Race for RedmageFollow

First off, as one of the biggest RDM advocates for Melee, I gotta tell you. RDM's not even close to a pure melee character.

It can melee, and it functions as a good utility in many situations. But you personally are going to find, not just for the sake of your group, but just for simplicity's sake, that sometimes, it's just better to step back for certain fights.

Now, against your normal fodder fair, you shouldn't have much trouble surviving front line at all, the issue comes when knowing what weapons/weaponskills, gear, subjobs, etc, come into play best. But that is an entirely different discussion, one that changes depending on circumstance. Just get use to the idea that sometimes it's good to Mage it up. RDM's meant to be versatile, so you may enjoy it more playing that way.

That said. Right now Race really has little factor. Taru by default has the largest MP pool, and stats differences are really not that large of an issue between races, so there could be a good argument for being a Tarutaru. But really, any race can fair well with Red Mage, especially when Abyssea or later level abilities (Such as Refresh II) come into play.

I'd say make your choice of race off of what you would feel comfortable assuming as your identity the most, not off of negligible mechanics.

As a RDM who practically meleed his whole way to 90, I am biased towards Elvaan. As mentioned, race really doesn't matter though. There will be times in lower levels where you will feel the difference, but it will all eventually become negligent.

Seriha does list the two extreemes in that case, not sure if Galka has the worst MP pool or not it's been so long since it was last discussed.

But honestly it really just adjusts the playstyle of each RDM. Full Melee, minimal mage, Elvaan does have the best stats (and the highest mnd for White Magic Enfeebles) but again, you pay for it in INT and MP.

I'm bias towards Mithra and Hume. They have the most balanced stats between the two, with Mithra having the higher Dex, which plays more into the melee favor, but those differences are small.

I'd say the safe bet would be Hume, as Mithra is not on the table for you. It just gives you that better rounded feel.

The only stat that matters in race choice is MP, as it can become HP when needed. Taru RDM's have very little trouble with mana, hell I sit at about 1.1K in my melee gear in abyssea (and tht is /NIN or /DNC), that is more MP the some races (galka elvaan) have in mage gear. The stats are meaningless (Dex STR etc) and HP is hardly an issue (for a class that can heal).

In all honesty Taru is probably the tops choice for any mage role, because of the MP bonus, not to mention in terms of RDM it can nail 1:1 converts with ease, where other races have a harder time.

Edited, Jun 1st 2011 3:43pm by rdmcandie

That's because it doesn't matter unless you're trying to have the absolute highest int/mnd/mp/hp/etc. which extends beyond just natural stats, but in gear, items, food, etc. If you're trying to max/min, then you're stuck with one job on one character playing one style, as you can never max/min everything like both int and mnd.

The reason why I say it matters less as you get up is because as you level you are able obtain the necessary stats to do your job. For example, as a low level, an Elvaan's or Galka's MP puts a greater hindrance on game play. As you level, you obtain more ways to make up for a shortage of mp (refresh, convert, gear, etc). Just because a SMN is sitting on a million mp, it doesn't make you incapable or "short" of mp, just that the SMN has more MP.


So, making a comparison between races on different stats doesn't mean anything unless you're trying to max a particular stat. If your only concern is the ability to do your job, then it doesn't matter.

I think Hume is the best RDM on paper and this is why.

Tied for 2nd best INT(Mithra)
2nd highest MND behind Elf(Mithra and Taru have low MND)
Tied with Mithra for MP behind Taru
Higher HP than taru which helps live though links/better convert.

So in the mage category, draw your own conclusions.

As for the melee category, this is trickier.

Hume is 3rd in STR(Galka and Elf)
Hume is 3rd in DEX(behind Mithra and Taru)
HP is tied with Mithra in 3rd place.

HP and STR mean more so Galka and Elvaan are the best choice here.

However, if you lump both roles together, Hume comes out on top. Mithra while very close to Hume's in most regards fall short due to weak MND. Taru's have the lowest HP, very low MND, but the highest MP and INT. Elvaans have very low MP, the worst INT and DEX stats, but the highest MND. Galka's are average enough with MND/INT, but they don't do well because of having the lowest MP pool. That's why Humes win the crown in my book. A RDM must have good INT/MND which a Humes does have plus decent HP/MP balance which they have as well.

Best nuker race... Taru, Hume/Mithra, Galka, and lastly Elvaan(Rated Elvaan dead last because they have low MP and terrible INT)

Best healer race..Taru, Hume, Mithra, Elvaan, and Galka. (MP means more than MND so Taru wins over Hume. However, Hume is 2nd place because of a slight MND advantage over Mithra)

Best enfeebler race: Hume, Taru/Mithra, Elvaan, and Galka (This is a tricky one to rate, but Hume's balance of INT/MND trumps everyone else. MND is very important to procs, but you have to figure in MP and INT ratings too.

