Red Mage looks Incomplete

[Klongol]

To address OP's original items, and not just one:

I personally resigned myself to the fact that RDM would not resemble the RDM I enjoyed playing in 11.

1) I don't find it odd that they don't have a dedicated mitigation ability since they appear to have advanced mobility over the other casters.
2) See previous comments
3) En-weapon spells would have been neat, but it's clear they intended to do things differently this time around.
4) The Melee abilities, though they use TP, appear to do unaspected damage, which likely means they will be affected by Embolden. I could be wrong though.
5) We'll have to wait and see how Vercure works. But I'm with you - Here's hoping it scales off int so it can be more than just a wasted ability. The trick is to make the ability to enough healing to be useful, but not too much as to replace a healer in a group. It's a fine line to walk.

[Vexander]

To address OP's original items, and not just one:

I personally resigned myself to the fact that RDM would not resemble the RDM I enjoyed playing in 11.

1) I don't find it odd that they don't have a dedicated mitigation ability since they appear to have advanced mobility over the other casters.
2) See previous comments
3) En-weapon spells would have been neat, but it's clear they intended to do things differently this time around.
4) The Melee abilities, though they use TP, appear to do unaspected damage, which likely means they will be affected by Embolden. I could be wrong though.
5) We'll have to wait and see how Vercure works. But I'm with you - Here's hoping it scales off int so it can be more than just a wasted ability. The trick is to make the ability to enough healing to be useful, but not too much as to replace a healer in a group. It's a fine line to walk.

Thanks for the replies, and excellent points. As far as Vercure goes, I can't see a RDM replacing a healer unless Healers are doing more DPS than Red Mages. Which, given how MCH and AST were at Heavenward's Launch, it could be possible for Red Mage to be under-performing. I'm hoping that Vercure will have been designed more for sustainability of solo play, and as a stop-gap measure while a recently raised Healer gets back on their feet. It'd be -enough- to give Red Mage that hybrid feel.

[Vexander]

4) The Melee abilities, though they use TP, appear to do unaspected damage, which likely means they will be affected by Embolden. I could be wrong though.

I should have clarified. As a Group Buff, this is good for NIN/BRD/MCH/MNK/SAM/DRG/WAR/PLD/DRK. But it doesn't really do anything for WHM/AST/SCH/SMN/BLM.

[Morari]

Red Mage seems to have really really low MP costs compared to the other magic users, so MP management may not be an issue.

[Aitheriondark]

Plus Sword attacks use TP so less MP used there too.

[Driavna]

I should have clarified. As a Group Buff, this is good for NIN/BRD/MCH/MNK/SAM/DRG/WAR/PLD/DRK. But it doesn't really do anything for WHM/AST/SCH/SMN/BLM.

For the looks of it, RDM pairs really well with heavy physical damage combos as the only caster.