just hit 50 on an alt as paladin

[Ashkendor]

Do the first steps of the relic quest. An i90 weapon can carry you up to HW.

There's no need to. The MSQ gives you an i90 weapon and your job quests give you a set of i90 armor.

[Ragology]

There's no need to. The MSQ gives you an i90 weapon and your job quests give you a set of i90 armor.

I think there's a point in the main story where you can't advance without completing Hard mode Ifrit, Garuda and Titan. When someone in my FC was unable to get the next story mission from the npc, I helped them unlock those three trials and then they were able to continue again. I don't remember the story quests name though.

The relic takes you through those trials I believe, so might as well pick it up.

[Dualblade]

I think there's a point in the main story where you can't advance without completing Hard mode Ifrit, Garuda and Titan. When someone in my FC was unable to get the next story mission from the npc, I helped them unlock those three trials and then they were able to continue again. I don't remember the story quests name though.

The relic takes you through those trials I believe, so might as well pick it up.

While I'm not saying don't, it isn't till the end of the relic quest.

[Reynhart]

The MSQ gives you an i90 weapon and your job quests give you a set of i90 armor.

I've done the MSQ before 3.0, so the rewards were different. When does it give you a weapon ?

While I'm not saying don't, it isn't till the end of the relic quest.

You mean "the end of the first step", which is seriously not much.
Since you'd want to do Amdapor Keep, you can as well try Chimaira and Hydra to put them in your duty roulette, and, voila ! You have your relic

[Ashkendor]

I've done the MSQ before 3.0, so the rewards were different. When does it give you a weapon ?

http://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Lord_of_the_Whorl
http://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Through_the_Maelstrom
http://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Wh...the_Fraternity

[Reynhart]

http://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Lord_of_the_Whorl
http://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Through_the_Maelstrom
http://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Wh...the_Fraternity

Ok, so, it's not a big deal if you're slightly underweaponized as a tank until then since the only mandatory content you have to do requires 8 people.
Fair enough.