we need a sword dps

[AlphaFox]

I guess it just depends on where you come from and how you view the RDM. I honestly don't think (and I could be wrong) they were intended to ever tank or solo as I heard in 11, they just happened to be able to much like Ninja and Samurai being reversed in the intended role. For me, a RDM just has access to both classes of magic while being allowed to melee DPS. That is kinda why I have a hard time viewing them as a tank or healer, simply because they were never ment to excel at either. I still want a caster tank and if he gets thrown into a Tank position (or any really) I'll still try it but a DPS is really the only way I can view it. Have his pure melee be weaker than others, his magic weaker than blackmages or summoners but allowing him to weave them together allows his dps to be comparable on the DPS chart while having some side skills of healing or protection (perhaps on cool downs) and maybe even another battle raise like Summoner. When we let him step on the toes of a Healer or tank though it kinda tosses the long running "Jack of all, master of none".

Unless they throw a total curve ball and give the RDM a stance (with all skills being the same just potency changing or say some change, like with ASTs Dirunal/Nocturnal spells) that changes him from Healer/DPS/Tank but must be decided outside of a dungeon....yet somehow I get an evil smile at the thought of 8 RDMs in a dungeon in different stances xD