Gunblade...that is all

[Zohar_Lahar]

Given how gunblades are used in game by the Garleans, I would expect it to be a DoW class that uses combo melee attacks as its baseline functionality with the non-combo attacks being ranged (think Dragoon but Heavy Thrust and Phlebotomize have a 20y range) in order to force melee to be the primary combat methodology. I'd expect to see some degree of magic-martial fusion as well; probably something like the blue fire and/or cross-slash that Gaius uses. They'd probably have slightly worse damage than the other mDPS, since they wouldn't be as screwed by short stints of being out of melee as the pure mDPS, but better than the ranged deeps.

Though this be an old topic, its ideas seem relevant for future content (especially if 4.0+ takes us to Ala Mhigo). And I personally think gunblade would be the ideal weapon for a hybrid melee/ranged DPS class, such as Soldier or even Red Mage. The latter could take on the magical aspects you mentioned, albeit with more classical flair rather than Gaius's magitek.

[Savagelf]

the imperial wield rapiers not gun blades it would more gun rapiers

[Soldowner]

the imperial wield rapiers not gun blades it would more gun rapiers

Those are definitely not rapiers. They're long-barrel single action revolvers with ungodly long bayonet attachments.

[PogueX]

maybe an expansion into the Garlemand empire with a new class that uses the gunblade. They would have to utilize the trigger mechanic of the weapon and have certain abilities proc would be cool too

[Grimoire-M]

The most realistic version of a gunblade would be a semi-automatic pistol with a curved blade from under the barrel to just under the grip. The latter would have to be extended about an inch to accommodate a guard for the blade without interfering with the magazine. Rule of cool would deviate from this, obviously, but that would be the basic idea. This puts it in a dex-based melee/ranged dps, oddly with hybrid piercing/slashing damage. Or SE could do something funky with crystals and make the 'gun' part a focus for spell slinging, and rely on enchanting the blade to give it more punch, which fits with an int-based melee/caster dps.

[Savagelf]

there are gun rapier not gun blades

a gun sword which what squall, and lightning weild has thick blade the blade in one sides

most genaral don't even use the gun rapier ammo yet fight with same style quick strike but they are deadly. they use arm cannon on other arm. the soldier weild it with both hands because they lack strength weild like genaral

the genaral style very rapier and french like