I feel that the way classes are defined by their weapon and jobs are defined by their primary class severely limits what SE can do with this game.

For example; the Dark Knight. A classic Final Fantasy class that we all expect to see in the near future. But what class will it build from? I initially thought Marauder, given the big 2-handed weapon and aggressive combat style, but Marauder is a tank with a lot of enmity-generating attacks that will either force the DK to be a tank as well (something DKs have never been to my knowledge) or will go unused and make the DK underpowered.

Perhaps, then, DK will come from the Lancer class? That could work; 2-handed weapon DD with medium armor, but in FFXI the iconic DK weapon is the scythe which is a slashing rather than stabbing weapon. Still, giving DK a spear/halberd is a forgivable diversion from the norm, so perhaps this could work.

Now how about the Red Mage? Versatile medium-heavy armored mages who fight on the front line with sword and shield. So perhaps Gladiator as it's core class, with Arcanist sub? Again we're faced with the problem of a tanking main class on a job that has to my knowledge never been a tank. It could become one, I suppose, along a similar vein to the PLD who also uses magic, but then those two jobs would be dangerously similar.

These are two examples that popped in my head today, and while they can make it work it just seems like such a stretch. I mean look at the Scholar; where the hell did they get the idea to give them fairies? I like that changing classes is as easy as changing your weapon, but I'm very concerned with the limitations of the system.

So what are your thoughts on the matter? Any ideas for how other iconic jobs might be built out of the existing classes? Discuss, please.