Thoughts on Paladins?

[Ando]

Hi all.

I'm debating on what class I want for an alt. So far I've only played casters so I want to try out a melee. I played a monk on live and it was fun, but for some reason Paladins interest me.

What are everyone's thoughts on Paladins? (Minus the exp penalty - I'm aware of it and it will likely be removed in Velious)

Are they good tanks? Useful? Desired?

Thanks.

[baalzy]

Good tanks in Xp groups. Useful if played right, in Xp groups. Will be desired in Xp groups more once the penalty is gone. However, on raids, not much to do but also not much competition so you'll likely get geared up pretty quickly.

I really don't understand why people would hate on a paladin outside hating the xp penalty (which isn't really a valid reason to hate them until the 50s anyways).

Edit:
Also pretty cheap to gear.

[Danth]

I agree with the above post.

Some folks hate on the Paladin because it isn't a specialist, and hence not a cornerstone raiding class (unlike Warriors or Rogues or Clerics). It doesn't solo particularly well either; it's at home in a dungeon group.

My own take on the Paladin is that during this game era it's probably better as an alt than a main for most players. I say that even though it's my own favorite class. Paladins encounter some issues at very high levels which costs them some of their utility. The Lull spell line becomes virtually worthless once you start regularly encountering high-level creatures with high rates of resists. Stuns become unreliable against those same high-resist monsters, and useless except for aggro on 55+ monsters or giants and other such creatures (Velious has a great many such monsters). On average the class is at its best from about level 30 up into the low 50's. Playing one beyond that point to level 60 can sometimes feel like a downer as your capabilities gradually deteriorate.

As an alt character, you're more likely to keep it in the level range where its at its best, and Paladin-specific equipment tends to be cheap.

Danth

[radditsu]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_oRiWJWXVPM

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[Shaakglith12194]

Pallys are great snap tanks. Used to hate the class on Live but on here I've seen some people play them well and they are good tanks. Stuns are nice, LoH in emergencies is cool, undead nukes are cool. All the hybrids get some hate because of their exp penalty, but that doesn't actually hurt group's exp until 55+ (if you're grouping with people with similar exp totals, that is). If somebody gives you crap about your exp penalty, just remind them that iksar monks have a higher penalty than you so they can shove it.