/RDM needed?

[Galaxia]

Hey!

Unlocked SCH today! hehe YAY
somone told me SCH needs /RDM sub or it's useless...

I thought it was /WHM and /BLM?

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: /RDM needed?

"Does I has to?"

You don't have to, but it would really help you in some spots.

/RDM has some toys /BLM and /WHM do not:

Gravity, Enspells, Phalnax, Dispel and Fast Cast.

Scholar learns two Strategems (at level 40, if I'm not mistaken) that allow them to take various White and Black magic and covert it to an AoE. So subbing /RDM would actually put them a smidge closer to providing some Avatar-quality AoE buffs on the PT than /WHM would and /BLM couldn't provide at all.

/RDM also provides Magic Attack Bonus, though its about five points weaker than /BLM's MAB.

Each sub has its strengths. /RDM would be your best choice for Enfeebling and defensive support for the frontline. /WHM is going to have some of the same, but also to ability to AoE those needed -na spells. /BLM is pretty much just for raw nuking power, Elemental Seal and a little extra MP.

If you have WHM, BLM or RDM subs - you can pretty much fill the casting duties of any of the three mages (except Haste, Stona and Refresh) AND possess some of the toys of SMN as well. You just can't be them all at once and will have the same low HP as a SMN.

Don't bemoan having to level this one, its pretty much the first time since the BLM/RDM trend that we've had another really practical application for /RDM. And this time the nuker with /RDM can actually f'n raise.

[Galaxia]

Re: /RDM needed?

I have RDM lvld to sub lvl but talked to SCH's on server and they said AVOID /RDM and give the pt the options of WHM or BLM sub

why ppl not like /rdm?

[Ellipses]

Re: /RDM needed?

Why don't you ask the people who said to avoid it why they don't like it? Or the person who said SCH is useless without it why he thinks so?

For that matter, if you've got all three leveled, who really gives a shit? If your party wants a specific sub, bring that. If they don't, bring the one you prefer.

[Galaxia]

Re: /RDM needed?

I'm gonna be offering WHM or BLM subs cause I really don't like BLM >.< Hated lvlin it lol.
The guy who said I had to have it said its useless without it but he hasn't got WHM or BLM lvl'd

Girl who said its not needed is a lv 63 SCH and said shes never had a use for it.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: /RDM needed?

Polling people on your server or on forums is meaningless unless you can get them to give you better reasons than "it sucks" or "its great."

/WHM will give you the -na spells and Erase and you wouldn't have to rely on the AoE strategims to do Barspells. Divine seal is nice, too, but not a dealbreaker.

/BLM is /BLM - Magic Attack Bonus, Elemental seal and the BLM DoT spells. You're not getting much more than that here as an exclusive. This is purely for enhancing your DD, which /RDM can also do.

/RDM will give you Phalnax, Dispel, Gravity, Enspells and Fast Cast. There's no JAs here, but that's not a big deal.

All have valid applications, but i'd rate /BLM lower than /RDM in the post-40 SCH levelling.

[Galaxia]

Re: /RDM needed?

Seems a good BLM WHM combo would work.
But RDM would also be nice to add for the SCH who wants it.

[Sabaron]

Re: /RDM needed?

At low level, I must say that I'm getting a lot more mileage out of /RDM than either /WHM or /BLM. Until Curaga, /WHM is really quite useless unless you need -na's. Your sub job should always be chosen based on what you are doing, not on personal preference. It would be best to have all three, but my prediction still is that /RDM will end up being the most popular.

Enspellga
Phalanxga
Stoneskinga
Full set of Black and white enfeebles.
Dia/Bio

I like it a lot more than the other two since they shafted me and took Reraisega from /WHM's arsenal >.<

The only spells /BLM really gives you is EleDoTs and tier I -ga magic which is not particularly useful. Apart from that you get a boost to MAB, but not much better than /RDM, Conserve MP which adds efficiency and Elemental Seal every 10 minutes. Really, it's only good as dedicated nuker.

I guess I prefer versatility. Since, with, /RDM you can also -ga your cures anyway, the only real bonus to /WHM is Divine Seal and -na which are situational.

I can't see anyone who's actually looked at /RDM's arsenal in depth saying that it's a sub to avoid. Perhaps you should have your sources look a little closer.

[Coinspinner]

Re: /RDM needed?

