I'm a Paladin...Now what?

[Vandril]

I didn't think of it that way. I was just hoping for something a little bit more new and exciting.

I can understand that. When I unlocked my Paladin at level 30 (it was my first Job, too), my reaction was something like this:

"I'm a Paladin now! Cool! ...But that's it? No fanfare? Nothing special happens to commemorate the moment?"

It does feel like unlocking your Job is anticlimactic...

...until you get some of your Job abilities. Most Job abilities are really cool, even if how they're cool doesn't always become apparent straight away. And I easily got sucked into the story for my PLD's Job quests, much like I did the last 2 or so GLD Class quests. I ended up looking forward to each new PLD quest every 5 levels both for the story and the skills.

In summary, unlocking PLD gives all 3 of the things you mentioned you were expecting upon unlocking it - better gear, exclusive quests, and increase in stats - just not all at once. The Soul Stone grants you bonus stats when it makes you change from GLD to PLD upon equipping it. Much like your GLD Class quests, the exclusive PLD Job quests unlock at a rate of one per 5 levels gained (until 50, at which you get a second level 50 Job quest and another Job quest every 2 levels until 60). And the level 45 and 50 PLD quests grant you PLD-exclusive gear (which will last you until 50 - unfortunately, the piece you obtain at level 50 is now useless given the many patches of newer and better gear over the years).

You just gotta keep at it to get to these rewards.