Question regarding RDM stats and weapon choice.

[HaroldSaxon]

SS is good for BLM because there is a BLM specific mechanic that favors spell speed.

BLM needs to stack Astral Fire to do more Dmg. His strongest Attack (Fire 4) does NOT create Astral Fire. Astral Fire has a fix duration of 13s. So with more spell speed there is at some time a break even point where it is possible to cast one more Fire 4 without losing Astral Fire. And THAT is the reason why Spellspeed is a good stat for BLM.

Actually, that isn't the reason BLM likes Spellspeed and it isn't the case currently. The reason BLM likes spellspeed is that all the damage for BLM comes from casts.

RDM does not have such a mechanic. He does not profit from Spellspeed in that way. The opposite is true: Spellspeed is BAD for Redmage. Faster casting = more casts = more mana needed in the same time. If you could gain enough Spellspeed, you would go out of mana.

Technically, RDM does have a mechanic - White and Black Mana generation is quicker underspellspeed. However it doesn't actually gain you extra melee combo's over the course of the fight, and Spellspeed also doesn't affect your melee combo recast time as well as your OGCD recast time or damage - which is a large portion of RDM damage, which is why it is avoided.

[Sylvain]

Actually, that isn't the reason BLM likes Spellspeed and it isn't the case currently. The reason BLM likes spellspeed is that all the damage for BLM comes from casts

Technically, RDM does have a mechanic - White and Black Mana generation is quicker underspellspeed. However it doesn't actually gain you extra melee combo's over the course of the fight, and Spellspeed also doesn't affect your melee combo recast time as well as your OGCD recast time or damage - which is a large portion of RDM damage, which is why it is avoided.

Ah so it would be melee combo that doesn't scale up that well. I thought it was odd that only fleche and Contre-sixte would be enough make the state that bad.

HaroldSaxon, regarding the weapon, do you know if the crafted one is actually the best or not?
Again, I'm dubious about secondary state being stronger than 1 or 2 weapon damage.

[HaroldSaxon]

Ah so it would be melee combo that doesn't scale up that well. I thought it was odd that only fleche and Contre-sixte would be enough make the state that bad.

HaroldSaxon, regarding the weapon, do you know if the crafted one is actually the best or not?
Again, I'm dubious about secondary state being stronger than 1 or 2 weapon damage.

No its not - the WD is better. Maybe if Spellspeed was a completely 0 gain, but it still is a DPS increase for RDM. Just not as much as the other stats.

[Sylvain]

No its not - the WD is better. Maybe if Spellspeed was a completely 0 gain, but it still is a DPS increase for RDM. Just not as much as the other stats.

Do you have any source so I can support the claim? I would like to convince a RDM friend to not waste money on the weapon.