RDM rant

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Yup. Pascal's right. Here, Chpal, do this:

When you see something shiny on the mob happen, or abnormal, just cast dispel just in case. 90% of the time you'll probably be dispelling a buff. I'm not even trying to sound condescending. I know RDMs claim it's hard to catch everytime a mob buffs, but just take my advice and do it like that. Everytime some strange graphic happens, just cast dispel and it'll save everybody a ton of trouble.
 
I can't remember which Job does it, but it is one that I often do not party with, so I'm thinking Dragoon. It has this crystal looking effect on the mob, and it never fails that I’ll hear the sound, and dispel before I even look at the text box.
 
Looking at what the monster doesn't work for me, since I'm hardly ever looking up. There are several Skill Chains, I can’t even describe because I’ve never looked up while they where happening. I spend all my time looking at the text box, and glancing over at the HP bars. I then ever now and then will look up to see what the monster is doing. I base a lot of it on sound and what I see going on in the text box. Plus if I’m in a high lag area, I’m not looking at the party; I’m looking at a wall (you know the color of the moss in the Crawlers Nest is actually quite nice).

What is funny is even when I do miss casting Dispel right after the monster casts, I’ll still end up noticing it before the melee’s do. Do you guys not watch your damage output?

This is why I am so picky about spam in the Text Box. It is hard enough with just useful information to catch everything.
 
Hey pascal I do that same thing as a rdm. I'm more paying attenttion to the attacks being put out by the melee and reading what the mob is doing, most of the time I have a whm in party so HP i really don't have to watch, but if I don't see a +3 tick on the mp I start handing out the Refreshes.

When I first got Dispel I had to melee and watch the damn beetles and stuf to get the sound and look then thats when I start looking for the text that is involved. That made it easier on me to know when to cast dispel. Especially when you have someone that is dual wielding then you have a crap load of battle spam. (Macro spam not needed unless using it for skillchain purposes. Another rant I'm working on.)

I've been messing with the melee class jobs lately and I'm starting to realise how important enfeebs and stuff are. I try to help out the rdm in the party and give them some minor pointers and they do what they want with the info. But hey it makes me feel better that I'm trying to be nice and help someone out.
 
I'm lucky in that I don't need to have damage in my text box- 90% of the time I have my husband playing right next to me, and I can just glance at his monitor to catch something I might otherwise miss by not seeing damge. But in all honesty, I've found that I don't NEED to see damage. Those of you who argue "I need to see Melee's damage output so I know when to Dispel"- try turning the damage to screen only, even if just for one or two fights. It will cut down what scrolls through your text bar by nearly 75%, I shit you not. I always, always, ALWAYS catch a mob buff when I have damage out of my text box, because the mob using the ability never gets buried under everything else. Simply by cutting out damage, I've found I never need to have any other filters up.

I've been playing with damage set to screen only since RDM 32, and definitely feel it is the way to go. The only drawback, of course, is you can't see what your nukes are doing. But, post 41, you're often too busy to nuke at anytime other than during a burst anyway. Admittidely, it is sad to not be able to see that "Magic Burst!" text go by, but you can always get a friendly person in your party who is willing to relay that info to you.

As for Chpal: If the spells you're missing are the single-target Bar spells, Enspells, Phalanx, etc. then no sweat. I've only ever used those soloing, and in fact decided to forego altogether many of the bar-status spells. I'm assuming that's what you mean, in which case you're fine. If you're missing higher level nukes, cures, debuffs (i.e. Dia and Bio 2) or anything that an XP party may potentially need from you, then you should rectify that. BEFORE you get into another xp party, heh.
 
Those of you who argue "I need to see Melee's damage output so I know when to Dispel"- try turning the damage to screen only, even if just for one or two fights.

Actually I played with it off up until about level 20 or so. I have it on not only to help catch Dispel, but it also tells me what monsters need Dia and which need Bio as well as several other things. Cutting out misses and damage taken by party/self helps a lot! It also helps me manage hate, which is very important to my play style. I try to be as aware as possible as to what everyone else in my party is doing at any given moment. Having the damage Display above on screen means I would have to always be look up, where if its in my text box, I get to see the last several actions that happened. (Down side of playing on Big Screen) I’m also very quick at kicking up the text box to full screen, which compensates for a lot. Since I’ve gotten Dispel, I think I’ve only had to be told 4 times when to use it.
 
