Red Mage

[Lionx]

Actually if you know your monsters weakness at lower levels lvl 20-30, you can do terrific damage to monsters with en-spells since even if you do 0 dmg, you will do at least 20 some points of damage per swing of en-spells with high enough enhancing magic. En-spells do not give TP to the monster. At lvl 10-20 i dont find RDM meleeing to be that big a deal unless they refuse to rest or manage their MP well, and granted /WAR, RDM can tank at certain levels or even main tank in dunes like a PLD of some sort. But its not expected.

[Yeargdribble]

I guess my think with RDM melee, even at low levels, is that it lacks efficiency. To make the melee truly efficient you would have to absolutely be hitting for 0 (to avoid TP feed) and make your enspells do the work. I doubt any RDM wants to use an Onion Sword in XP to make sure this happens. But all in all, RDM will be able to do more damage with their nukes than with their melee. If they find themselves bored at early levels they would do more good either resting or nuking.

And while I can agree that the game is meant to be fun, you will only run into trouble if you get into the habit of consistenly meleeing. Eventually you will end up having people telling you to GTFO if you melee.

[Lionx]

I forget i think Grendel of Gilglamesh who is very respected said he was just a little below most Melee DD with en-spells from 20-30 or some respected RDM...but i dont mind them meleeing at those levels anyway if they manage MP good.