I'm a Paladin...Now what?

Hello everyone, I finally reached my goal of becoming a Paladin yesterday, and I guess it is not what I thought it would be: getting better gear, exclusive quests, and just a better increase in stats altogether. Now I'm a paladin with the same gear I had before my advancement and I just feel underwhelmed by the lack of change in my gameplay. So what do I do now that's actually interesting?

Still have to stand there and let the bad things hit you ;D

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Originally Posted by Mehweweh

Hello everyone, I finally reached my goal of becoming a Paladin yesterday, and I guess it is not what I thought it would be: getting better gear, exclusive quests, and just a better increase in stats altogether. Now I'm a paladin with the same gear I had before my advancement and I just feel underwhelmed by the lack of change in my gameplay. So what do I do now that's actually interesting?

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PLD does not have the most dynamic game play. It's all about timing CD use and whatnot. You might like one of the other tanks better; they do have pretty dynamic play, where you're constantly managing stacks or MP or the like.

The soulstone gives you better stats, so you are better just by equipping it.
There are also no more Class quests - Congratz! Now they're called Job quests.

I do sort of wish there was some nice job-specific gear or something at level 30. Unlocking a job is a significant milestone, but all you have to show for it is a stone that only shows on your character window. No change in what you're wearing and virtually no change in what you're doing does seem a bit anti-climactic.

Maybe I should switch to a DPS job? I like to be creative when fighting enemies.

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Originally Posted by Mehweweh

Maybe I should switch to a DPS job? I like to be creative when fighting enemies.

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Nothing says creative like Ninja.

That said, do realize you do get some solid gear upgrades for your Job - all Jobs, in fact - when you do the level 45 and 50 Job quest for them. And every 5 levels from this point on, you'll learn a new ability specific and unique to PLD.

You've only just now been initiated into the order of Paladins. Now it's time to train yourself, do quests for them, and learn their ways through the soulstone. Once you do, you'll find that the abilities are rather nice.

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Originally Posted by Vandril

Nothing says creative like Ninja.

That said, do realize you do get some solid gear upgrades for your Job - all Jobs, in fact - when you do the level 45 and 50 Job quest for them. And every 5 levels from this point on, you'll learn a new ability specific and unique to PLD.

You've only just now been initiated into the order of Paladins. Now it's time to train yourself, do quests for them, and learn their ways through the soulstone. Once you do, you'll find that the abilities are rather nice.

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I didn't think of it that way. I was just hoping for something a little bit more new and exciting.

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Originally Posted by Mehweweh

I didn't think of it that way. I was just hoping for something a little bit more new and exciting.

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I can understand that. When I unlocked my Paladin at level 30 (it was my first Job, too), my reaction was something like this:

"I'm a Paladin now! Cool! ...But that's it? No fanfare? Nothing special happens to commemorate the moment?"

It does feel like unlocking your Job is anticlimactic...

...until you get some of your Job abilities. Most Job abilities are really cool, even if how they're cool doesn't always become apparent straight away. And I easily got sucked into the story for my PLD's Job quests, much like I did the last 2 or so GLD Class quests. I ended up looking forward to each new PLD quest every 5 levels both for the story and the skills.

In summary, unlocking PLD gives all 3 of the things you mentioned you were expecting upon unlocking it - better gear, exclusive quests, and increase in stats - just not all at once. The Soul Stone grants you bonus stats when it makes you change from GLD to PLD upon equipping it. Much like your GLD Class quests, the exclusive PLD Job quests unlock at a rate of one per 5 levels gained (until 50, at which you get a second level 50 Job quest and another Job quest every 2 levels until 60). And the level 45 and 50 PLD quests grant you PLD-exclusive gear (which will last you until 50 - unfortunately, the piece you obtain at level 50 is now useless given the many patches of newer and better gear over the years).

You just gotta keep at it to get to these rewards. :D

Honestly, if you like tanking, also give WAR a try (or DRK when u get it unlocked at 50)
more interesting than PLD, though DRK would be closer to complex than WAR, but WAR tends to be a bit more fun.
(both DRK and WAR use abilities from PLD like provoke, so its not really a waste for ya)

My current plan is to try to hit 50 on a job before my subscription time is up (11 days), and try to switch to DRK. I just love the idea of being an awesome knight who fights for justice and to protect others, as cheesy as it sounds.

What makes you think Paladins aren't awesome knights who fight for justice and to protect others?

All Dark Knight has is "Ooooh! Spoooooooky!" Paladins have Justice and the Might of Rightousness! We keep our oaths, and stand between the darkness and the smallfolk. The light of holiness burns our enemies, and we become invulnerable to damage at will (subject to cooldown). The heaviest armor, the stoutest shields, the mightiest blades are ours. If you want to practice might for right be a Paladin!

(All that said, tanking takes a particular mindset. You have to not mind that you take a boatload of damage, and dish out very little. As a Paladin, you're not there to rack up the big numbers on DPS; you're there to soak damage, and keep the mobs from hitting the li'l squishies running around the dungeon in their underwear. If you can't take pride in taking the most damage, and keeping the damage off the squishies, yeah; it might be time to go be a squishie. As for which tank to be... personal choice. I love Paladin, and will play it until they take the servers down).

Sorry, I worded my post wrong. I was describing Paladins, not Dark Knight. Dark Knight is the type who does more of the dirty work while still trying to do what's right. And I've always been a player who has a hard time defending himself from enemies, so being a tank just seems right.

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Originally Posted by Mehweweh

Maybe I should switch to a DPS job? I like to be creative when fighting enemies.

