How would Red Mage fit in this game?

[Laflama_Blanca]

I believe RDM would fit nicely as a healer in this game. This is probably not a popular opinion, but when you consider how tanks/dps/healers actually function in this game it makes the most sense.

RDM are a jack of all trades with a mix of black and white magic and a touch of melee, yes? In FFXIV DPS are always DPS. DPS checks in this game are too strict for a DPS job that isn't DPSing 100% of the time. Healers, on the other hand, are basically DPS that also heal. Good healers spend just as much time healing as DPSing, so in that sense RDM is a perfect fit.

In 4 man content a RDM will be just like the other healers. They can mix in plenty of flashy DPS attacks between needing to heal. Maybe a system where melee attacks are chained into magic attacks or larger heals. Obviously this would not be a good choice for healers who don't like DPSing in dungeons (shame on them anyway). For 8 man content I see RDM being used to support their partner healer with regens, shields and buffs, throwing in heals as needed. They would not have as great healing potential as a WHM, for instance, especially for AOE healing. But they will be very good as a 2nd healer and be able to deliver good DPS while they're at it.

I just don't see how RDM would work as a DPS job. How do you differentiate them from other DPS? When/why would they ever use white magic? And it's kind of the same with tanking. RDM was never about being a front line tank, they're just less squishy than their counterparts.