Quote Originally Posted by Reynhart View Post
I still don't understand why everyone thinks elemental weapons are a staple of Red Mage...for their many many appearances, FFXI is the only game where they do that.
Taking into account that the job is a hybrid in concept, the fact that it'd eventually figure out how to combine its various disciplines actually makes a lot of sense. Part of the reason why it didn't do any of that in older FFs was because turn-based RPG combat does not work with things like buff upkeep in the vein of enspells (in general, turn-based RPGs require an entirely different mindset when it comes to hybrid design). You're essentially wasting a turn just to get a buff up (two if that RDM has Temper or Saber on top of their chosen Enspell) when that turn would be used more efficiently by a warrior or any other damage-focused job (or even just having that RDM cast a cure on someone).

Real-time combat is an entirely different can of worms, and is actually perfect for what I've described above. Specially in light of the fact that RDM can't afford to be mediocre at everything when the game's design pushed towards tank/heals/DPS. Depending on whether you want to push them towards tank or DPS, you can use magic to bolster defenses or enchant your sword to deal comparable damage to a DRG or NIN.

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This all said, I don't believe that DoW and DoM numbers need any sort of parity. New jobs of either vein should be introduced on an as-needed basis rather than say "well, DoW has this many classes, so there needs to be more DoM" or anything along those lines.