Ah Aluus, the times I've been in PT and watched your throw your blade into battle and think to myself "WTF IS HE DOING!" but then again, I know better hence why youll never hear me complain. A red mage is not supposed to be a straight caster, and nowhere in any Final Fantasy that I am aware of does it state they are. Also, if you wish to relate Red mage to other topics, you might even call them a war mage. Warriors not strong enough to use only brute strength to smite their foes, but wise enough to use the magic around them just enough to weaken the opponent to the extent they can be defeated. Combat is not just about brute force (yes that includes the massive dmg you blms out there do, you cast a spell and it does huge dmg, pretty cut and dry,) but also one of the mind. More and more i find myself angered by the fact this game has become controled by the numbers. Yes a rdm subbing blm is going to have higher Int, hence you'll do that little bit of extra dmg (yes damage,) on spells, but little will it help your enfeebleing (negleable at best.) Rdms are supposed to melee, thats why they can use swords. However this is not to say that they are only supposed to do so.
Now, would you like to crunch numbers all day, or play a game and enjoy it for what it should be. If you'd like I can crunch the numbers for you, but I'd rather not. Some people enjoy stripeing a game down and working all the numbers down to the very binomial core. Frankly even I find myself doing the basic crunching of numbers...
...Ok, I've gone into a rant noone will ever care to ready...
I love to see new/old rare subjobs. Sam/rng has better overall stats then a straight up rng. Not as good Acc gear mind you, but there is at least one really nice bow that only sam can use that I am aware of (its an upper lvl one, but it looks cool.) Yes Square does support those who want to try different subs by making the latent effect rings. I've even though of doing Rdm/Thf since thf has probly the 3rd/4th best Int in the game anyhow (Yes Thfs have high Int, I play one. They use Int for picking locks and how successful they are at stealing.) I think I should end my rant here.
Take it easy, and remember, above all else, This is a game (yes your ears are bleeding, get a cotton ball,) and a game set in a time period/world where having the best (it helps,) gear shouldn't make the hero, its the spirit.