Red Mage

[Duelle]

Red Mage by design uses both White and Black Magic and sword skills, while with the Armoury System Job abilities can not be shared cross class - nor is there any 'doubling up' of abilities between classes either, which would leave the Job with just cross class skills to use (which after all, when cross classed abilities lose their potency that they would have on their native class.

Plus, spells and abilities often associated with the Red Mage (like 'Convert' or 'Doublecast') are already used by other classes and Jobs, meaning it simply wouldn't have anything to really set it apart from other classes and Jobs. Even their weapon type (swords) are already taken by another class (GLA), meaning they're pretty much rendered superfluous I'm sorry to say.

Depends. You can build RDM from the ground up the way they seem to be doing to DRK. Another option would be introducing a class and then tack the job on top (Fencer => RDM).

FFXI had a tiny glimpse of a good direction for RDM when they gave it enspells and phalanx (that the former were left to rot forever is for another discussion). It would be possible to make that the focus of the job (I.E a guy hitting things after enchanting their sword) while still maintaining the offensive/healing magic aspects of the job in other ways (elemental spells with varying effects that react to certain abilities, a heal that costs the RDM HP instead of MP); allowing the job to cross-class Cure, Protect and Raise from CNJ and Blizzard II, Thunder and Sleep from THM would help round things out. This way you have sword, offensive magic and healing magic rolled into one, staying true to the job's concept without treading into the ruination afflicted on the job by FFXI.

As far as weapons, GLA and PLD are Sword&Shield. You can build RDM around rapiers or cavalry sabers and maintain a sort of distinction. I'm partial to rapier because curved swords don't do anything for me.

RDM tank, please look forward to it.