Red Mage is Range Combat? (Discussion)

[GMERC]

Except by the looks of it RDM is being specifically designed with the intention that you have to use melee attacks to achieve maximum damage and not using those melee attacks would be akin to a SMN not using their DoT's or a BLM not casting fire spells.

Edit: That could be entertaining to see (and not in a good way), Red Mages that refuse to use sword attacks because "mage."

You're much more likely to see would-be Red Mages whining on the forums that the job is primarily a caster and not a Sword DPS.