Strong Paladin?

[Kain-Highwind]

Is there a way to make a Paladin offensive? Because Paladins and Knights are the same thing and knights are suppose to be offensive like the ones from Final Fantasy 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 and Tactics. So any ideas because it would be neat to have a Paladin with good defence and powerful attacks.

[Hroth]

If you want good str and def/vit for a PAL you should start by being a Galka. They have the second best STR and the best VIT/DEF. Their STR is only beat by Elvaan which lack some DEF/VIT. Galka also have very high HP so they can take hits alot while inflicting alot of dmg as well. I'd also suggest being a two handed sword user instead of one handed. Two handed weapons inflict alot more dmg than one handed weapons, they are slower but as I said inflict more dmg. You might want to be a WAR at first because that is the basic choice for people who want to become PLDs and just fighting types or maybe you could pick MONK instead for better hand to hand combat and some +s such as Counter and a little AGI boost. Once you get to a high enough level, i'd suggest getting DRK as a sub to PLD. Weird it is since DRK have low vit and high attack and PLD are the exact opposite but if you see my point of view they sort of cancel each other out and enhance one another. You will have more attack power with DRK as a sub plus your normal high def PLD things. PLDs have a high two handed sword lvl cap which will make you do more dmg and be more accurate. Your equipment is also half the battle as if you have awesome equipment that will enhance both your def and atk then everything will be fine. That's how I'd do a fighting PLD.

[Ouch!]

An offensive PLD defeats the entire purpose of a PLD in an exp. party. Subbing MNK and DRK are horrible ideas if you want to party. WAR is the only viable sub as it gives the PLD voke. Without provoke they cannot function properly as a tank. Also, two-handed sword is only viable in certain situations and usually sword/shield is much better in a party situation.

You can do whatever you want if you're soloing, but that's only when you're soloing, otherwise you're going to be a gimp and seriously hurt the party by not performing to your full potential.

Soloing an offensive PLD is feasible. PLD has around the same base STR as a MNK and with the right STR and attack increasing gear can perform as a decent damage dealer. WAR will offer more STR than a MNK sub, though, and DRK is just a stupid idea. The two don't work together. In most situations DRK is just one of the worst possible subs in the game.

WAR is far more like the knight that you're looking for. WAR has tanking capabilities but also is much more effective damage dealer. Give a WAR a great axe and some good STR and attack plus gear and you can cut through things easily. DRK would be the next closest thing to what you're looking for except for sacrificing the ability to tank effectively.

Simply put, PLD are built to tank. They have some of the highest def and VIT in the game and the white magic only serves to help yourself in combat and take some of the load off the WHM.

[Lionx]

I never thought Elvaans lack VIT...O_o i thought that was the Taru Hroth.

I also still recommend subbing WAR instead of DRK as Berserk is not nerfed like Last Resort and Souleater is when subbed. Double Attack is also something that fires off more than what other people would like to admit and is something that decides many a time on damage factors...so WAR sub is superior in most cases.

The only time a PLD offensive is ever even considered is the high 70s with a GSword and Spinning Slash vs Skeletons. Spinning Slash is a really really strong Weapon Skill since a patch and can end a Light Skillchain very well, eating Yellow Curry and throwing up Berserk with Sentinel you can easily skillchain for high damage if there isnt a DRK with you (if there is a DRK that defeats the whole purpose of you going offensive, their Attack Bonus x 3 will overpower you by a whole 4-500 dmg along with Sneak Attack).

Before the patch a Sword / Shield is not recommended for IT++ mobs and instead an Earth Staff is, now with the Shield patch and with decent shield skill, you are better with bread and butter S/S.

PLDs can go offensive but most people wouldnt want that...they want you to tank and would you like to be one of the 3 jobs that can tank in most situations..or be with the other damage dealers? But its possible and vs certain mobs its preferable. However on the same note a DRK tank is also possible since most PLD gear has high DEF and DRK can equip tank gear very well as well(just dont throw out DEF - and ATK + abilities as THOSE are the things that make DRK look like paper...that and they dont put VIT and DEF gear like PLD and focus on ATK and Acc). Its just not as efficient like a PLD offensive or a DRK tank compared to their traditional roles of course. But its definitely possible...however not practical for 80-90% of situations.

Zaph: Cure = Hate...the healing is a bonus, you just are going for the hate mainly..

[Ouch!]

I know that, but it also saves the WHM a cure spell every so often. I mean, you actually have to recover some HP to generate the hate.

[UltimateSpamGrover]

Two Words: Spirits Within.

[Kain-Highwind]

Two Words: Spirits Within.
WTF does that mean? This has nothing to do with that movie :mad:

[Rostum]

Two Words: Spirits Within.
WTF does that mean? This has nothing to do with that movie :mad:

It's a weapon skill.

[Lionx]

Spirits Within is a Weapon skill learned from Sword that can be used around...early 50s i think? I forget. It ignores DEF and does a set dmg based on TP and your HP at the current moment. So many PLDs build 300%TP and then with full HP unleash it unto the mob. Usually deals 4-600 dmg depending on TP and HP.

