Red mage, samurai, black mage, lets discuss balance.

[Kabooa]

Please keep in mind that the current Red Mages who are at max level are veterans of the game or new highly skilled players who are able to exploit the narrow skill gap of the class. The new player who's never played an MMO before or the casual player probably is still leveling right now and probably wont be at max level until the 20th of July which is about 1 month from launch.

It is never a good idea to nerf a class based on the potential of the high end when there may be evidence that lower end and mid-tier players are going to begin struggling compared to other classes if those nerfs are instituted.

Actually, you adjust game mechanics based on the top players. That's how competent design works. You have to see something being played at the absolute limit to know whether or not it does need to be adjusted, and how easily that absolute limit can be reached.

[Ralgarog]

Actually, you adjust game mechanics based on the top players. That's how competent design works. You have to see something being played at the absolute limit to know whether or not it does need to be adjusted, and how easily that absolute limit can be reached.

I agree with that statement; Top players will play the class the optimum way that it is meant to be played. With that said when balancing a game with this many players, mastery achieved by the top 10% of Red Mages (essentially most of the RDM at max level; the majority of Red Mages rolled wont ever make it to max level) may have some unforeseen consequences. To a top level player, it may make sense to not using Manafication immediately on some encounters and to wait until your first Vernuke on other encounters. That may not be obvious to the average Red Mage who may use it as soon as they can.

This 1000 character limit is absolutely killing me.