New to RDM

[Tsuneo]

Hey, I played FFXI from December to mid-April and in that time span had jobs: BLM, WHM, THF, DRG, WAR, RNG. Now that I'm coming back(since I got a job, heh), my friend told me that DRG(my ex-favorite job ever) got really dumb. So, now I plan on going RDM but, I'm not quite sure about the strategies etc. since when I was BLM and WHM I don't think I got much further than lvl 9 so we didn't quite break into PTs. So, basically, I'm not quite sure how to work RDM, any help is appreciated, thanks in advance.

[Drynavere]

I'll give my 2 cents on this one...

I'm only a level 34 redmage at the moment, but I am bringing it up fast as it has hit me as a lot fun.

Basically in your first few levels, 1-20 or so, you'll be doing mostly healing if you no whm, and melee a little here and there if you do. Enfeebling starts coming into play as a vital role in the higher teens of the game.

By about 20-30, you are either a main healer, which is very scarce on my server as there is normally a few WHM sitting around, or a nuker/enfeeble/melee'er.

You don't want to be meleeing too much past level 30 because then you don't have time to enfeeble the proper amounts on the monster, and you do horrible damage at this time anyways so there is no point really. Your role in a party past about level 25 will be either a support healer, main healer (rare), nuker (somewhat rare), or a support to mages. All of these categories include using debuffs, as that is your main job in a party.

To sum it up, in a party, which you should be partying level 12+, you will always be debuffing, normally be a backup healer, unless you have a whm and 2 rdm, or 2 whm, toss a nuke here and there, and...once again...ALWAYS be debuffing.

Past 41+ refresh becomes your main role, alongside debuffing. This is why the redmage is known as a support to mages, because we refresh those with mp, and debuff the monster, then we do whatever we want really.

Hope I helped.

[Tsuneo]

To sum it up, in a party, which you should be partying level 12+, you will always be debuffing, normally be a backup healer, unless you have a whm and 2 rdm, or 2 whm, toss a nuke here and there, and...once again...ALWAYS be debuffing.

Kay, is debuffing spells that increase stats? (it's been a while)

Past 41+ refresh becomes your main role, alongside debuffing. This is why the redmage is known as a support to mages, because we refresh those with mp, and debuff the monster, then we do whatever we want really.

Ohhhh yeah, Refresh, I remember that!

Thanks a ton!

[Drynavere]

hehe np.

Debuffing is when the RDM uses spells like paralyze, blind, dia, bio, gravity, slow....anything that renders the monsters stats to make him less affective.

So...slow would increase his delay on attacks.
Paralyze gives a chance that he can't do anything.
Dia lowers his defense by 5%(i think?) and is a dmg over time spell.
etc. etc. etc.

Basically, buffing means to increase your stats and such, with protect and shell and the works, so debuffing, is to lower the monsters stats and effectiveness against you.

[Tsuneo]

Thank you very much, I'll repay you when I get back on the servers. -takes note of his server so he can get a WP-

[ZQM]

Hehe, RDM's a hard job when main healer past 41. :p I always try to grab a RDM first as main healer, then WHM, then SMN. I then expect them to keep the main tanked heal, debuff, refresh, MB, ect. Thank Altana for Convert.

That's one of the reasons I'm trying out RDM, I like busy jobs. Most jobs I just watched TV more then payed attention to the game since there's nothing to do.

[Chucklez_1]

I'll also add in that even at lvl 41+, rdms can be the main healer for the group providing that you have at least one mage that can remove basic status such as poison, paralyze, or silence. From lvl 45-60, I was the main healer of my ex-static pt and may I add that it was a lot faster than having a whm as the main healer (due to refresh and convert). In my opinion, from 40-56, an rdm would be the most efficient main healer (although you're very restricted to specific places). At 56+, whms would be preferable for their raise II. Then again, a few times post lvl 60, I was the main healer of the group and all I can say is that the xp was just coming and coming The only time I ever had that recently was by partying w/ a whm that has vermillion cloak.