How does Garlean Armor Work?

[Enkidoh]

Also there is a distinct difference physically between Garlean gunblades and the hrothgar (GNB) version. Garlean gunblades are basically actual guns with an elongated bayonet extending past the gun's barrel, and more importantly, shoot actual bullets, thus they're more often used as long-ranged weapons, but can be effectively handled as an actual sword as well. Several MCH rifles are also designed somewhat like this.

The hrothgar version on the other hand, is basically the FFVIII version given FFXIV lore padding: it's just a sword with a fancy rumble pack attached, as in, the chamber is loaded with aether that ignites when the trigger is pulled and sends a tremor through the blade when the blade strikes a target, thus increasing the damage the strike causes (they're more accurately called tremorblades than gunblades), they're meant for close range fighting, although they can 'shoot' a blast of aether from afar as well rather like a gunshot (Lightning Shot).

Funnily the Garleans regard the hrothgar version as an 'antique' and obsolete design, where as the hrothgar in turn treat the Garlean version as a cheap knockoff.