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Try going Warrior and see how you like it. I played PLD for over as year and have to say it's probably the most boring job out there some how. No big AOE, next to no damage output, survival rate is easy outside of endgame content. Once I switched to Warrior full time as my FC static had a PLD I couldn't believe the difference and actually having to think about cool down rotation as you have practically nothing, its all about soaking damage and dealing it out to get HP back and is great fun to grab loads of monsters and go to town on them. Dark Knight plays in a similar role but Palladin... I guess it's great for learning dungeons but it's not the most fun to play.

Depends on your playing style as each to ther own, if you like a more complex class then WAR or DRK but if you prefer to a simple class like PLD then I stick to it. You just got to think what do I enjoy doing more? I myself like to be that Tank that can take a hit and still survive and PLD dose that well if not the best of the Tank class's and that is why it has low damage out put but it dose relie on healers beining able to heal it something that a WAR and DRK can do.

But after HW came, PLD is a lot more survivable thanks to the fact it can cast protect which will have the full effect as a any Healers protect and same with it's Stone Skin, only difference is 1 sec cast time. The at LV52 PLD get's even more OP lol with a skill that will always block the next physical attack with it's shield.

In short there is a lot more to PLD then meets the eye. If you play it right you can be a very solid built tank.

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Originally Posted by Mehweweh

My current plan is to try to hit 50 on a job before my subscription time is up (11 days), and try to switch to DRK.

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Not to burst your bubble, but you won't be unlocking DRK the moment you hit 50. To access Ishgard, and thus unlock DRK, you'll need to hit 50 and then complete every main story quest from patches 2.0-2.55. The main story quests at 50 alone will probably take you longer than the 11 days you have left on your subscription, let alone the actual leveling you need to accomplish before reaching that point. Expect to be well into your next month's subscription before you can unlock DRK.

Don't let that ruin your mood, though. And don't go into it all with the mindset that it's all one big grind before you can enjoy your reward (Ishgard, DRK, etc.). Instead, just enjoy your time playing through the MSQ up to and at level 50. The new content isn't going anywhere, so there's no rush. Just take your time and have fun.

In any case, I just now noticed that you're on my World, Diabolos. My character name is Ter'vin Valash, as can be seen to the left of my post. I'm typically online daily, in the afternoon/evening hours in EST/EDT. Don't hesitate to hit me up if you need anything (I can craft and whatnot, or general advice).

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Originally Posted by Martin_Arcainess

Depends on your playing style as each to ther own, if you like a more complex class then WAR or DRK but if you prefer to a simple class like PLD then I stick to it. You just got to think what do I enjoy doing more? I myself like to be that Tank that can take a hit and still survive and PLD dose that well if not the best of the Tank class's and that is why it has low damage out put but it dose relie on healers beining able to heal it something that a WAR and DRK can do.

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So does Paladin just not get enough credit then, or is it actually just simple and boring?

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Originally Posted by Vandril

Not to burst your bubble, but you won't be unlocking DRK the moment you hit 50. To access Ishgard, and thus unlock DRK, you'll need to hit 50 and then complete every main story quest from patches 2.0-2.55. The main story quests at 50 alone will probably take you longer than the 11 days you have left on your subscription, let alone the actual leveling you need to accomplish before reaching that point. Expect to be well into your next month's subscription before you can unlock DRK.

My character name is Ter'vin Valash, as can be seen to the left of my post. I'm typically online daily, in the afternoon/evening hours in EST/EDT. Don't hesitate to hit me up if you need anything (I can craft and whatnot, or general advice).

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Thanks Ter'vin. I guess I don't have much longer to play this game since I start college soon, and I'm pretty sure I won't have enough time to balance playing the game, having a social life, and doing my work.

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Originally Posted by Mehweweh

So does Paladin just not get enough credit then, or is it actually just simple and boring?

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I don't think it get enough credit, but as I said depends on your playing style, if you like complex class then sure go WAR/DRK but in no way is PLD below in terms of tanking compaired to WAR/DRK. Back in 2.X before WAR had a major buff everyone used PLD because it was so much better as a MT. Even today, a MT PLD and a OT WAR/DRK is a good way to go agasint primals like Ravana but boss fights like Alexander where most of it's Attacks are magic based I'd say DRK MT.

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Originally Posted by Mehweweh

Thanks Ter'vin. I guess I don't have much longer to play this game since I start college soon, and I'm pretty sure I won't have enough time to balance playing the game, having a social life, and doing my work.

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By your wording, I take it you've not gone to college for a semester, yet, correct? I'm a full-time student, myself. It's quite possible to balance all of those three things. College (in the USA, anyway) really isn't as hard and time consuming as a lot of people like to make it out to be until post-graduate education. I actually spent more time per week on classes years ago during high school than I do now in college. Granted, I imagine that it depends on what school you go to as well. The "better" (read: more expensive) schools will likely have a much more difficult curriculum.

Good on you for being willing to put aside the little things you enjoy for the things that will benefit you, though. Going into something new that way is a good idea. Once you get into college and grow comfortable with it, you can always decide to pick up those things you left behind if you find that time allows.

To be honest just like some of the dps classes, it only really gets good at level 50.
But now that the cap was raised you have even more to learn. Congrats btw on your PLD :)
Also you may want to try Dark Knight later on, (you need a level 50, Heavansward and the 2.0 main story complete)
If you are busy with work and real life stuff it will take a bit longer but it is not all that bad to get the main story complete.

Cool. Thank you all for the help and advice!