crafting and gathering into combat jobs.

Q: Once 2.0 goes live, will gatherers and crafters be able to become primary classes that can actually fight and not just sub-classes?
A: The FINAL FANTASY that I envision is one in which the player is an adventurer who saves the world. Crafting and gathering are certainly important elements of the game too, but looking at the larger picture, battle is going to be necessary. There is no need to rush, so I would like for players to try out various classes, including battle classes and then decide on which class best fits them. Of course, this can be a crafting class if they so choose.

From the second live Q and A the other night.

I would like to start a discussion on this.

One way I perceive this is that they will always the crafting and gathering classes(C&G for short if you don't mind) is that these jobs would gain something along the lines of magical powers, such as Armour will create a suit of armor to fight in combat for him, or a blacksmith doing something similar with some weapons or tools. For Gathering say a botanist is able to call up roots and other pants to ensnare and kill its victim.

With that said I would love to hear what you all think on the subject. ^^

I think crafters and gatherers have no place in combat. They're going to become secondary to Disciples of War and Magic in terms of the main scenario storyline, at least that's how I read it. In Final Fantasy, the problems presented are overcome through fighting. Gathering materials and creating items facilitates that, but in the end it comes down to a confrontation.

I dunno, the way I read it is that Disciples of War/Magic will be necessary if you want to progress in the storyline. Just as you need a Disciple of War/Magic to get into the Grand Companies and get your Chocobo.

Allowing Disciples of Hand and Land to do everything and participate equally in the main storyline is what got us the boring, parley-fest that is the current storyline.

Edit: To clarify further:

Crafters craft. Gatherers gather. Combat classes fight. The tools they are given are created for a specific purpose, they are generally not used outside of this.