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Yes, there are many guides for this job, but to tell you the truth, they all suck. I am just going to generalize things that a RDM should do to be sucessful, but I will not go into detail on spells.

1) Race
Tarutaru is valued later on for their massive MP, but soloing with these are really hard when you want to do things by your self. Elvaan MP is too low, despite the solo HP and MND. Galka is out of the question. Don't tell me about astral rings... a Galka and Elvaan can never reach the capability of a Hume. Mithra is nearly equal to a hume, but lack a little more on the stats for PTs and are better for solo.

What do I mean by solo? Mostly helping people and doing things for fun. That IS half the game...

2) Subjob
Easy answers:
PTing: Use WHM if you like the ___na spells (poisona). Much better for party support and buffing and such. Use BLM if you want to have a slightly higher MP pool and more INT. MBs in PTs are better with this Subjob, healing is just as effective, and de-buffs stick better. I personally like BLM better. SMN has massive MP pool, but not suggested, as it does not help in any other way.

Solo:
DRK. Sounds crazy? You get the attack boost to hit harder, some MP, higher combat stats give the RDM a more rounded look, and the HP skyrockets compared to a mage subjob. I have also found that Enfeebling magic sticks better with this subjob for some reason. Only downside is missing Warp. If you like the MAGE part of RDMs, just stick with WHM or BLM.

3) Equiptment
A job is only as good as you make it. A Hume can suck compared to a galka RDM if they aren't equipted well. Please note that I am putting this in for HUMES. If you like, you can still follow the guide, but you may want to sub in RSE for other things as you progress. Taru RSE sucks for mages, galka rules. Make modifications as you like. Use accessories well for your race.

Weapon:
Use high-damage swords (highest you can find) and keep a spare club for spell casting. Once you hit level 41, get the AF and use it. MP isn't crucial here, as you have refresh by now and convert. At 55, keep a darkstaff, but use the AF for looks and the slight MP boost it gives, switching to Darkstaff to heal MP. At 55, get the Wise Wizard Analace. Keep the AF for looks, but don't use it. Keep the darkstaff out instead unless you need to use a weapon. Once you hit the 70's, find a joyuse. A light staff is nice for healing, but not crucial. The only staff REALLY needed is Darkstaff.

Shield:
Anything will work. Once you can, get the Hardshield. This is just for looks and to occasionally block and give slightly more defense. Then again, besides soloing, why would you get hurt? Later on there are a few shields that give -HP and +MP. Get those if you want to.

Head:
Use standard armour until 20. Then use hairpins until level 60. AF hat will keep you going all the way from there.

Body:
Standard until you can use RSE. RSE works until Brigadine, and then brigadine until AF. If you want, you can get a royal aketon for looks at 55 (I think) and you can get a scorpion harness for soloing later on if you can afford it. Otherwise, the AF can take you until relic.

Hands:
Standard until RSE. Keep RSE until AF. AF works until relic.

Legs:
Standard until RSE. RSE until AF (this RSE kicks a**). AF until relic.

Feet:
Standard until RSE. RSE until AF. AF until relic.

Belt:
Bloodstone until friar's rope. Use this until Hume stone. Choose from there. Accessories are leniant.

Back:
Defense capes work until white cape. Once able, get a redcape, plus 1 is cool too. Go from there. Ultimately, I would get a rainbow cape.

Rings:
+MND/INT depending on what type of RDM you are. Astral rings are not needed, but are cool. Electrums at 40 are very nice and can last you until the 72 +MND rings.

Neck:
Get the justice badge (SOB quest) ASAP. Holy Phial later on is nice. From there it is pretty free of choice.

Earrings:
+MP earrings work all the way. You might want to invest in +stat earrings later on, and an enhancing earring. Pretty leniant here.

Ranged:
Any throwing weapon that can give + to a stat is nice to have, but not needed.


