FF Explorers!

[Jeykama]

You unlock Red Mage by buying Curaga, Firaga, and Quaga.
You can unlock those spells after unlocking 4 star quests and learning the spells before them.
I hear staves are better for Red Mages because of their special skill, Chaincast, makes lowers your cast time and swords don't boost magic damage. :B

I suppose it depends. Blue Mages can equip both daggers and staves. Some monsters have a huge weakness to a specific weapon type so weapon skills might help out there.
Good to hear rdm makes it, I hadn't really looked into the game until a week ago.