The whole concept of a "tank" class is a pure fantasy. Its not suddenly "Realistic" because there's heavy armor.. hell someone with light armor is probably better able to dodge dragon fire while keeping its attention.
I could imagine a number of scenarios in real life where you'd want someone to be the meat shield.. But yes there is a very free rainbow gray area when you go into "not real". lol
I just see Samurai not as a tank but as a damage dealer, just seems to be the most popular image. SE can do whatever they like and reap whatever rewards and repercussions it brings. I "prefer" a DD Sam, although I can imagine some ways to make a unique play style that tanks and doesn't throw wind to what Samurai generally "are".
Tank- Samurai
Healer - Alchemist
Tank - Leaning more towards Samurai now. I could see them making it a bit more mobile with a dash similar to the Monk's for their initiate, maybe be a bit like Yasuo from LoL.
Healer - Honestly, Orator from FF tactics. MSK could be a healer class, using commands or shout's to heal/buff allies. At Orator they could add in the trait to "charm" enemy mobs and such. If SE actually allowed it to work on Add's it could add an interesting bit of strategy to boss fight's. The Orator's words inspire allies to fight harder, and drive fear into the hearts of his foe's. That and they could throw out medkits lol.
A can see a chemist making it in game. But I doubtit'll use items to heal though since they seem to be against that. I think in 1.0 archers/ bards had to buy arrows individually.
under the current system samurai cant be a tank. unless you actually think they would have samurai rocking platemail amd heavy wolfram. samurai will either be a dps or they will have to add a new type of combat discipline
1. Historically some Daimyos imported western style armor because it was much more effective.
2. Compare CT1 Tanking armor with Eastern armors it compares quite well.
3. Nothing stops them from adding more types of armor to the game.
4. Glamor, just tonight I had a tank running around in a mankini and sandals.
Great Shield & Spear for tank
http://gamersfocus.net/wp-content/up...t-shield-2.jpg
Lancer 15 + Gladiator 15 needed for this job
Tank: Red Mage
Healer: Red Mage
DPS: Red Mage
I have this believe that SE will try to get each starting city all 3 roles (tank, healer, dps) and currently only Limsa has fulfilled that idea with WAR, SMN, SCH, and possibly NIN if not in Mor Dohna. So that means Ul'dah will get a healer and Gridania will get a tank. Therefore I really believe, that Chemist might be the next healer from Ul'dah and somehow have some connections to the alchemist guild there (story-wise). However, the tank from Gridania isn't really clear even for guessing, so I will go with this random guess and say it will be Templar. What makes me say that was the temple of the twelve in East Shroud.