Hence "basic".

Shield = defense
Two handed = heavy hits
Dual wield = fast hits.

Even ff sum up that way, dragoon having a damage buff, nin and monk a speed buff (damage for monks too, I agree).

But tanks now feel a bit less that scheme since 4.0 with wars having a weaker damage mod on berzerk, more oGCD than they used to have, changing it's pace to a less slugish hard hitter.