Red Mage is Range Combat? (Discussion)

[Thunda_Cat_SMASH]

So in short, you don't like what you've seen from this short RDM clip because it makes no indication of tanking.

I'm not sure how me complaining that there's great emphasis in keeping at range with the job design has anything to do with tanking. Sure, I was hoping for a tank, but I could very much accept an rdm that spends the majority of it's time in melee distance.

My issue with this version of RDM has nothing to do with tanking, and everything to do with the fact the sword so far looks like a complete afterthought, a one off gimmick, rather than a seamless blend of sword and spell to lay waste.

Further note, but there was only one, maybe two physical weapon skills. Chargein/retreat aren't going to be gcd weapon skills, but ocd abilities. You can see this much clearly with abilities like Spine shatter Dive, Repelling Shot, and Shoulder Tackle. There are no gcd abilities that forcefully reposition the user, so those attacks can be discounted as weapon skills, leaving four spells, and two physical attacks, or gcds as you prefer, leaving the gap closer/widener as ocd abilities. My gripe, which was explained multiple times already, is that this version of RDM is a caster with a one off physical attack gimmick, just judging on what we know so far. It won't be spending significant time in melee laying the hurt, it'll be predominantly hiding out in the back row spamming spells a safe distance away. That's my issue with this iteration.

Saying I'd have appreciation for this job if I'd played 11 is like saying I'd enjoy a McD's burger if I'd tried convenience store food, it does nothing to help, and in fact only worsens your argument.

You might have discounted that when the RDM weaves in and out of caster/melee range, they still cause melee damage. I haven't played all the jobs in this game past 30.

It's not changing stances, it's changing positions, and as of now, there are 4 jobs in the game that do this much. Bard(Repelling), Monk(Shoulder Tackle) Dragoon(SpineShatter, Dragon fire), and DRK(Plunge).

I have every job in the game at 60 incidentally, which a quick lodestone search would've uncovered and have extensive practice on each one mathing and learning everything I could to learn every nuance I feasibly could.

Clearly you can't. You need to understand that RDM is a caster before a melee fighter.

Factually incorrect. A red Mage is a swordsman that seamlessly blends steel and spells, has access to two functionally opposing varieties of magic, and has unmatched versatility. Even the most basic definition does not leave them as a caster first and foremost, but a blend of the two disciplines, which is a concept that's betrayed by what evidence we have available to peruse. There is a reason RDM is considered a Jack of all trades, and it most definitely has nothing to do with 'Caster first, Swordsman second'.