Hiya, Relatively New Player, Looking for Class Advice

[Kreindis]

So I recently hit level 50 (for the first time) as a Paladin which you would think would make me psyched to do all of the endgame stuff since I saw tons of stuff I wanted to do while leveling. That doesn't really seem to be the case for one reason : I have a phobia of tanking.

It might seem weird that I got all the way to 50 without switching to a different class but in RPG games, I always favored the Knightly types of characters, and doubly so if they had the ability to combine magic with swordplay. Ironically, the upcoming Dark Knight also happens to be a Tank.

So! Is there a DPS class similar to Gladiator? I'm not familiar with any of the DPS classes past level 13 and I was hoping to get other opinions before making a decision.

There's also the option of sticking with the Gladiator but I absolutely dread the actual tank role. Ironically, I have a fair bit of experience in tanking proficiently in other MMORPGs, but that experience further compounds my dislike of tanking.

[Urthdigger]

I'd actually encourage you to try and get over your fear of tanking. I find it is quite an easy role to play (Many boss fights have mechanics the DPS and healer need to focus on, while the tank just sits there and keeps hate), and the lack of tanks in-game will mean you'll have a short queue time for any content you do.

As for similar classes in DPS, I would say Lancer. It tends to wear heavier armor, the lancers are the protectors of Gridania, and the Dragoon are the holy knights of Ishgard. But again, I highly encourage you to stick with tanking. It's not as hard as it seems, and in contrast DPS is harder than it looks. You might feel that DPS is less stress because if you screw up nobody will notice, but people DO notice. And you're very replaceable.

[ZhycranaDranix]

He hasn't got his tanking swagger yet lol.....just wait once you dabble in end game you'll see. Tanks especially PLD's have this ''unofficial'' leader feel to them as the really have to be some of the most knowledgable in the fight on mechanics.

Normally the main tank it still doesn't deviate from its original job ''tanking'' no matter which way you look at it you're still tanking , just with tougher enemies and a lot more attention to detail. DPS is the same way as you need to be near perfect on your rotations and CDs so you can manage tight DPS checks in the future. Healing falls into the same category. You'll have a phobia entering a new dungeon/raid with any ''new'' role you play.

[Werhusky]

Yes usually teams take their pally as maintank even tho my static is one of the unusual we go into our solotank content like T9 with maintank war. It is maybe a bit harder as faults can result in an immense Hp drop but we have our oooops-fun moments ^^

To OPs question: In my opinion theres no real DPS class is comparable to PLD, except as Urthdigger suggests DRG. If you want to try a more movement focused class maybe nin or monk could be yours (just a feeling) you'd still stay in melee range and needed you dodging skills and on the other hand it might take your fear to tank as you experience the fights still from almost same perspective ^-^ (I actually did mnk for titan ex to get a better feeling for it back then)

[Kael_Raiju]

Maybe I'm weird but I've been strictly a BLM for the longest time. I now have a WHM (love it) and have been leveling PLD (love it) They don't seem all that different to me at least. Shrugs, give BLM a try. As much as PLD is the primary tank BLM seems to be a top the DPS charts so people rely on you to take care of big group kills and bring down a boss' health. I like the challenge of maintaining that #2 hate spot right behind the tank. DRG and Ninja gives me a run for my money but not if they have to move a lot

[Risvertasashi]

So! Is there a DPS class similar to Gladiator? I'm not familiar with any of the DPS classes past level 13 and I was hoping to get other opinions before making a decision.

Short answer: no.

Long answer: Melee classes are Monk, Ninja, and Dragoon currently and probably until the second expansion pack at the earliest. Ninja would probably be the closest, as they use bladed weapons and ninjutsu for magic. You might be able to find some glamor options that make them appear a bit more knightly.

[Gorvi]

I'd say stick with PLD and just go at it, it's intimidating but once you get your feet wet you'll be fine. Take it slowly, do low item level fights to get used to it and ease yourself into things. Don't just go tanking extreme primals right out of the gate, start with hard modes and such.

[brody138]

I think everyone's posts so far have been very insightful. Not much more to add to this, but I would second that you try a few end game dungeons/raids before giving up on the class you seem to have enjoyed playing in other games. If you do switch, Dragoon or Ninja would probably be up your alley (as mentioned before).

[Niwashi]

I'd think either Lancer/Dragoon or Rogue/Ninja. Both are melee classes who fight up close and personal like Gladiator/Paladin does.

LNC/DRG gets somewhat heavier armour than ROG/NIN, so will tend to look a bit more knightly. (You may be able to find something glamour-able to overcome that if you want to go with either ROG/NIN or PUG/MNK, but you'd have more knightly looking glamours to choose from as LNC/DRG.) And as Urthdigger pointed out, the storyline gives some suitably knight-like protective roles to both lancers and dragoons.

Ninja get ninjutsu magic. Their daggers are more sword-like than LNC/DRG spears are. (In fact, some of those "daggers" are long enough you could justifiably consider them short swords, so dual-wielding versus sword & shield is the better distinguisher.) On the other hand, the use of stealth is also a significant part of the ROG/NIN class, and that may not match your knightly image as well.

So try out either or both of those to see if they suit you. But along with that, start trying some of the simpler end-game content with your Paladin. You may find it's not as bad as you're fearing it will be.

[Lethallin]

Dragoon would certainly be the closest to a tank in playstyle (a warrior tank at the very least), factoring in visual style and combat rotations.

All DPS though feels a lot different then tanking because of the fundamental role difference.

Also give tanking a shot! You're almost certainly better then most of the tanks out there, because there's a lot of terrible ones, so I'm sure that even with your lack of confidence, many people will find you to be a breath of fresh air when it comes to come of the tanks they've come across before!