rdm/war

[bbq]

Im seeing lots of rdm/war on my server right now should i even consider these rdms to be in my party ? because the way i see it /war practicaly does nothing for a rdm other than help its melee damage a bit

[Vavara]

Depends on the level. Pre 30, it really dosn't matter.

Post 30, they'll just suck. Avoid them.

[Torzak]

RDM/WAR post 30 is not something you can just label as 'avoid'. I play 62rdm/25war for certain occasions. I've tanked the Tiger NM for DRG AF with only the aid of the 52drg that wanted it. I've tanked in coffer parties where monsters are VT to me with little to no down time.

I'm not claiming rdm/war as a 'better' tank than any other standard tanking combo like has been seen here before... but I am saying it's very situational as to who the better tank is. With certain situations screaming for rdm/war (mainly I'm speaking of Tough and lower monsters).

I don't really see rdm/war as a DD... sure Berserk is nice... with it I've done an 824dmg Vorpal Blade... but I'm talking too weak here. VT and higher melee accuracy is a slight problem post lvl 60. Up until 60 wearing the appropriate melee gear a rdm DD isn't too hard to do. The difference in our B rated sword skill and any other job's A+ skill is fairly minimal up until lvl 60 where the difference sure makes it's self known.

I think the biggest use of rdm/war is for certain group efforts. It's not really something you take to an xp party. It should be reserved more for special occasions where efficiency, mainly xp per hour, is not an issue. RDM/WAR is a very survivable combo with defensive food, defensive gear, defender, and phalanx.

[Dragonhope]

I personally think that pre-level 74, a RDM/WAR is the third best tank. That's assuming the person that's using RDM/WAR knows the basics of being a tank and so forth. Phalanx + Stoneskin + Blink makes for a deadly defensive combination. Not to mention that they have more MP then PLDs to cure themselves with.

Make a note though that this RDM tank MUST concentrate on the tanking like a PLD or NIN does and not play the typical role of a RDM.

[Mila]

rdm tank would be good if rdm could hold hate. D:

[Torzak]

RDM 'can' hold hate... it's not that hard. Certain spells... namely a select few debuffs+voke has been enough for me to keep hate when I've acted as tank.

Dispel
Sleep
Sleep II
Blind
Bind

Provoke

Cure (can be used effectively on anyone missing HPs)

Personally I feel rdm have more hate keeping tools than pld... but with our need to cast Blink and Stoneskin (low hate spells that must be casted often) we aren't able to use our MP to the fullest for pure hate keeping like a pld can. And without these spells... we take quite a bit of dmg in comparison to a pld forcing us to keep hate... not to mention keep ourselves 'alive'... through cure spells... and that eats MP entirely too fast to be effective on ITs

My personal tactic requires using both SS and Blink in an alternating manner... if done right, against VT you should take next to zero dmg and be able to maintain hate because your need for SS isn't quite as high and phalanx makes a larger difference in dmg reduction when the monster is hitting for lighter numbers.

I can't classify rdm as a 3rd best like above... it's way too situational IMO to classify any tank in a certain ranking against the others. Some are better against certain types... and rdm shines against mnk type and Tough and lower for other types... IMO there isn't a better tank for those instances. Against VTs... they all seem fairly balanced in my experiences... and against ITs to IT++ I'd much prefer a pld or nin... unless the IT is mnk... in which case with lighter faster hits it's almost a toss up between all 3.

[Silverquick]

Re: rdm/war

Originally posted by bbq
Im seeing lots of rdm/war on my server right now should i even consider these rdms to be in my party ? because the way i see it /war practicaly does nothing for a rdm other than help its melee damage a bit

Here's the real answer to your question...

At your level, what do you see around you?

A ton of wannabe melees to choose from all of which are better even at that level than an Rdm/War. Even though the difference at that level isn't that much.

It comes more down to the attitude of the player. In your group the reason you probably invite a Red Mage is for the healing. Pre-30th. What do you suppose you're gonna get by inviting an Rdm/War at that level....

You're gonna get someone who thinks they're another melee/tank class... but with a few spells they may or may not even use. But thats not what you need is it?

So no, its probably not worth your time to invite an Rdm/War at low levels even though they are still functional then. They just aren't going to give you what it is you really are looking for when you invite them. Nor will they want to most of the time.

At later levels... every melee class and their mother will be better than Rdm/War are at melee... and YOU still won't have invited them because you needed another melee class. You'll have invited them because you wanted a mage. What do you think you're getting with a Rdm/War? You're getting a wattered down Red Mage who is already watered down to begin with in the casting department.

There are very specific cicumstances where they are functional, for example, they are very good at Duoing with just one other person. They are also very good solo and against lower con mobs for EXP.

But outside that they are too limited in what you need in most groups. This is not to say that there won't be a circumstance where you will want one, but rather that those circumstances will be extremely rare.

But don't worry, later levels will weed them out one by one.