Tyrion

Soul Voice + Ballad + Ballad II + Refresh + Yagudo Drink + Auto-Regen + Chainspell = ??? God perhaps? What is that, something like 14 mp/tick? That's insane.
 
Errr, make that Auto-REFRESH, and you can stack SMN auto-refresh (RDM/SMN) with Vermillion Cloak Auto-refresh right?
 
Fellina said:
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As for Chpal: If the spells you're missing are the single-target Bar spells, Enspells, Phalanx, etc. then no sweat. I've only ever used those soloing, and in fact decided to forego altogether many of the bar-status spells. I'm assuming that's what you mean, in which case you're fine. If you're missing higher level nukes, cures, debuffs (i.e. Dia and Bio 2) or anything that an XP party may potentially need from you, then you should rectify that. BEFORE you get into another xp party, heh.

im missing:
cure 4, dia 2, bio 2, fire 2, aero 2. I dont bother with bar magic.
 
Dia2 is kinda a biggie.
 
Ballad + Ballad II + Refresh + Juices + Chainspell = MAGE FUCKING FORCE OF NATURE. 8D

Juice does not stack with refresh, and im sure it does not stack with ballad too. Sub /SMN for MP regan and wear a vermillions (sp*) cloke
 
Zimzum said:
Ballad + Ballad II + Refresh + Juices + Chainspell = MAGE FUCKING FORCE OF NATURE. 8D

Juice does not stack with refresh, and im sure it does not stack with ballad too. Sub /SMN for MP regan and wear a vermillions (sp*) cloke

Not sure about juice, but refresh and ballad do in fact stack. Also IMO /SMN is a horrible sub for Blm. You simply lose too much for a +1 int gain and 1mp/3sec refresh. Vermillions cloak is the same way. I used to look at it and drool, but without being able to wear headgear, you simply give up too much statwise.
 
Barfire is VERY nice vs gobbi bomb toss.
 
Direwolf said:
Barfire is VERY nice vs gobbi bomb toss.

Yes, but, shouldn't the White mage have Barfira?

I have WHM36 and I'm only missing 2 barspells, Barthundra and Barblizzara...I just...don't...see...the...point in them...but I have all the others...

I think I might be putting too much faith in White mages to think they can be bothered to have all their spells :/
 
Kipsy said:
Direwolf said:
Barfire is VERY nice vs gobbi bomb toss.

Yes, but, shouldn't the White mage have Barfira?

I have WHM36 and I'm only missing 2 barspells, Barthundra and Barblizzara...I just...don't...see...the...point in them...but I have all the others...

I think I might be putting too much faith in White mages to think they can be bothered to have all their spells :/

You're assuming there is a Whm. I've been in parties where a Rdm/Blm was the main healer. It's also nice to not have one more person to sneak/invis to camp.
 
Juice

My apologies on the yagudo drink. Juice does not stack with refresh, but ballad does, because it's considered a song effect and not a refresh effect.

Cure 4, Bio II and Dia II are pretty important. Yeah I know, the price of Bio II sucks, but we all have to bite the bullet at some point.

You can get by without Fire II and Aero II, but I'd hate to be you when your party sets up Fragmentation or Fusion.
 
Songi_ said:
A few comments. I know I'm not level 60+, but hear me out.

RDM seems to be replaced and beaten out by bard. I know bards aren't as common, but you don't need a RDM NO MATTER WHAT.

They seem to be beaten out by bard, to those who do not like RDM. And to say RDM is not needed, is the same as saying BRD is not needed. It's ugly isn't it.

Songi_ said:
Need Dispel? No problem. We have Finale, and we get it for about 60K less. Yes, the drawback is the 24 second recast timer, however, it's better than nothing.

But not better than Dispel which is many times faster, and more realible than Finale. LoL. Don't bring this up if your trying to dissmiss RDM.

Songi_ said:
Need Refresh? There's a lovely tune called Ballad. At higher levels, bard can stack double ballad in a lot less time than rdm can cast refresh. Some people will say that you can't hit the PLD with ballad like you can refresh, but I will address that later.

Amature !! RDM will create what is called a refresh cycle, meaning when one refresh is down it get's casted back on right away. This is faster than casting boath mages Ballard I and II. Also no one has to worry about where the RDM is. the RDM can cast it on each magic user from a much greater distance. ensuring refresh will come. And also 1 Refresh will do 3 per tick. Just like Ballard 1 and 2 combined (o_o)d

Songi_ said:
Bards don't have the MP pool as RDMs. However, our enfeebles are free. Enfeebs can be covered by WHM and BLM, and bard can add Requiem, Elegy and Threnody to the mix. At level 40, I have 111 MP as a taru BRD/WHM. If I altered my gear, I could add more MP gear, but I've yet to need it, and I'd start eating pies before then. If a party is any good I shouldn't have time to cure.

