Hard decision...

[Reldin]

Hello everyone!
Well yeah...Since I started FFXI about a month ago in Remora I'm thinking about going the way of a Paladin but my LS and friends kept telling me how much better Nin can tank and how they prefer a Nin over a Pld anyday...
Also I heard that Paladins get hardly merit parties which force them to get those with another job. >.<
I played all kind of classes: RDM16, WHM31, BLM15, WAR10, SMN21 but I can't seem to enjoy any of them because I always think about how much I would enjoy playing a Paladin but the idea of not getting endgame invites worries me because I don't want to end up regreting my decision!

So I'd like to know what you guys think about that...

I hope that didn't sound too retarded, I'm just kinda lost. >.<

[Murphie]

Re: Hard decision...

Level Paladin. Don't worry about what other people say. It's a great job, and a great tank, and if you love it, that's all that matters.

[ValisOfValefor]

Re: Hard decision...

Don't let any of that get you down

My first suggestion is to get Warrior to 37 before you start leveling the class.

After that the leveling from 1-10 is increadibly easy (with juices you can chain very easily after they learn cure)

Paladin might be worse at tanking that ninja in many people's opinions, yet as a paladin you will always be needed (for the most part).

Leveling itself isn't that hard, but gets a bit expensive in the 50s, till 60 then you can use you AF for a long time after that.


Play Paladin if you really want too, but no one here's gonna make the decision for you, only you yourself can make that decision.

And no matter how long the road may seem there's always benifits at the end of the long road.

(And though paladin might not get into merit parties that often, try and find a ls with high level friends, thats how I'm gonna get most mine endgame)

[Corrderio]

Re: Hard decision...

Well, the truth is as a PLD endgame can be hard for merits unless you have another 75 job, I'm both a 75 PLD and 75 WAR and I can tell a difference when seeking as either, PLD takes a lot longer to than WAR.

[Murphie]

Re: Hard decision...

The OP didn't list what level his PLD is right now, but honestly, 75 is probably a long way away. No need to worry about what meriting will be like for him for at least a few months.

[dirtyclown]

Re: Hard decision...

OP, get 75 out of your head. It's going to take awhile to get there, and the road you take is the same no matter what job you play. It really depends on what you like to do in a party. For example, do you like to be the Knight in shiny armor surrounded by mobs and laughing while they attempt to hurt you? Then Paladin's your job. I dunno if it's the same on every server, but on Bismarck whenever I see a fellow Paladin we /salute before going on our way. I've never gotten that with any other class, and if you ask me that makes the job more than worth it.

[Icemage]

Re: Hard decision...

I agree, if your highest job is level 31, end-game should be the least of your concerns, because by the time you reach 75 on a job like Paladin, the entire end-game landscape will have shifted at least once.

Right now, the only job I see that is having serious end-game issues is Puppetmaster (and S-E seems to know they need more help).


Icemage

[FranckKnight]

Re: Hard decision...

If I can say, PLD and NIN can tank different mobs, that's all. The main difference is that Ninja can avoid most of the damage, but gets hit hard when they do, while PLD gets hit all the time but for less damage.

Some mobs cannot be taken by Ninjas. The shadows count as 'paryt members' in the case of Area of Effect attacks like Firaga or special attacks, thus all of them can get hit in a single swoop. Mobs that attack twice will shave off those shadows in no time.

Depending on which mobs you fight, PLD can be better than NIN. Both have good and bad points.

When it come sto Dynamis, its not about avoid damage for PLD, its about making it as low as possible while you pull mobs toward the Melees. PLDs are invaluable, while NIN more or less turn into your basic DD during Dynamis.

But leveling Ninja still is useful. When you reach the level 74-75 range, a Ninja sub can help you get into Merit parties. And frankly, at level 70+ you'll have troubles keeping hate anyway, so might as well make your damage higher by trading a bit of your defense/vit for some attack/accuracy gear.

So getting Ninja to 37 will be beneficial, since almost every job and their cousins sub ninja. Just about every melee do, for the shadows (avoiding damage when you get too much hate due to your TP attacks) and the dual wielding.

