Red Mage is Range Combat? (Discussion)

[Renik]

Considering we don't have elemental resistances and meaningful debuffs, this is the best RDM we can have...

Attacking on meh mobs, exploiting elemental or status weaknesses, sub healing, buffing... that's how I always used RDMs in other FFs, we can't do these things here without changing the core of the game, so as long as it works 50% caster 50% melee I will be happy, but having a BLM with a pointy end staff to stab things every 5min would be very disappointing, I guess we'll have to wait to see more.

[GMERC]

Considering we don't have elemental resistances and meaningful debuffs, this is the best RDM we can have...

Attacking on meh mobs, exploiting elemental or status weaknesses, sub healing, buffing... that's how I always used RDMs in other FFs, we can't do these things here without changing the core of the game, so as long as it works 50% caster 50% melee I will be happy, but having a BLM with a pointy end staff to stab things every 5min would be very disappointing, I guess we'll have to wait to see more.

Prepare for disappointment then, because it's definitely not a 50/50 split, and the balance isn't leaning in favor of a primarily close-quarters job. Luckily I'll be getting what I wanted, so I don't care.

Don't cry if you're only in melee range as often as a MCH applies Wildfire.

[Gumbercules]

Prepare for disappointment then, because it's definitely not a 50/50 split, and the balance isn't leaning in favor of a primarily close-quarters job. Luckily I'll be getting what I wanted, so I don't care.

Don't cry if you're only in melee range as often as a MCH applies Wildfire.

I think the "wildfire" aspect ill be the chainspell(s), that said I don't see a 50/50 either, prolly more like fire phase vs ice phase for blm but more lax so maybe like 70 casting/30 melee.

[Khalithar]

From what little was revealed in that short clip, I'd say there's going to be some sort of combo system to it (this is guess work). But from the video and what was said, I think they'll use melee to build up their spell chains, jump out to become ranged and then unleash their main-stay damage, then when needed jump back in and repeat.

Then the question becomes this:

Why not just stay in melee range at all times then?

[GMERC]

Then the question becomes this:

Why not just stay in melee range at all times then?

Probably because they're not a melee job and because their Repelling Shot also Does Damage.

[dragonseth07]

Then the question becomes this:

Why not just stay in melee range at all times then?

Probably for the same reasons you see SMN's and BLM's stay at range even though they can autoattack in melee for more DPS.

[Khalithar]

Probably because they're not a melee job and because their Repelling Shot also Does Damage.

You could still use their "repelling shot" attack and then immediately use that gap closer move in the video and stay in melee range so you can immediately go back to spells/melee attacks.

Probably for the same reasons you see SMN's and BLM's stay at range even though they can autoattack in melee for more DPS.

Except by the looks of it RDM is being specifically designed with the intention that you have to use melee attacks to achieve maximum damage and not using those melee attacks would be akin to a SMN not using their DoT's or a BLM not casting fire spells.

Edit: That could be entertaining to see (and not in a good way), Red Mages that refuse to use sword attacks because "mage."

[GMERC]

Except by the looks of it RDM is being specifically designed with the intention that you have to use melee attacks to achieve maximum damage and not using those melee attacks would be akin to a SMN not using their DoT's or a BLM not casting fire spells.

Edit: That could be entertaining to see (and not in a good way), Red Mages that refuse to use sword attacks because "mage."

You're much more likely to see would-be Red Mages whining on the forums that the job is primarily a caster and not a Sword DPS.

[BubblyBoar]

Then the question becomes this:

Why not just stay in melee range at all times then?

RDM will probably have far/close positionals. Yoshi mentioned that it's a high speed positioning job.

[Vaer]

You could still use their "repelling shot" attack and then immediately use that gap closer move in the video and stay in melee range so you can immediately go back to spells/melee attacks.

They could put a 8y minimum range (like shoulder tackle in 2.0, unable to be used in melee range) on all spells so if you stood in melee all the time you wouldn't be able to cast spells or make the TP cost/cooldowns on the melee attacks really high so if you stay in melee range you only end up auto attacking. On the other hand they could also force melee attacks by putting some kind of sustain mechanic on it, like a more gimmicky umbral ice where the melee attacks give you MP back so if you just stood in the back casting spells you would run out of MP and be unable to do anything.

8y min range on spells would make leveling a pain so perhaps a potency bonus at 8y+ would work better.

Won't know the design for another couple months but there are ways they could force movement, just depends how strict they want to be with it really.