Your analysis of what a Red Mage is, is rather dated. That is what a Red Mage WAS, back in Final Fantasy ONE. It hasn't been that since at least Final Fantasy Tactics (the first one). And it definitely ceased being that entirely as soon as Final Fantasy XI came out.
Also you say you want Spellfencer, but suddenly decide that Red Mage is impossible? You can't make one impossible without the other also being impossible. They both access Black and White Magic in the same manner, they just access different spells from both disciplines. While we are banning classes that use both White and Black Magic equally, we might as well also ban the Twincaster and the Sage, as those both have access to both types of magic as well.
Let's continue the first train of thought. As of Final Fantasy XI, while the Red Mage had access to Tier IV Black Magic, and certain Tier V White Magic (where as the Black Mage had access to Tier V Black Magic and was able to cast Ancient Magic, and the White Mage had access to all Tier V White Magic), the Red Mage had a unique repertoire of spells that neither the White Mage or Black Mage had access to. These were the En-Spells (Enaero, Enwater, Enblizzard, etc...), and the Spikes Spells (the only other class that could use any of these spells was the Summoner, who only got access to them via his or her Summons, and only for a short time), not to mention the ALMIGHTY Phalanx spell.
What Phalanx was, is a spell that was unique to the Summoner and Red Mage (the Summoner only had access to it after obtaining the Diabolos Summon, which was really rather difficult to do if you weren't prepared for it). Phalanx was a spell that basically absorbed a huge chunk of damage. The damage absorbed was generally speaking about equal to what could be absorbed by a standard Stoneskin spell. The thing about it though was that it could be applied at the same time as Stoneskin, meaning that you could have Stoneskin, Blink (or Utsusemi if you are a RDM/NIN, or NIN/RDM), and Phalanx up all at the same time. This basically led to a near indestructible character for as long as those spells are in effect. Add to that your En-Spell of Choice, and Ice Spikes (a spike spell that causes a chance to paralyze your foe each time said foe strikes you) and your Red Mage effectively became a 1-man killing squad.
Basically, Red Mage is no longer simply a weaker hybrid of two classes. Rather it is now what is more commonly referred to in the oldest Role Playing Game on the Planet as the Fighter/Mage Cross-Class character.
If even a portion of that is used as a basis for FFXIV's Red Mage, then I will be happy!
No, I think she meant Quelling Strikes (the one that reduces enmity gain, and is actually required for high level BLM's and SMN's), not Raging Strikes. Level 34 is a bit more of a Grind, don't'ya think?



Reply With Quote





