Sharky a red mage?

[SharkyBlade]

After much thought I've come into consideration that red mage is the perfect job for me this time but I've heard red mages weren't that popular until the recent patches. Are RDMs still such an outcast from parties? I mean that from the low level point. For the average foreigner is RDM difficult to play? Thanks.

[Jei]

read all my opinnions here

http://ffxionline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9047

[Jonnyram]

Red mages are starting to get more recognition I think. They are a decent job, but Jei is right in that usually you will be 2nd choice after a white mage and black mage.

I recommend it though because you can really save a party's ass these days. Convert is one of the most useful additions I seen since the game came out. It may only be lv40 and above from what I've seen, but it's so good.

One tip - a mage is a mage is a mage. People say the red mage can melee, but don't bother. You'll miss a lot and your hits won't be worth a lot unless you do criticals. Sub a black mage or a white mage, depending on which spells / abilities you want. I prefer black because they get MP conserve, dezone, mark of the spirits (definite hit with magic) and higher INT. Continuous magic (RDM SP) plus dezone can save your ass a lot of times.

There is no typical party play for me. If there is a WHM and BLM already, I'll take charge of the weakening spells and cast gravity, bio, blind, paralyze, dia, slow, poison, shock etc. If there is WHM but no BLM, stick to the black status magic and then blast out a few elemental spells. If there is BLM but no WHM, you'll probably want to get something like paralyze in, but after that stick to healing. If there is neither a WHM nor a BLM, do the same. Don't go using elemental magic if you have to heal though, that's a big no-no.