want that to be their level 60 DPS combo finisher like Royal Authority is. If they aren't a tank and DO become a melee DPS, their level 3 should be this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs5gALlC7nc