New Player, seeking advice on job choice

[Full-Paragon]

When playing MMOs, my favorite role to play is usually that of a tank. Historically it's also a role in fairly high demand, so what I want to know is two things.

1. What job is best for tanking, Paladin or Warrior? (being easy to level with little support would be a plus)

2. Are tanks in a high demand? If so, which class is in the most demand?

Any advice would be very helpful, I just started on the Famfrit server, and am starting off as a Paladin, though it wouldn't be hard to switch to a warrior at this early point.

[Ed_N_Ants]

Tanks and healers are both in high demand... Paladin is great for holding agro with a lot of enemies where warrior is a bit harder... Don't misinterpret that both are fairly easy to get agro it's just one is better than the other from what I have noticed... As for the which one is in more demand, there is really no answer because no one cares either way as long as you hold agro.... Hope that helps

[Maero]

Oh my yes tanks and healers are always in demand.
The 2 classes of tanking is a toss up as PLD used to be easier to use and such but SE were supposed to tune Warrior.
I always looked at it like this, PLD can take more dmg while Warrior can but is more of a harder hitter.
DPS, well unless you are in a FC or linshell wait times are very long on duty finder usually

[Anova]

Yes. Either way, you will want to level both gladiator and marauder if you are serious about tanking at endgame. Try them out and see which suits you better.

As stated above, PLD and MRD are both in high demand. Most players will not care what specific class is tanking at this point (although PLD used to be more popular and viable for endgame, pre-2.1). Warriors have seen a tremendous buff in the recent content update. The result is that PLD is preferred for certain bosses that deal steady constant damage, whereas WAR is preferred for bosses that deal large spikes of damage. To be safe, consider leveling both. There is no huge difference, although some static groups and strategies specify either warrior or paladin explicitly (e.g. one Twintania fireball strat requires a warrior and scholar combination. a paladin will literally die if he attempts it.).

That said, PLD is considered the easier tank to use, while WAR requires some more practice to do well. Paladin btw relies more on damage mitigation and positioning than warrior, and some will find the rotation of cooldown skills boring compared to the warrior's more tactical use of wrath and stormseye. Obviously, each class suits to different playstyles, so try both out and see which you prefer. The community in general will not care so long as you can keep the monster's attention.

As for advice, it will take some time to get used to tanking. Enmity is closer to the old EQ system where it takes a while for tanks to build enough so dps don't steal it right away. The recent patches have made your aoe enmity abilities better, but your single enmity is still the same. Just be aware of this slight quirk to the system if you are used to WoW and similar aggro systems.

Also, I do suggest leveling both gladiator and marauder up. They provide useful cross-class abilities that are almost mandatory at top-tier end-game. At high-level endgame, you will have leveled up most of your cross-classes to level 20-35 for utility abilities that are almost mandatory (CNJ stoneskin and GLD provoke). So any levels you put in trying out those classes is not a waste.

[Fireseen]

WAR is stronger at damage and holding aggro with multiple enemies. Very fun to play. Requires some practice to be very good.
PLD is more durable easier to play on single targets.... that is all.

[Adrian74]

Hi there. Nooby here.

I have levelled my gladiator up to level 20 and marauder to level 29. I have to say that Marauder is my second favorite class at the moment just right after archer. And yes, tanks are in demand. With a tank you choose a duty and you are usually in it at the second, with my archer I need to wait epical times of thirty minutes to one hour.

I'll tell you the main differences I saw in GLA and MDR, at least first levels and what I see they may be in future... Marauder is better making aggro than the Gladiator, in low levels you have a skill that in my opinion is better than Gladiator's flash. This skill is overpower, is an AoE that generates aggro, and much more than flash, because flash doesn't deal damage. Normally in a dungeon with two overpower per mob you totally ensure the healer and DPS, you can even do a third one in middle of the fight, it's worth of it snce deals a good damage to all mobs.

The Marauder is more or less like a fuse of two roles, whenever I play it I enjoy it because I don't have to be just a Tank (If it isn't tiring enough...) but also a DPS. More or less a Marauder deals the same damage than a DPS class or, sometimes, even much more. Almost all the skills of the marauder are focused in increasing attack, absorbing HP with the attacks, etc...