Don't let it discourage you anyway, PLDs are one of the few jobs that can be truly useful to other people than their own parties! Only the WHM, RDM and PLD can effectively heal (or PowerLevel), but what the PLD lacks in MP compared to the two others, they make up with HP and defense.

I often 'tanked' for another party that was almost getting wiped while going through the dunes. That alone gives me the satisfaction of having taken Paladin this high along the road.

[Radel-King_of_Pirates]

Re: Hard decision...

The way of the Pld defender, and has the power to cure one self. To let his strength fall to increase def to protect others. If you choose the path of the holy protecter, to take hits and stand, but also not afraid of the death you might take.

The way of the Nin Caster of Shadows. Thoughts of Ninja stealth and debuffing. Also the power of shadows to trick the monster in hitting a "shadow." The use of ninjitsu also helps maintain hate and help debuff mob.

The choice is yours if you like to debuff and cast into the shadows of the dark, or Defense of the light and able to cure yourself.

Only way to decide is decide which way you like to fight

[Balfree]

Re: Hard decision...

Paladins are the only real tanks :|

*wimpers at his MB with a nin tank*

[Davitron3000]

Re: Hard decision...

Try both and see which you like. Both are fun and have their pros and cons.
Also, they are both very different tanking styles.
(I can tell you Ninja is going to be way more expensive)

I would suggest trying to get both to 37. I kinda think that post Utsusemi: Ni ninja
changes a lot. Also, post Flash Paladin changes too. Plus, Ninja is a useful sub and
even if you decide you don't like it, you will have it leveled fully as a sub and won't
have to worry about it again.

Good luck and have fun tanking!

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: Hard decision...

Form a static group with a few friends, and you can level PLD w/out worrying about popularity. (Try to get one of your friends to play RDM or BRD to make the road ahead easier.)

[Darlachan]

Re: Hard decision...

Paladin was my second job. I took blm to 75 and then decided I wanted to try some melee, but I still needed magic because I think it's a key part to FF games.

So I went PLD, being a taru it wasn't easy to get my foot in. I got hated on a lot, and had to spend a few gils to compensate for my lack of HP and VIT. But I'm not going to lie to you. I'm the best there is, I wake up in the morning and piss excellence. (lol, j/k. Taladegan Knights...)

But seriously. PLD is a fantastic job. after level 30 I've never had a problem getting a party because people remember my name. I don't think I've stuck my flag up since then, I just get invites from previous members. Just concentrate and do your job. And you will never have problems getting a party.

I wouldn't worry about 70+ I got in a merit party at 71 with two other guys from my LS: a mnk/nin and whm/nin. We went out and trio'd Imps in Caedamire (sp). I was getting freaking 7k exp an hour too. as a 71pld/nin with two other guys just me out dual weilding Durandal.

Ninja might be able to take less damage. But if for some reason they're silenced or they can't get a spell off... they're screwed. I still think they're fantastic tanks and love grouping with them as my other jobs, but they are not the gods that people make them out to be. Especially if you don't have another 75 job to finance it, it's a hard road. PLD isn't cheap either, but you can hold your own on your own.

imho

[Celeal]

Re: Hard decision...

To OP:
Do you really like to tank in your parties?

Smart players will always look for a "great" tank in their parties. NIN tank does not autmatically means it is better than PLD tank, and vice versa. That is not how this game works. There are NINs and PLDs out there tanks like a legend, but there are also NINs and PLDs out there who are so poor at their job that you don't want to party with them again.

Just ask yourself do you really enjoy tanking? Both PLD and NIN can tank well. Both jobs have power and the tools to succeed for tanking. It is just 2 different ways to get same task done.

[Aeni]

Re: Hard decision...

Paladins are the only real tanks :|

*wimpers at his MB with a nin tank*

zomg

It made me think about the time I was in DoR with a party. Poor BLM was forced to only nuke no more than TWICE with this NIN tank. Both of them 2/3 of the way through the fight. Needless to say, we were hurting for dps and the lizards there didn't take kindly to prodding metal (Secretion spamming was unholy)

Our BLM died twice during the hour there. Both times because the MB was so awesome and NIN voking in that scenario is like a 5 year old trying to tackle Jerome Bettis at the 5 yard line...