Red Mage (Tank) Please!

[Nektulos-Tuor]

It's just good to know that the likelihood of this happening is extremely slim. RDM (no matter what you want to picture it as in your head) has always been a melee/caster DD, just because people managed to forced it into a tank role in Xi by subbing Nin and exploiting broken mechanics to make RDM into a tank doesn't mean it is one.

There were no real roles in previous FF's except Xi.

[Attarik]

There were no real roles in previous FF's except Xi.

Is that so? Let me go replay some FF with everyone set as a healer then....

[Nektulos-Tuor]

A casting tank doesn't mean "ranged"

It means spells like Blizzard II.

http://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Blizzard_II

[Noxifer]

While I know you didn't mean "ranged tank", Nektulos (I merely responded to the "how would such a thing work" comment, incidentally giving an example of such a thing already existing in another game), I'm slightly worried regarding the whole 'casting while taking damage' thing.

If you make "cannot be interrupted" part of their tank stance, wouldn't that take them one step toward being over-powered? I haven't played PLD much at all, so I haven't seen at what rate they get interrupted while casting Stoneskin or mini-Cures (don't know if their new, innate healing abilities have cast bars and as such would be interruptable as well). And yes, I know your suggested RDM wouldn't have access to healing -- which in itself seems like a miss, since afaik having access to both attack magic and healing magic was part of the Red Mage setup -- but I'd like to know your thoughts around this "cannot be interrupted" thing =)

Also, if 3/4 of their aggro skills (just skimmed through your proposed list, might have missed something) are their physical attacks, my concern is that there is very little time/incentive to actually use their magic, other than when off-tanking. Since holding aggro is a tank's job, elaborate side-rotations (that take longer than physical skills due to cast bar) aren't really that feasible. If you look at the current tanks, their non-aggro skills are either the "off-tank combo", or off-GCD instant skills that you throw in while waiting for GCD to tick around. Again, I'm not saying this to immediately reject your idea, but more to understand how you're thinking, maybe even help you develop it further
^^
(And yes, I know a good tank doesn't need to focus on their 1-2-3 aggro combo all the time, and can even do stance dancing in order to do more damage, but aggro combo is still the basic foundation of a tank.)

[Nektulos-Tuor]

"cannot be interrupted" part of their tank stance, wouldn't that take them one step toward being over-powered?

It would be overpowered for Paladin because of how the class was made but this is a completely new job. So you can't really say its OP or UP until you play it.

[Noxifer]

It would be overpowered for Paladin because of how the class was made but this is a completely new job. So you can't really say its OP or UP until you play it.

What? You're the one responsible for the concept; you're the one who has to consider these things. You can't just wave concerns away and say "pfft, you can't say it is until you play it".
(Also, you completely ignored my second question xD)

[Jhett_Magnum]

Red Mage sounds like it'll be complicated, but SqEX has a plan already as it seems. i don't understand why Red Mage when Sage is far more powerful. I just want Necromancer and Samurai but I'll save that for a different thread.

[dragorian]

Oh heck no op and also you can put that cross class idea to bed any further job release will be a job no class and will start at level 30 here on out

[Nicobo]

FYI - I think a RDM can cast Black magic(spike series) +White magic(stoneskin/blink/phalanx) and RDM can equip "fencer+shield".

But Red Mage is a hybrid mage - uses both white (healing) and black magic (elemental dmg).
IMO the "caster tank" I read from OP is not a Red Mage. ^^;

[MetalheroD]

FYI - I think a RDM can cast Black magic(spike series) +White magic(stoneskin/blink/phalanx) and RDM can equip "fencer+shield".

But Red Mage is a hybrid mage - uses both white (healing) and black magic (elemental dmg).
IMO the "caster tank" I read from OP is not a Red Mage. ^^;

Eh, the way I think about it thusly. What do you call a character that outputs a non-negligable amount of damage, and also has high support/defense/healing? You call that a tank. I'm in the crowd that'd prefer more magical defenses, rather than a shield, but eh, I'll just be happy to be able to tank with a rapier in that awesome hat.