4) Gameplay:
At first solo until 10. Open up fights with de-buffings and smack away. Once level 10, party with other people. De-buff, heal, nuke, and smack will get you until 20. Once at 20 head to qufim to do the same thing, except less smacking. Level 25-32 head to Kazahm for more Nuking, Curing, and De-buffing! 32-35 Rinse, Lather, Repeat, but dispell enemy buffs as well. 35-39 in CrawlersNest is the sammmeeee thing, except that you will only really nuke for MBing.

Yay 40! Do the same thing, only convert when you are low on MP! Make sure that you do it out of fights, if possible. Convert + hate = death.

OMFG! 41! Redmage means a new thing. You will nuke much less, debuff much more and REFRESHING all mages and MP users. RDMs are a mage's best friend. Keep leveling where you would like, but I suggest CN, Altepa areas, and Garliage. From there on, leveling is pretty broad.

50's are commonly found killing in CN, Garliage, Boyhada Tree, and Kuftal.

From there, more opportunity awaits.

5) Spells
Keep updated on spells, please!

6) Artifact Armor!
HOLY CRAP! AF TIME!

AF1: Redmage's ordeal. Easy quest, get a 65+ friend and do it ASAP to get it over with. This sword is nothing more but plastic with a buff. Use at your own risk.

AF2: Boots. EASY! By now you should have a chest key from EXPing here. Just do the quest, find the chest, Chainspell+warp out before you die, bury the boots with the chest item, and come back in a day to pick them up. This is AF-erking, may I take your order? Please read other guides for a more detailed quest, although these are pretty easy.

AF3: Gloves: Ouch. Get some help getting the Coffer needed ( I think coffer -_-) and then get some higher level help to kill Darkspark. This can take a while.

AF4: Tights. Get the coffer. Straightfoward. Party, or help, either way works.

AF5: Harness. See AF4.

AF6: PiMpIn' HaT! Ok this is a b***h. I hear that it can be done with a party of 65+s. Good luck, future Pimp, as this hat is TEH BEACON OF TEH RDMness!

Final) RDM roles:
A RDM is a total support, and works well with mostly melee in a PT with a mage or two. De-buffing masters, and escaping expertees. Helping people is a fine trait with a RDM, as we can solo quite well. We are pimps and should play our role correctly.

Hope this helps.

Well.. Yes. I find the most effective RDMs are humes, and I play from a Hume's perspective. This is from experience, not theory.

sad I guess it was a waste of time?

"MP isn't crucial here, as you have refresh by now and convert."
I'm a RDM myself and I have to toatly disagree with this statement. of the 4 mage jobs RDM have the lowest MP. Dont go wasting it. Use it as you need it.

"Standard until you can use RSE. RSE works until Brigadine, and then brigadine until AF."
RSE could work but it depends on your race. I'd have to say get armor that will raise MND and INT. MND to help your healing spells a little. INT to help your weak nukes and help make your enfeeb spells stick. MP is also important since RDM has some MP but not alot. some RSE will raise these stats but some will not. I reccoment armor that raise these stats.

"Standard until RSE. Keep RSE until AF. AF works until relic."
Inside exp parties you might be able to find better glove armor than this. DEX+sumthing and Parry skill+10. Not gonna help much for parties. As for soloing yes the AF glove will work well. but for exp parties I'd recomend something that raises MND or INT like maybe your RSE if the stat are according. I havent seen stats on relic gloves yet so I cant tell how good that would work with soloing or exp parties.

"+MND/INT depending on what type of RDM you are. Astral rings are not needed, but are cool. Electrums at 40 are very nice and can last you until the 72 +MND rings."
Yes MND and INT are important. If your a tarutaru i'd agree with the INT/MNd rings due to the taru huge MP reserve. As a mithra I find my MP a little lacking sometimes. So I'd reccomend the Elecrtums or Astrals for those non taru RDMs out there. RDMs can eat though alot of MP. for the MND and INT there are other pieces of armor that can raise these stats.

This is my opinion here

A good redmage is one that does not run out of mp, has his enfeebs stick, and can keep all other mp users refreshed constantly.

If you can get the job done without running out of mp, who cares about your total mp pool?