Gladiator is more 'easy' in the sense that your life bar does not drop so dramatically like it does with marauder (Giving the healers more than one surprise if they are not focused enough). With the Gladiator you will resist better the damage but also deal much less damage than the Marauder. Flash is a good skill that, unlike Overpower, has a 360 º radius but lacks of enough power for holding aggro too much. (But I have to say, it's easier to aim the flash than Overpower... But if you know how to use overpower well, you can see how USELESS flash is.)

I have to say... With my gladiator I... I get totally bored, to be honest. Everything seems to be use shield lob in the mob I mark first, flash, and then riot blade for recovering MP. You don't have to really care about the damage you deal... While with the marauder I need for example to hold straigth shot (Cross skill) for having critical, fused with malm for dealing more damage, combine it with berserk sometimes, and many other things. (When you activate Raging Strikes + Internal Release + Straight Shot + Berserk + Malm... And you spam overpower in a lot of groups... You'll find it so nice that you won't feel like coming back to gladiator again. Bad thing is the TP... But Invigorate solves it all.)

In short.
Gladiator = Classical tank, you only have to focus exactly on that. You are good resisting the damage and the healer don't need to suffer very much healing you at all. Dungeons are usually slower with this tank.
Marauder = DPS wanna be tank. Aside of tanking you have to ensure dealing always all the brutal damage you can, finish fast at least one or two enemies for avoiding your life to drop so badly that healer's heart explodes. Dungeons are usually faster with this tank. (If there's no good coordination healer-tanker against a boss you'll have a trouble.)

This is only my appreciation, I have not played endgame and my experience is only made up to level 29 more or less. But I hope this could help ^^.

[Claire_Pendragon]

Most of what you asked has been said, but there will be some confusion.
Starting out, which one is easier to play, can varry.

For example, a MRD can hold hate easier with AoEs, than a GLA, solely with the extra threat on their AoE. But some people find it harder, because you need to aim the conal attack, rather than GLAs circular AoE.

But a GLA can hold better hate at Lv25, till Lv30, because they get a single target threat move, that MRD doesnt get till Lv30.

Then at Lv30, WAR is better at holding threat, both in single target, and AoE.

Then at Lv50, WAR can hold more threat, BUT takes 1 more GCD longer to generate the threat for AoE. (PLD has good snap aggro, but WAR generates more over all.)
Also a WAR has to sacrifice survival slightly, to get the higher threat, and once they slap in their survival, they actually generate less threat.

As for survival, its easier as GLA till the 30s, when its debatable if WAR or PLD are easier for survival, but usually PLD is easier, even at 50.

WARs cooldowns are shorter in duration, but can be used more often, so they require good timing. But can be more reliable when u need it.

PLDs cool downs last longer, but are usually only used once in a fight. Better for longer sustained dmg. (Rather than burst dmg)

WARs work in 3 combos, and some extra wrath based abilities.

PLDs usually just do 1 combo, and use 2 off the GCD attacks. BUT 1 of them is a silence, that may be needed in fights where u need 2 ppl to rotate silence in.



SO, to wrap up, MRD/WAR is (imo) usually easier to level up than GLA/PLD. But a Lv50 PLD is far easier than a Lv50 WAR to play.
I suggest you level both, and start new content as PLD, to get used to it, then go in as WAR, when you;re confident enough to do it.

[Full-Paragon]

Thanks for the advice, it's good (I think) to know that tanks are still in short supply. I'll probably stick with the paladin for now at least, since it appeals to my traditional sword and board aesthetics. Now I just have to figure out what crafting job is good for tanks, and if its even worth trying to level at this point.

[Meshico]

Warrior

[Clavaat]

Now I just have to figure out what crafting job is good for tanks, and if its even worth trying to level at this point.

Armorsmith and Blacksmith. A strong Armorsmith can get you some very strong DL (possibly CT) grade armors (melded) at 50 and gear you all the way through. Blacksmith works hand-in-hand with Armorsmith and can be used to craft/materia your pre-relic sword. This is normally pretty cheap on the AH anyway, but worth noting. Good luck