Best enhancer race: Hume & Elvaan(IE.. AoE stoneskin)

Now before anyone says RSE or whatever, when you get to lv75 and beyond, everyone wears the same stuff. Taru's will always have a nuking and healer advantage thanks to their INT and MP. Now you might ask me why is Hume better when Taru are better nukers and healers. Because the advantage is so slight in those 2 areas that the other stats like HP play into the mix. More potent enfeebles using MND. Honestly though either race is fine, pick your favorite. I just think Hume has all the bases covered. I would hate to be weak in HP or MND on my RDM. The MP boost on Taru doesn't always mean you can use it. HP and MND are used more often especially when solo. Speaking of soloing, cures will have more effect on a Hume because of the VIT/MND calculation compared to a Taru.

Edited, Jun 8th 2011 1:35pm by ShadowedgeFFXI

Or alternatively, pick who looks best in hot pants! :3

That should be put up to a poll.

"Which Female Race looks best in RDM hotpants?"

But mithra really need to shave their legs.

I went there!

Agree with mostly all else but this Taru has the easiest time getting 1:1 converts. Which is huge when talking about convert, and since MP is the only stat that truly matters in a race discussion (in particular about a mage class) this gives Taru a large enough advantage to warrant it as best RDM.

While hume is more blanced stat wise, MP is everything when it comes to RDM, even if you are meleeing (even more so since you are in melee gear which often has no +MP stats.

For that reason Taru is statistically the best, however, play what you want, the differeces in the end are so small it isn't worth the time spent talking about it. While Taru might net 200MP more than other races, its 200MP that is seldom needed or used...especially in abyssea. (with ptoper mp conservation, keeping refresh up, and using convert when its ready).

and as a RDM regardless if you frontline or backline revolves around casting spells. Like I said the bonus is seldom needed, but when you silently wish in the middle of a vert cycle that you had a couple hundred more MP. Then you should have gone with a Taru.

1. you are an idiot clearly you have done nothing outside abby yet that is cool but vert is as useful there as it was in sky (if you ever did sky)
2. RDM sucks at personal DD it has for pretty much ever. At best in full melee orientation it can see 80-85% of a true meleee DD. Keeping cycle on them (haste) is more important then anything a RDm could do on its own. Dia and Haste chew MP. RDM is a decent melee but christ man if your not hting and siaing at least you are useless. quit trying to pretend RDM is something it isn't. It has always been a mid midclass DD that uses its MP to make those around it more effcient, it hasn't changed at all.

3. a RSM personal output means sh*t. PERIOD.

Except when Rog made a new RDM after his ban he made a Taru for the very reasons i mentioned. So I doubt his definition of silly applies here.

Edited, Jun 10th 2011 10:14am by rdmcandie

I thought rog chose Taru for all the sexy sexy INT for improved nuking.

Nope....

As I said, it all depends on your playing style. For my playing style, Taru is at the bottom of the races outside of abyssea and irrelevant in abyssea.

It's fine that you love to be Taru, but it's not the best race for everyone. You just have to accept that.

Can you imagine if a Mithra shaved just her legs?

It'd look an awful lot like a show-ready poodle, what with tufts of fur here and there alongside bare bits.

Creepy.

To be blunt, I don't trust the in-game models to be fairly representing the fur on their body mithras commonly mention. Meanwhile, fan art is just that, fan art often with a mix of justification they're not furries for liking humanoid girls with cat ears and a tail. Old concept sketches don't exactly help their case, either. So while some just try to reason they're tan, I look at 'em with a thin layer of fur all over... kind of like my dog.

If I was a melee rdm, I'd be a tank so I'd pick Galka, or Elvann for DD.

mp > hp doesn't matter when your total hp pool can't absorb an enemy hit or combo.

To me at this point in the game, HP rules all. I think particularly rdm has zero problems with mp.

Really I'd pick DNC or BLU if I liked that playstyle you're thinking of.

GL, the real answer as listed above is pick what you like.

Yeah maybe thats misunderstood, like lowman/solo tank, not some ally super-tank like we used to do ;; Good catch.

Edited, Jun 15th 2011 5:15pm by Elspetta

Merits are a wash since the Taru could just go 12/12 MP and maintain the advantage. Same with INT and so on. I know I'm Hume and went 6/6 HP/MP with full STR for melee jobs, as it's more beneficial overall, but really, merits should never be a factor when determining strength, balance, or whatever (which is part of the system's current ills). Just a bonus.

Seconded. Especially considering that BLU/WHM with refresh and Atmas is currently a better healer than RDM as well.

Which, honestly, I'm ok with, so long as we get something to give us some job idenity. Idealy, in the front lines.

Libel! We tarus hold our own.

I'm dubious as to the validity of this claim.

You first, cause, you know, you have terrible HP. ;)