2 things:

First, in FFXI rdm was used a a support-healing role, but it was indeed a hybrid role that could make almost everything, and i never used it as support-healer back then, yes i had to solo most of the time.
Let me make this clear, no one wanted rdm to be a support class in ffxi, most hated exp pty play as rdm, and no one want it to be a support class here.


Second:
Yoshida: Yes, we want to make sure that there is space in the party for at least two people of each role. 4-6 players is a number which has been used frequently in recent MMOs, but I stuck with the figure of eight people since back in the design stage for the aforementioned reasons. You can have two each of healer and tank and four DPS in the present situation. Once we add the hybrid role (which serves multiple roles), you'll be able to have two players from each role, for a total of 8 people.
http://www.bluegartr.com/threads/119...s-with-Yoshida

Also please swords, not guns, there's already a magic gunner class in ff.