Paladin. I dont feel I'm actually playing a Paladin.

[Duskane]

Kind of defeats the cross role system with 4.0.

PLD pretty much does this anyway since it has its own version of 2 role skills

[Xenosan]

and FFT Holy Knights were a powerhouse special class with instant skills with long range and no MP cost that could never be dodged or evaded, that inflicted debuffs too.

I wish Holy Spirit had that animation.

They gave Rofocale the Knight's Rend Weapon sound effect on his tank buster, too .. so close ; ;

[Zumi]

In the Japanese version of FFXIV Paladin is actually called Knight. But its the typical sword and shield user who uses white colored armor. Paladin is more of a western word for white knight.

[Jonnycbad]

Rofocle and Argus both use Divine Knight skills, Rend Weapon and Rend Helmet. I sort of think Goring Blade resembles Rend Armor (Shellbust Stab) as it has the crescent ground spike, and Holy Spirit is definitely a nod to Beatrix's Shock. Similar cast animation and effect too.

[Reynhart]

Rofocle and Argus both use Divine Knight skills, Rend Weapon and Rend Helmet.

They're Knight skills first.

Holy Spirit is definitely a nod to Beatrix's Shock. Similar cast animation and effect too.

Except Shock is not exclusive to Beatrix. Steiner also has it.

[ValentineSnow]

I'm honestly not aware of any "Paladin design" in the FF series. It would be easier if we had such thing.

FF1: knight- access to swords/axes/hammers, shields, heavy armour and white magic
FF3: knight- access to daggers/swords, shields, heavy armour and white magic. Uses the defend command to increase defence and covers allies with low hp.
FF4: Cecil- the first "actual" PLD, access to swords/axes/bows/daggers/staves, shields and heavy armour and white magic. Can use cover to defend allies and will automatically cover allies on low hp.
FF5: knight- access to daggers/swords, shields and heavy armour. Uses cover to defend allies and guard to reduce damage taken to themselves.
FF11: Paladin- access to swords/clubs/staves/great swords/daggers/spears, shields, heavy armour and white magic. Uses cover and rampart to defend party members and sentinel and invincible to reduce their own damage taken.

So the common themes shared with FF14's PLD:
weapon- uses swords
shields- uses shields
armour- uses heavy armour
white magic- clemency and holy spirit
covers allies- cover, intervention and passage of arms
defends themselves- sentinel, hallowed ground.

And while yes most of these iterations are knight, in the Japanese version the job in FF14 is translated as knight, so in FF they are considered the same thing.

I'd say PLD is the most "PLD-like" it's ever been since ARR.

In 2.0 it had no native magic only having access to CNJ cross class giving it cure, protect and stoneskin (all of which were useless due to WHM having traited versions so the PLD never needed to even set them). It felt more like a gladiator than a paladin at this time as it's main focus was defensive cooldowns.

In 3.0 the traited versions of protect and stoneskin were gone so PLD's actually started setting those spells. Cure was out because the scaling was so poor it was weaker than an enemy auto attack but PLD also got clemency. It still didn't feel quite right because clemency used so much mp that the PLD could only use it once or twice before being out of mp, it also could be interrupted which made it difficult to use as a tank and they had no offensive white magic so they hardly ever cast due to it being a dps loss. It also had the weakest defence of all the tanks at this time due to it being focused on physical mitigation when most enemies were magical.

Now in 4.0 PLD gets a trait to prevent casting interruptions so they're free to cast even while tanking, clemency is cheaper making it an effective heal, PLD's can even take over healing entirely in low end content like dungeons. They also have holy spirit so they're constantly switching between physical damage and magical damage so casting white magic has become a major part of their identity. And now due to the changes to blocking PLD feels like the sturdiest tank again being able to block any damage passively and force blocks on tank busters while also having the strongest defensive cooldowns like sentinel and hallowed ground.

[gumas]

i agree with the "flash" skill need to get rework animation wise, its just look underwhelming, WAR is a doing this full frontal assault swing which look and sound powerful while DRK has this cool move plummeting it sword to the ground and claw springing out in a satisfying effect and sound. then PLD is just a small quick snap of light =/

i mean i know PLD is all about duty discipline and protecting the weak attitude but, that "flash" skill really need some upgrade graphic wise.

[Jandor]

Paladin feels the most thematically solid. It can block, it can cover, it can heal, it's sturdy and it has holy magic.

To me it's Warrior and Dark Knight that feel off.
Dark Knight more so that Warrior, although that's partially because Warrior had already taken some obvious Dark Knight territory before Dark Knight was added.

[Khalithar]

I think I understand what the OP is getting at and let me say I’d be all for adding more magic elements to the job. Prior to SB and what we knew of it, I said utilizing pld’s mp as a resource would probably be how they boosted its dps since it was underutilized. But right now we’re in a bit of a bind.

The only resource left for more holy knight things would be an attack or attacks using the oath gauge but that runs the risk of making it too similar to bloodspiller/quietus.

[Jandor]

I like that Oath gauge can only be spent on defensive abilities, just feels right.

If we wanted to add more magic upgrading Flash would be an easy way to do it. Flash replaced with calling down a lightning bolt on yourself that damages and blinds foes would be pretty bad-ass tbh.