What sub job would be good for a thief?

[Lionx]

Agreed, Melee/Mage or the other way around generally do not work in exp parties and only work in situational things, but never exp.

HP? For THF? Not too important, your not the tank my friend, and if your getting hit for too long at low lvls, something is wrong with your tank. A THF/RDM is as bad as a WAR/WHM. Your MP is based ENTIRELY on your sub, so therefore its low as hell. You skills are low as a RDM compared to WHM or BLM, hence your Elemental magic...no screw it ALL your magic is halved as a RDM, and it wont do jack. Resting isnt an option to regain MP, you need TP and resting loses TP. THF/RDM is not helping the party at all. If your not helping the party, your pretty much a leech. Its like a WHM that only cures and nothing else.

BTW /WAR or /NIN give you a way bigger HP boost than /RDM anyway...so HP+ is moot.

Remember its always Party>You. You work as a TEAM, and you have to sub something that will benefit your team. Wth can /RDM give to the team? Nothing but hinder the party more if you would sub something else. You fill the role of the party to the best of your abiltiy, and that involves what you sub and hence i am very critical about that.

And i agree with Zaphier, the /RDM on mages i dont get em too often..i dont understand why...cept MAYBE BRD for their long songs..but it doesnt matter that much still...your still going to cast the songs throught he entire battle and be busy, Fast Cast wont make you less busy nor make it any better.

EDIT: Forgot about the TP part to add this....if you are asking why TP is so important is becuase you need to Skillchain. Low lvls it may not seem to do alot of dmg, but it doenst matter, even if it snot huge dmg numbers it opens the power of Magic Bursting from a real RDM or BLM, and that in turn will do massive dmg to the enemy. Magic Bursting and Ending Skillchain dmg is where its all at. Especially at higher lvls, with 3000 HP for each mob that are incredibly tough and high defense and evasion(and its HIGH), skillchain/MB(Magic Burst) is what will take off 3/4 of the mosnter's life at LEAST. You can skillchain the battle right there for a easy exp chain #5. Your puny hits wont do alot...maybe at low lvls but before 30...alot of things dont count and things are way easier then with more room for error.