Ok. I'm not going to preach ideals in which I have no basis. As of the time of this post, I am currently a level 60 rdm. I have leveled numorous jobs to 37 to get a feel, but not the best, of the roles of the main jobs. So here is my oppinion (And no I'm not going to bash anyone elses oppinion)
First off, Yes it is true that refresh is not the only reason for a rdm in a party, but it is 1 of 3 reasons to have one. The role of a Redmage consists as follows: Refresh, Dispel, and Various enfeebles (Paralyze, Slow, Blind, questionably Dia, and situationaly Sleep) Other than those, the Redmage is proving as a bonus. So that being said, The party invites a Redmage based on the expectation that they are GOING to be Refreshrd, no questions asked. To believe that Redmages shouldnt just be there for refresh, or that it's considered rude to be 'pestered' for a refresh is absurd. The entire game is based on the idea that key jobs play, at most, 3 completely different roles. This is a TEAM game and part of being in a TEAM is fulfilling your desired duties. And for the redmages who dont believe this, I assure you that you are being hypocritical. Honestly, how long would you listen to a PLD/NIN try to make a justifiable case as to why he feels that him voking is a privalage to the party, not a right.
And as for this 'begging' as you put it, I have a philosophy that I've developed with leveling 7 seperate jobs to 37+ and 3 to 60+. If the party has to ask for you to do something consistantly, then you aren't during your job. If a Tank has to have the party ask him to Voke, then that is just a bad tank, no matter how you twist it. I have been asked to refresh a member as a redmage. I don't think "Why are they pestering me?!" I think "Crap, I'm slipping up" I've come to grips long before I've even started the job that Refreshing is 1 of the 2 most OBVIOUS reasons that a redmage even gets a party.
The second thing involves the whole "Blackmage vs. Refresh" arguement. If you use magic, then you diserve refresh. Plain and simple. I've played blackmage and I know it is easy to run out of MP no matter how much mp control you have. Without refresh then 1 of 2 things will result for the blackmage. Either they will resort to casting nothing BUT the lowest form of damage they can, OR after two fights, your blackmage will have to sit for 5-10 minutes to regain their mp.
In short, The Redmage, Like every job in the game, has only 1-3 defining roles and purposes to be invited. Don't believe me? Set up a party with no redmage available and I garuntee you that you'll look for a bard afterwards. Refresh is not only a right to the magic users, no matter pld, drk, blm, or whm, but it's also a responsibility of the Redmages to keep them refreshed. If you do not like this, then this job is not something you should play.
Edited, Thu Mar 23 23:10:22 2006 by BishboshOnline