If there is one thing RDM is a master of, it's enfeebling, it will always cap at a higher level then everyone else, meaning it will stick longer, which leaves time for other things to worry about. And forget comparing BRD's free spells in comparrison to RDM's Mana pool. I am also a Melee RDM and i never rest.

Songi_ said:
Bards add melee buffs as well, of course.

Haste cycle for every Melee(where they stand)..... I've never seen a RDM do a Haste and Refresh cycle at the same time, except for me. I'm sure there are RDMs that do it anyway. Nuff said.

Songi_ said:
Problems-BRD are spoled fucking rotten. Yup, it's true. We don't need expensive gear to function, and our spells are cheap. We get invites anyway. +1 instruments help a ton, and I can't believe so many bards get away without them (I mean really a cornette +1 costs 6K gil, you won't pay 6K to substantially increase the stat boost and time a song sticks that you'll be using from level 3-75?).

RDM's are Gods, It's fucking true. Seek out videos of RDM's soloing the Shadow Lord, and also their AF3, (Yes Miser murphy) as for gear, big deal if a RDM wants to have gear that leans their many tallents more to one direction. I don't give a shit. I'm wealthy as it is. Also in terms of DEF. droping a Phalanx with a stoneskin only insures the RDM will take even less damage. Converting under arggro is death defying, to the eyes of others, except to the RDM that know what the hell he's doing. You get Phalanx and Dispel as the two pricy spells, anything else that cost a shitload is up to the RDM to buy as he/she desires.


Songi_ said:
I rarely party with bards, because they are not common. On the off chance I do party with a bard, I get annoyed. They often lack even basic CHR gear. No Noble's ribbon. No Bird Whistle. No CHR rings. (I HUH?! I). Don't even mention the monster signa (overrated) or Mary's Horn (not worth the price). Further, they don't even know their fucking range. You CAN stick ballad on a Paladin and not the other melees if you try hard enough. Yeah, you can do it. It's not difficult for the bard at all. The hard part is making sure that people know where to stand and don't chase the fucking monster. You can also get minne on the PLD as well, it's all in the positioning. You CAN stick Mambo on a Ninja and not the other melees. It's not hard AT ALL. And guess what? RDM don't have a buff that increases evasion, or defense that stacks with protect.

There are RDM's that suck ass to the point where people believe BRD is better. Of coarse BRD is easier to pull off, but that's besides the point. Face it. Get the Monster Signa and you will be much better. Get the Mary's Horn and you can sleepaga quickly and safely.
And again with the RDM being able to cast from a far range. Running around to stick buffs or cast enhancing magic on on party members, dosn't even cross a RDM's mind.

Oh, and your right, RDM does not have a buff that increases "anyone elses" evasion... But RDM has a spell that can decreases the mobs evasion, making for more less time in a battle. Don't you think that kinda breaks even ? yes ? no O_0?

Songi_ said:
Should we be able to get away with this stupidity? No. Do we? You bet.

Should you be afraid of a RDM is Ballista ? Yes. Are you ? Probably not. So i assume you for one, do get away with stupidity.

Songi_ said:
Also, I avoid partying with RDM as my Bard at all costs. The one time you NEVER EVER EVER melee is when there is a bard in the party. WHY IN THE NAME OF GOD would you pass up ballad? And if you melee, I can't keep etude on you, either. Don't melee with a bard in the party. Please. The only way I can keep songs on you if you melee is if you stand in one spot, we have a ninja tank, and you don't move from that spot for the duration of the battle. Don't expect bards to be able to do that, it's extremely tricky, but it's all in the positioning. If you melee, you also better have equip macros for a wand. I haven't played with a RDM competent enough to get this off yet, but I will gladly provide ASCII diagrams of how a RDM can melee and still get ballad and etude with a ninja tank. I can ASCII the Mambo and Ballad on PLD, too, if anyone is interested.

I melee when there is a bard in the party, and if he casts Ballard 1 and II and i miss it, it's no skin off my back i'm a Tarutaru RDM, i know nothing of downtime, especially where there is a BRD around. But on a regulararity i've partied with BRDs that i run to and they cast the ballards. Also i missed it, it did nothing to the prouductivity of the party. So i had a chance to convert, no worries everyone, that is perfectly fine !

