Paladin or SK?

[wizrad]

I have an erudite SK who's level 5-ish currently, but I'm having second thoughts. I played a cleric to 12 a really long time ago, so I'd have some level of familiarity with the spells. Plus bronze armor just doesn't fit a shadowknight.

I suppose my decision boils down to:
A. Which class performs better/is more desired in xp groups?
B. Which class is more useful without twink gear?

[Swish]

http://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=216765

We had a huuuge debate on it recently.

If you enjoyed a cleric you'll probably enjoy combining it with a tank but i've always been hardcore biased towards SKs for group tanking and the easiest snap aggro (FoL is buggy with proximity and stun can force you to change your position to the mob rather than having it where you want it).

Disease cloud and shadow vortex are your friends on a SK, and SV particularly is useful for prebuilding aggro on the next target instead of seeing each mob lunge for the group's enchanter.

[Vallanor]

As long as you stick with erudite, you can't go wrong. Swish's link pretty much covers the strengths and weaknesses of each class so is definitely worth reading. As for your specific questions:

A) I'd say they're roughly equal from an exp group standpoint. Both are fantastic tanks and are very desirable in groups. SKs are better soloers though if that matters to you.

B) Paladins are one of the least played classes on the server so their gear is ridiculously cheap. Probably easier to get by on a newbie budget as a paladin than as an SK.

[dafier]

I recently went with a controversial High Elf Pally (Tunare). All that for a single item I plan on getting in the end game.

I put 5 points in AGI and 15 in STA. In my opinion it's been worth it.

[RDawg816]

As a new player, the SK might be better for you. You can get Flayed Skin Armor for 30-35p per piece of you're willing to haggle. You could farm bone chips and sell like 10-15 stacks and have armor thar would be sufficient into your 30's easily.

[Danth]

A. Which class performs better/is more desired in xp groups?
B. Which class is more useful without twink gear?

A: Most groups take either without regard for which is which.

B: "Useful" seems pretty subjective. Both of them make fine tanks for normal leveling groups and neither needs expensive gear to be able to perform that job. Shadow Knights solo marginally better, and get around the game world more easily than Paladins. In the high-end scene, the majority of guilds on the server don't use either class for much of anything important.

In the very long term, if you get to level 60 then shelve the character, a retired max-level Paladin retains more value than a Shadow Knight owing to the Paladin's ability to experience rez.

If you want to min/max, make a Monk.

Danth

[Xaanka]

they're both about as useful as each other without twink gear. paladin gear's cheaper and easier to acquire in raids though because there's less competition. especially on red, since SK is a very popular class for pvp.

[Troxx]

I've played both in the past on live.

Both are fun.
Both are capable.
Both have their advantages/disadvantages.

I'd argue the paladin makes the better tank and has a lot more added utility from a grouping perspective (root, heals, heal over time, rez, stun, buffs). They are terrible at solo play compared to most classes.

Sks are more fun imo. They have more mobility with invis and feign death is just insanely useful. Snare + fear opens up a lot of solo options.

Both are fun.
Both are worth playing.

[Swish]

they're both about as useful as each other without twink gear. paladin gear's cheaper and easier to acquire in raids though because there's less competition. especially on red, since SK is a very popular class for pvp.

SK gear on red is ridiculously priced...if you have the time I'd source it yourself there.

[Gaunja]

I made a paladin and am LOVING it. I suck at PvP but oh well. I am a beast in groups and spot healing