SAMURAI SHOWDOWN

[ShinMetsu]

The idea of a RDM/RUN tank just doesn't sound entirely new to be honest. Those classes use swords and magic, yeah, but so do PLD and DRK. If we look at the big picture and assume that SE doesn't intend leave them where they're at, we can assume that they'll continue to get refinement into their FF-stereotypes.

I feel like i've been misunderstood. Also i don't really see PLD or DRK as magical tanks really, they have like 2-3 spells each, that is even with cross-classing for PLD.
But counting Flash or Unleash as magic feels almost like being cheated imo.

The way i suggested would work is that you would actually have damaging spells, like e.g. Fire or Thunder etc.
Using weapon skills or abilities would allow you to use these spells as oGCDs to weave inbetween your weapon skills.
Same with defensive magic spells, e.g. Phalanx or even a heal, maybe some other sort of damage barrier spell to mitigate damage, especially for tank busters or general mitigation.
You could have a Chaincast or Dualcast to double up the spell you're casting, which would make for either a strong offense or a strong defense, depending what you wanna opt for and if you're MTing or OTing.
This concept would fit RDM really well imo, seeing how they are supposed to use Combat Melee attacks, and both Offensive and Defensive/Healing Magic.
Although i do admit, i don't see Red Mage as a tank lore wise really, but maybe they can use another class for this concept.
And this would definitely be something new that actually uses magic to tank, unlike PLD or DRK.

Also, i don't know where else i'd see Red Mage though,
As a DPS, how is Healing gonna come in play for RDM DPS? It's a DPS's job to focus on DPS, having them do healing too is gonna make it very undesirable as a DPS to take into battle imo.
As a Healer, well that alone clashes with RDM's melee capabilities it's supposed to have.

I see that some people want SAM to replace WAR because they're tired of being stuck on WAR as offtank, but i'd rather not see something similar to what we already have and get some sort of variety instead.
Of course adding SAM to the DPS line-up doesn't add a lot of variety either and you could argue that adding a magical melee DPS (RDM) would be an interesting concept too, considering it would make Foe Requiem a lot more powerful.

I still stand by my opinion that a Magic-wielding tank would bolster the tanking ranks more in the long run, because it would be something that attracts players interested in magic instead of physical gameplay.