I'm a Paladin...Now what?

[Mehweweh]

Hello everyone, I finally reached my goal of becoming a Paladin yesterday, and I guess it is not what I thought it would be: getting better gear, exclusive quests, and just a better increase in stats altogether. Now I'm a paladin with the same gear I had before my advancement and I just feel underwhelmed by the lack of change in my gameplay. So what do I do now that's actually interesting?

[Orspeth]

Still have to stand there and let the bad things hit you ;D

[Risvertasashi]

Hello everyone, I finally reached my goal of becoming a Paladin yesterday, and I guess it is not what I thought it would be: getting better gear, exclusive quests, and just a better increase in stats altogether. Now I'm a paladin with the same gear I had before my advancement and I just feel underwhelmed by the lack of change in my gameplay. So what do I do now that's actually interesting?

PLD does not have the most dynamic game play. It's all about timing CD use and whatnot. You might like one of the other tanks better; they do have pretty dynamic play, where you're constantly managing stacks or MP or the like.

[ExiledOne]

The soulstone gives you better stats, so you are better just by equipping it.
There are also no more Class quests - Congratz! Now they're called Job quests.

[Niwashi]

I do sort of wish there was some nice job-specific gear or something at level 30. Unlocking a job is a significant milestone, but all you have to show for it is a stone that only shows on your character window. No change in what you're wearing and virtually no change in what you're doing does seem a bit anti-climactic.

[Mehweweh]

Maybe I should switch to a DPS job? I like to be creative when fighting enemies.

[Vandril]

Maybe I should switch to a DPS job? I like to be creative when fighting enemies.

Nothing says creative like Ninja.

That said, do realize you do get some solid gear upgrades for your Job - all Jobs, in fact - when you do the level 45 and 50 Job quest for them. And every 5 levels from this point on, you'll learn a new ability specific and unique to PLD.

You've only just now been initiated into the order of Paladins. Now it's time to train yourself, do quests for them, and learn their ways through the soulstone. Once you do, you'll find that the abilities are rather nice.

[Mehweweh]

Nothing says creative like Ninja.

That said, do realize you do get some solid gear upgrades for your Job - all Jobs, in fact - when you do the level 45 and 50 Job quest for them. And every 5 levels from this point on, you'll learn a new ability specific and unique to PLD.

You've only just now been initiated into the order of Paladins. Now it's time to train yourself, do quests for them, and learn their ways through the soulstone. Once you do, you'll find that the abilities are rather nice.

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

[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.

[VTanner]

Maybe I should switch to a DPS job? I like to be creative when fighting enemies.

Try going Warrior and see how you like it. I played PLD for over as year and have to say it's probably the most boring job out there some how. No big AOE, next to no damage output, survival rate is easy outside of endgame content. Once I switched to Warrior full time as my FC static had a PLD I couldn't believe the difference and actually having to think about cool down rotation as you have practically nothing, its all about soaking damage and dealing it out to get HP back and is great fun to grab loads of monsters and go to town on them. Dark Knight plays in a similar role but Palladin... I guess it's great for learning dungeons but it's not the most fun to play.