which eso piece you all getting first?

[Dynalon]

For PLD,

The weapon is 2 weapon damage, 6 str, 8 vit, 6 det
2 weapon damage = ~18 str.

Going from i180 chest to i200 chest gives you 15 strength, 19 vit, 64 def / mdef.

I don't know the mitigation the def will give you but 11 vit and the ~160 hp that gives you isn't going to save you from anything.

With how bad PLD's enmity generation currenty is, you need all the help you can get. So the weapon will not only add what it inherently does to your DPS, it will also allow you to Royal Authority more.

I don't know how the rest of his gear looks like, but picking chest first will allow you to swap one fending accessory for slaying sooner while still maintaining HP level you are comfortable with. I will go for chest first, people will get their esoterics weapon after 3 weeks, while I get it after 4 weeks, so thats one tough week fighting for aggro, I think I can live with that

[Kydi]

I'll be getting the paladin weapon. 60 DRK at present, but levelling and focusing on PLD for endgame.

[Brian_]

I don't know how the rest of his gear looks like, but picking chest first will allow you to swap one fending accessory for slaying sooner while still maintaining HP level you are comfortable with. I will go for chest first, people will get their esoterics weapon after 3 weeks, while I get it after 4 weeks, so thats one tough week fighting for aggro, I think I can live with that

Esoteric weapon (74 wd, 72 str, 75 vit) + i180 Chest (78 str, 78 vit) + i190 accessory (40 vit) or i190 accessory (40 str)
vs.
Ravana weapon (72 wd, 66 str, 67 vit) + Esoteric Chest (93 str, 97 vit) + i190 accessory (40 vit) or i190 accessory (40 str)

You are looking at 168 str, 193 vit or 208 str, 153 vit vs. 199 str, 163 vit or 159 str, 203 vit

Basically, it's a wash but you get more top-end str and flexibility with the weapon purchase.

Also, in 2 more weeks, with a chest purchase, you will be locked into buying the weapon. With a weapon purchase, you can upgrade 2 pieces of your other gear while picking up the i190 chest (even though the secondaries are garbage). So, the overall gear growth is far superior.

If you aren't looking to help your progression in the short term, then it doesn't matter. Otherwise, it's simply the wrong choice.

[Freyyy]

IMA GET THAT BIG ASS GREATSWORD

[Decrith]

DRK Body! Gotta look good in raid yo! Weapon can come later :P

[Hysterior]

weapon of course

[Yosho]

Weapon first. No contest.

This, no matter what job you're on imo. Plus the axe looks cool AF.

[ZDamned]

Weapon Damage formulas were previously based on stat weights back in 2.XX
Weapon damage is no longer 1-7 like it used to be...
On my Paladin, I would out DPS a monk by 300 just by having my law weapon over the monks green 160 weapon. Only took him the law weapon to come even with me again.
I believe weapon damage is used as the base multiplier that the strength is weighted into for our damage output, so Weapon Damage is FAR more heavy this time around in the level 60 Era.

Based on that I was noticing, 2 weapon damage is more closely equal to 40 strength, possibly even 50. (20-25 each)

If you are not getting your weapon, no matter what, you are making the wrong choice. (Especially paladins!)

[Sapphidia]

Based on that I was noticing, 2 weapon damage is more closely equal to 40 strength, possibly even 50. (20-25 each)

See, this is the key. If this IS the case (and it may be) then yes, the Weapon is 100% the only choice regardless of class. A value I saw quoted before had 1 weapon damage equal to a bit over 8 strength, and if THAT'S the case then Weapon vs Chest (assuming 190 weapon 180 chest) is more of a 8-10 str vs 11 Vit difference. Basically less difference than choosing to wear a slaying or fending item in one slot.

It's all about the exact weighting of Weapon Damage and sadly it's a bit shrouded right now. Certainly weapon first anyway is at worst going to be an equivalent choice, or else strictly better. The main advocacy for Chest first depends on how an individual has ended up with Alex drops and how viable the alex chest is in the first week or so. I imagine most tanks have full i190 in every slot bar one or two. With two springs next week I'll be full i190 bar chest, which will take 2 weeks more to get, so regardless of whether i went Sword or Chest first I'd have to get the other one in the week after as I'm stuck with a 180 chest for the duration.

I'll likely get sword first anyway in the event that the weapon damage weightings are more heavily weighted now, but I still hold that in the event that Weapon Damage is an equivalent dps increase to about 8 str then the Weapon or Chest first argument (for paladin alone) is more personal choice than clear cut as the two upgrades are near identical.

[ZDamned]

I'll likely get sword first anyway in the event that the weapon damage weightings are more heavily weighted now, but I still hold that in the event that Weapon Damage is an equivalent dps increase to about 8 str then the Weapon or Chest first argument (for paladin alone) is more personal choice than clear cut as the two upgrades are near identical.

It's sad, but not getting the 190 chest by tomorrow was a horrible uninformed decision as a tank. (Not anyone's fault, but I made sure to plan it all out. I'll be full 190 - the gloves tomorrow, and then I can grab those the following week)
The ting is, for Paladin, the shield is not such a big deal from Esoterics, however the sword being cheaper is an amazing boost to what you can get the following week, while still benefitting from the +2 weapon damage. It's absolutely imperative for paladins who are in Savage to get that weapon. =P
If your doing casual content though, then it's all about style, since were not going to make or break any Esoteric farming runs by this point, with gear being what it is.

Just trust in weapon damage, it's always been the absolute panultimate choice in this game. Not to mention it IS giving you as a paladin (Talking shield here) potentially more armor and Mdef.