With less ignorance on your part, you shouldn't allow your differences with RDM overcome the fact that having one in your party means +6 MP per tick, better enfeebles, and more healing power. That is enough to power a cannon party, as if they all know is to chain and fight without waiting at all. Which is, better than what you and i can do alone. (Trust me it's wickid.) (-_-)

Note: This is not an attack on BRD's i am posting these facts in defense of the RDM. RDM is a job class that barely passed Beta testing, because many of the games testers did not open up to RDM. the Genuis that composed the game had no intention of riding the game of this masterpeice of a job. Either a RDM really sucks ass, or he is average in some cases. Those who explore it deeper and try to break exspectations with the RDM job class, often impress their party by cheating time with enhancing, enfeebling and melee, and a little nuking. No other job has a user as busy, making it a very exciting exsperience.
 
I'm not going to rebut all of your points because A. I agree with many of them and B. This post would go on FOREVER.

However, I have a few things to say.

First, the monster signa. From levels 51-75, light staff is better for requiem and lullaby, and earth staff is better for elegy. It will make a difference. Most bards that get past level 50 know what they're doing. Pre-51, I have this to say. There is a LOT of CHR gear available. Once you start getting into the +30 CHR range, you don't notice a big difference. Do I have a signa? Nope. I use my AF knife, which adds 6 less CHR. Do I get resisted? Very rarely.

Using a random harp is better than mary's horn in certain situations. Wider range = more enemies you can hit with horde lullaby.

Take your refresh cycle and shove it up your ass 8) . Ballad hits everyone at the same time. And if a bard knows his cast time, he will recast ballad right before it wears off. And ballad costs 0 MP. Also, learn how to spell Ballad, B-A-L-L-A-D. No R in there. Glad you like music.

Don't say that finale is less reliable than dispel. The cast time is faster, the range with a harp is equal, and it does not miss.

Saying that bard is silly for running around is a weak argument to support RDM. It's how the job is done, and you make it sound like it's a problem. Don't be lazy, positioning is important. Ask any Post-30 THF if you don't believe me.

Don't bring up Phalanx. Please. Don't bring up stoneskin or blink, because bards get those, too. At any rate, you shouldn't be pulling hate as a support class. Ever. I can DS curaga and not pull hate. So can you, or you're a gimp RDM.

Decreasing the monster's evasion =/= increasing a Ninja's evasion. Ask any ninja, they appreciate every single saved shihei.

Bard means +3 MP/tick, unique enfeebles, and if you want to talk about healing power, there is a song called Paeon. With a RDM, there is no substantial melee attack or accuracy boost, or ranged accuracy boost. There are no stat boosts in the form of etude either. Sleep is more reliable, and MP management is not as dire.

I'm not dismissing RDM as a job, I'm dismissing it as the be-all-end-all of late-game partying.
 
... I won't go with this debate. Just going to add some info about dispell. Oh yeah people who defend rdm meleeing (which I don't disagree if they do theri shit, which 90% of the time they ain't doing what they claim to be doing and please do chose the opponent you melee...) are rdms and no other job but there.

DISPELLING LIST (Things you should dispell)

Beetles:
- Rhino guard (evation up by like 200%)

Crabs:
- Sissor Guard ( has like uh... ultra defence up...)
- Bubble Curtain ( HUGE shell effect, no dispell and you have one angry blm)

Crawlers:
- Cocoon ( I think you saw this very very often... )

Anticans:
- Protect / Shell (no matter what you think, the pld anticans are spreading shell and protect to the entire mob in the vicinity. THEY WILL HAVE these 2 buffs unless they are freshly spawned)
- Sand veil Evation up
- Sand (forgot name) Defence up for quite some

Lizards:
- (I have no clue of the name in english) Evation up (looks like acid flowing in their body)

Pugils:
- Water wall ( enough said def up)
- Water shield (evation up)

Big Bird (Peryton in valley of sorrows)
- Feather Barrier (evation up)

I think thats about it... Unless you want me to put orcs aswell because there are times when you exp against high tier orcs during the 60s.
 
ARG forgont one more...

Evil weapons (Ro'Mauve or Ru'Avitau)
- Shell, Prot, Aquaveil etc... ( Specially in Ro'Mauve they ALWAYS buff others. And the rdm types usually have 6 buffs on them -_-; So better off starting your dispell when they are pulled. Like anticans they will have something unless they are freshly spawned)
 
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