RDM as a DPS

[Madrone]

Yeah, Frost isn't in FFXIV currently. As far as Blizzard, Fire I/II, and Thunder I/II already existing and not being cross-classable... those spells are a basic part of what makes a RDM a RDM; having access to the low tier spells from WHM and BLM, or their class names CNJ and THM if you prefer. CNJ cross class gives quite a few spells, THM doesn't.

A classic take on RDM should have at least tier II with healing/elemental magic since those go to tier III/IV for WHM and BLM. Obviously as a dps, I'm not giving it Cure II. I let RDM dabble a little, with Sanguine Blade being a limited melee-variant of Cure III, and gave it some stronger AoE Fire/Ice spells late game that are best used for combo'ing with Doublecasted spells. It could get by without Fire III and Blizzard III since its Astral/Umbral cap at level II, but I let it instantly reach Astral II with Burning Blade's combo bonus, and gave it a transition to Umbral and enhanced damage with its Cold-Blooded stance. It had to have some way to swap those more efficiently.

I'm fine with renaming those spells since I'm tweaking them a bit with combo bonuses, but I don't think its a problem for the game programitcally to have abilities with the same name and somewhat different effects. Enemies have skills with the same name and their effects/potencys are almost certainly a little different. Blizzard II behaves differently for a THM/BLM than anyone who cross classes it, and Umbral Ice I isn't even a trait. In previous versions of this build I'd called those spells Frost, Burn, and Shock. Ice/Coldsnap are up for grabs too since I used Frost for something else this time around. But I don't think that renaming these spells is needed for a job that's supposed to be a BLM/WHM/melee hybrid.

RDM could use Thunder/Water element spells, which are under-developed for WHMs and BLMs right now, and that would fit well with a sea-based expansion. I opted to take Black Magic Fire/Blizzard/Thunder and twist & tune them for use with a sword, and let White Magic barely exceed the cross class level.


Edited original build post. Reducing support and focusing more on dps (Phalanx single target, removing Regain, making Voltaic Arc an AoE spell) and lowering spell damage bonuses to be closer to melee damage bonuses. Rearranged skill learn order 52+.

Been toying with the idea of an ability outside of the normal role, like how PLD Clemency is. Aether Shield would be tankish; similar to Cover, choosing to share/split damage with another party member up to 50% of RDM's max hp, and the RDM can share his Phalanx through it, and abosrb some of the damage he takes with that and with Runic Blade. Then follow up with a Sanguine Blade to heal. While that's kind of cool, it does just waste time that could be focused on doing dps.