Unfortunetly this doesnt really make PLD a real damage dealer at all because it takes quite some time to build that much TP.

[Rostum]

Unfortunetly this doesnt really make PLD a real damage dealer at all because it takes quite some time to build that much TP.

Good for that extra little boost of hate, I'd imagine?

[Kain-Highwind]

So which one is closer to the knight from Final Fantasy 1,3,5,9(Steiner), and Tactics

A warrior is too boring so DRK or PAL is what i want

DRK w/ a increase in it's lacked stats (such as Defense)
or a PAL with a Attack greater or equal to a warrior?

[Lionx]

A Warrior is actually what you need, WARs are not boring and they are actually very very strong. They are stronger than DRKs up til 66ish when they learn Spinning Slash and can still keep on to par with them.

A DRK is a pure offensive, there are almost no defensive abilities for him unless he subs WAR for Defender and a PLD is the same unless he uses Berserk and even then none of them would be even near each other. Adv jobs are usually more specialized. WARs are not.

WAR/NIN can be a damage dealer post 48, and then tank semi well.

WAR/MNK is an excellent tank up til 60. PLDish

WAR/THF is a great skillchain closer especially with Raging Rush WS or with Rampage Axe WS.

Seriously the closest one is WAR, they even have the Break ATtacks with GAxe(which they are A+ in). and WAR/NIN at 74 can tank even the worst of things while doing great damage.

WAR:
Provoke
Berserk
Defender
Agressor
Warcry
Def Bonus
Atk Bonus
Virus resist
Double Attack
Can sub THF NIN MNK and most other subs without much penalty..but the first three are more preffered

PLD:
Cure Spells
Enhance Spells
Divine Spells
Sentinel(DEF)
Shield Bash
Rampart
Cover
DEF Bonus x 3
Holy Circle
Undead Killer(intimidates undead..not that great)
Subs mostly WAR

DRK:
Weapon Bash
Dark / Elemental spells
Soul Eater
Last Resort
ATK Bonus x 3
Arcana Circle
Arcana Killer
Subs WAR and THF

Basically if you want to group and compare these two, its from DEF to ATK

PLD - WAR - DRK...with WAR not being too bad with either as long as you equip yourself right for the situation..they can nearly be as good as PLD and DRK.

Lets just say that, if you wanna do it all for melee jobs..go WAR for the best of both DEF and ATK.

[Kain-Highwind]

yeh ur rite cause i want to be a knight from FF 1, 3, 9(Steiner), 10(Auron), Tactics. It be cool if Magic Sword ability is in FFXI :D

[Ouch!]

The only one you'd be using a sword for would be PLD. When it comes down to it, up until you can get Spirits Within (225 sword skill, I believe) sword isn't anywhere near as good as great axe or axe for WAR.

If you want to be as close to a knight as you can be WAR is your choice, but if you're dead set on using a sword you'd better go PLD. A sword-wielding WAR in most circumstances is the sign of a player who has absolutely no idea what their job is about.

[Lionx]

Dual Wield Axes and GAxes work for all levels even with Spirits Within because Axe and GAxe for WARs are just THAT good.

Magic Sword - En-spell for RDM.

[Kain-Highwind]

I'll stick with offensive Paladin since they are best at swords which are my favorite type of weapons and Excalibur and Ultima Weapon is only equippable to Paladins so offence PAL i'll be ;)

[Duane3.0]

That's good. I'm not an expert at ffxi and I won't pretend to be. I am quite new to actually playing the game actually. However there is one thing I can tell you that you should listen to. DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. THIS IS A GAME AND IS MADE TO HAVE FUN. ;). It might be a good idea to get thief up or some good way of income for this idea but... remember that you can always switch jobs/gear. So you might want to be a defensive paladin for xp parties and whatever you want to be and solo every now and then. The reason I sugested thief or a good solid source of income is that to have the gear to switch from defensive to offensive and vice versa in any situation takes alot of cash. Buying two sets of equipment like that and all... :p. Well anyways that's my opinion on the matter.

[Lionx]

Yeah..you could do whatever you want and not get invited O_o

Excalibur and whatever end-game swords will cost you probably over 100mil and maybe 2-3years of HARDCORE playing to get. literally no joke, relic weapons will take that long due to the dynamis currency you need and its asine sorta. Over all this time only 2-3 people got relic weapons.

Swords are one of the WEAKEST weapons in the game :P If you are going PLD go defensive thats why theres all those DEF boosting traits.

[Kain-Highwind]

Is WAR/PAL a good combo? If not can you tell me the greatest sub for a Warrior?

[Rostum]

Is WAR/PAL a good combo? If not can you tell me the greatest sub for a Warrior?

Subjobs that are good for WAR are MNK, THF and NIN. Don't sub THF if you plan on tanking though.

[Lionx]

WAR/PLD Too Weak...you get mediocore MP and if you use a GAxe Shield Bash is worthless...and most sub NIN to dual wield Axes. Cant find much a WAR/PLD is good for..

WAR/MNK- Tank
WAR/THF- SC Closer
WAR/NIN- Tank and damage...can somewhat blink tank after 48