RDM is a great sub to have 40+. MAB, both sets of enfeebles, Fast Cast, and group Enspell and Phalanx are nice. Before that you can get both Paralyze and Blind, if you want to enfeeble.

Sometimes you need -Na spells or Erase, so then you will use /WHM. Curaga is also better than using Accession with Cure, and you get Divine Seal.

20-40 and 60-75, if all you are gonna be doing is nuking then /BLM is what you want. Also might be useful to have Elemental Seal, Sleepga, Escape, and Tractor. Do people still use the elemental enfeebles?

[Sabaron]

Re: /RDM needed?

...Do people still use the elemental enfeebles?

Try Excavation Duty Assault.

Other than that, it is always efficient to use DoT spells when on a longer fight. DoTs have a better hp/mp ratio than burst magic, so if the spell completes, it's very efficient.

[Lmnop]

Re: /RDM needed?

Polling people on your server or on forums is meaningless unless you can get them to give you better reasons than "it sucks" or "its great."

This is really great advice for any job. Heeding it would reduce a lot of "sheep syndrome" activity.

[Karinya]

Re: /RDM needed?

Don't forget Dispel (and if you want it, Dispelga) after 64 as one of /RDM's benefits.

I think it will come down to what you expect to mostly do. If you're going to need -nas or frequent aoe heals (more often than Accession can conveniently provide), /WHM. If you're going to nuke a lot, /BLM (MAB and conserve MP for MP-intensive nukes). If you want the most extensive list of spells (particularly enhance and enfeeble) including Dispel, /RDM.

[Galaxia]

Re: /RDM needed?

Think for now I'm gonna stick with /WHM and /BLM ^.^
seems to be what people are wanting.
Had a good chat with a 70 SCH today!!! meh he lvls too fast and he said he lvl'd RDM for sch and he's never had a pt want /RDM 0.0

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: /RDM needed?

Think for now I'm gonna stick with /WHM and /BLM ^.^
seems to be what people are wanting.
Had a good chat with a 70 SCH today!!! meh he lvls too fast and he said he lvl'd RDM for sch and he's never had a pt want /RDM 0.0

Yes, because all mages and melee know what's best for mage jobs.

I'm curious as to why you ask PTs what subjob you should use rather than looking at the PT line-up and noting the camps/mobs you're going to before deciding yourself.

If you're just gonna go to ToA camps, you're not going to be using much black magic at all. That doesn't mean /BLM or /RDM are subjobs to avoid, though. Phalnax-ga would actually prove useful in Colibri camps, as would Dispel for imps.

If I'm at a camp where mobs don't have status ailments to spam, that automatically puts /WHM down the list and moves /RDM and /BLM up. If they reflect magic, then that's a strike against /BLM. If the camp requires status cures, then /BLM and /RDM aren't going to be so helpful. And that's not even mentioning what other mages might be in your PT, if you have a WHM, you could certainly go /RDM or /BLM and if you have a RDM/BLM, SCH/WHM would be a solid pick.

Learn to observe and adapt by situation rather than be spoonfed your parties needs.

Really, If my COR gets invited to a PT, its the first thing I analyze. Do they need a puller? If no BRD is pulling, I should probably go /NIN and do that myself. Do they need damage more? Then I can go /RNG. Do they need full support with /WHM, /RDM or /BLU?

Try to think situationally rather than slavishly.

[Callisto]

Re: /RDM needed?

Just some stuff I was playing around with last night, when I was looking at SCH/RDM:

SCH/RDMs Base Enspell damage @ level 75 using Light Arts, 1 merit, Enhancing Torque, and Merciful Cape: 18/hit

My 75 RDM's Base Enspell damage @ level 75 using AF1 Pants, AF2 Gloves, Enhancing Torque, and 1 Merit: 19/hit

I've heard that the Enspell accuracy would be based on the target's Enhancing Magic skill though, so melees would still see many resists. Haven't seen it done yet, and I don't have enough inventory space to unlock SCH atm.

SCH/RDM's Phalanx potency @ 75 w/ same setup as above: 24

My 75 RDM's Phalanx II potency @ 75 w/ 295 skill and Phal 2 merited to level 2: 18

So AoE Phalanx is stronger than my Phal 2 by 33%, and it lasts 30 seconds longer...granted there's the tripled mp cost and double casting time, but damn...

Anyways once I finish off BLU sub I'll get around to unlocking SCH and testing some of this junk out...looks good as a support role job though.