Hoplite puts me in mind of the General job in Fire Emblem, aethetically at least.

My only concern to add would be the fact that since SE has abandoned giving any job but PLD an off-hand after the fiasco that happened with Leviathan Mirrors, I doubt we'd see it used that way.

What about doing like Goofy does in Kingdome Hearts where the sheild is the weapon itself? Gigantic wall of a sheild that used to smack, bash, and block?

As for the Chemist inspired healer, I had made a similar idea! A pre-Magitek combatant, old-school Garlean could teach us their old techniques, although I prefaced it in regards of how they could take care of themselves without the use of Conjury. Thus, combat Alchemist. :P