Multiple Characters for Crafting and Combat

I was wondering if it is at all beneficial to have multiple characters. Seems like it would be easier to level by taking advantage of more guildleves but I have a couple concerns...

First, is there an easy way to transfer goods between characters on the same account? I'm new but have yet to notice a type of mail or bank system. If neither of those exist would there possibly be a "safe" or out of the way spot to park a retainer from one character to "sell" to another for next to nothing? Also, are there many "no-trade" crafted items that would make this impossible anyway?

Next, are there any reasons a Disciple of War class would "need" a high level craft? Say, for a quest, AF, Relic, etc? Or do most all quests that involve any sort of crafted items give exp to Disciple of Hand classes?

Thanks for your time ^_^

There currently is no way to safely transfer items

Having DoH leveled can help as a "convenience" factor, by allowing you to repair and meld your own gear.

I can see one great benefit to playing on the same character. Unless the patch today significantly changed things, having 50 DoH and/or 50 DoL can make it easier to participate in high-score Hamlet runs, and thus obtain the needed Beastman seals for AF weapons.

Oh I had forgotten about repairs, and didn't know about Hamlets as I'm quite new. That settles it for me. Thanks very much both of you ^_^

There is literally no benefit at all to leveling crafting and gathering on a separate character, aside from more inventory space. You may feel like guildleves are limited for now, but once you miss a day and especially when your XP options start opening up to non-leves you will suddenly find yourself at the 99 cap and unable to use them all up unless you really tried. Unlike FF11 you aren't limited to leveling only one thing either, you can level as many craft and gathering classes as you want.

As was mentioned, being able to repair or meld your own gear is pretty damn useful and especially with Hamlet defense being the beginning of mixed-discipline content that has rewards for all of them, you really do want to do stuff on one character.

I really hate not being able to freely transfer items between characters but

a) while one character is active, the other is getting rested xp
b) 500 more inventory slots
c) 100 more anima
d) 20 more slots for the wards

The biggest downside, getting company seals on my crafting character..

EDIT: In reply to the post above, you can repair anything cross character, it just takes a lot of logging in/logging out etc. Fighter A puts damaged lance in retainer A ~ Crafter B repairs through retainer A for a profit of 1 gil. If you have all your characters and retainers beside each other it's not a huge deal.

Emergency repairs for 5k gil are not a big deal unless u r a scrub.

On a side note, I'm honestly debating taking a DoW class on my crafter/gatherer to 50 so I can get seals..(the easy way)

Inventory is really a non-issue unless you hoard everything. If you hold onto the most important mats you should not run into any issues. I have 5 crafters with mats for all of them, 2 gatherers, and 4 battle classes at cap all with multiple gear sets and I still have 200+ empty slots overall.

Anima is no longer a problem either now that Hamlet Defense exists, even if you just do turn-ins. With the double home points you can go back and forth between town and a camp, anyway for crafting or gathering leves (although you will have to kill yourself for one part of the trip =P)