[Pteryx]

Well, /WHM also provide Stratagem free Curaga, and earlier access to Stoneskin. A SCH/WHM can switch between healer and nuker/enfeebler mode much easier than with /BLM or /RDM, making better use of the job's inherent flexibility.

It's true that /BLM would do better damage in Lv.20's, but I would say the minimum should be either WHM (better flexibility) or RDM (better enfeebling repertoire), after leveling through Lv.20's using both /WHM, /RDM, and /BLM.

OTOH, without MAB SCH's nukes are considerably less impressive. Remember that MAB I is +20%. I suppose requiring Addendum: White is more of an obstacle prior to 30, though.

I agree, for the most part.

Due to the lack of Stoneskin, however, I don't think /SCH is a good match for BLM--unless there's a SCH in party buffing AoE Stoneskin, and the BLM is sticking close to the SCH enough to be a second shadow.

My BLM friend gets away with it just fine. OTOH, he's also CoP-vintage -- he actually levelled in parties, and became excellent at judging where the hate line is. (Not to mention he, uh, usually forgot Stoneskin in the first place. He's anti-defense like you wouldn't believe.) Basically, playing BLM/SCH takes a tank (remember tanks?) and actual skill.

Was written with traditional partying in mind; never came across the "you must love healing" upon seeing BLM/WHM mentality, to be honest.

Given how dreary the party scene is for BLMs, however, probably should drop labels like "specialty". It's still silly to use /RDM over /WHM in a traditional exp party, never the less.

As an overworked RDM, I have to say I hated it when I had BLM/RDM in exp parties party as the only other mage, especially when fightings Imps. I can always use the help with Silena with Imps; heck, even a SCH may want help with Silena at times. Good thing BLMs on Ifrit seem to have the common sense to use /WHM in traditional parties for the most part.

Imps are about the only thing I can think of that's normally XPed on that would call for that sort of aid, though.

As for RDM/PLD, RDM/BLU, I tried both. They are just too narrow in usage, even for specialty; vast majority of the time where they are good, another support job would do fine as well. (Can't be that special if generally anything else would be OK, right?)

RDM/PLD has one particularly potent defensive trick, though: Flash > Stoneskin. Flash tends to last just long enough for me to recast Stoneskin without being interrupted; thus, I find the combination to be very, very survivable. -- Pteryx