Humbly Requesting PLD Advice (playing a PLD)

[Teejay]

Hello all, I am going to be set PTing with some of my good friends from Rag, and I will be playing a PLD. Now this is going to a set pt that is going from lvl 10 till we get the AF gear for our members.

The PT consists of the following (not 100% set in stone, yet for now this is what we've decided):

RNG/THF or War (Elvaan) (RANK5 for sure)
DRK/WAR (Elvaan) (RANK5 for sure)
PLD/WAR (Hume) (Rank3)
BLM/WHM (Hume) (Rank2)
WHM/BLM (Mithra) (Rank2)
BRD/WHM (Hume) (Rank2)

Now, what I am humbly asking is advice on how I can play PLD properly. i'm aware of the basic things, (being the MT, provoking every 30 seconds, help maintain hate by casting magic, always having the most updated armor with best +def stats, 1hs and shield, those basic things, etc.)

I'm directing this question to the experienced paladins out there. What other tips can you offer throughout the journey of a level 10-60 PLD? What things can i do to be the best tank that i can possibly be?

I know you guys know me, i'm not new to the FFXI scene, but i'm just looking for ways to always improve my game. I have a 33 Sam/war that i've been leveling, so i'm used to basic tanking, and meleeing. I know SAM's will never be the meatshield that PLD's can be, so i'm sure there is lots for me to learn still. I'm more used to playing a mage class, as i have both whm and rdm past 30.

Thank you guys for your input, and one final note: If you are not going to post something constructive or helpful, please don't post anything at all. I'm just asking for advice on how to better myself for the sake of the PT, and would appreciate it if all flames and rants were kept to a minimum.

And with that... thank you all again!

Teejay

PS. I will also be posting this under "class discussion->Paladin" forum, i just wanted to post this here as well, because i know the people on Ragnarok are generally friendly and very helpul. Thanks again!

[voodoo]

Hey Teejay,

Sorry I don't have any (direct) advice about PLD but...

Having PT'd with the PT you specified, I have to say you'll have a hard time as PLD keeping the hate safely.
If you had a THF things would be different.

I'd strongly urge you to talk the DRK into being a THF instead - not only do RNG and THF renkei together oh-so-well but your job will be made 10 times easier.
With a DRK instead of THF, hate sticks to the RNG like crazy glue after renkei and you'll need to cover them.

From my experience you'll make much better EXP and have better chaining potential with a THF too.

[Awntawn]

after you renkei with rng, the monster is dead :p

But yeah, with DRK and RNG in the same party the pld will most likely be sitting in the back crying... PLD shouldn't go anywhere without a THF because if you can't get the hate secure on you, you're completely wasted, whereas WAR can strap on the heavy guns and start dealing damage

[Aldo]

Also /thf is not a viable sub for the RNG class because sneak and trick attack do not work with ranged attacks. Renkei is not as inefficient until lv60s so you may be able to keep rng drk pld. but the rng and drk should be subbing war until lv60, in whichcase i highly suggest drk sub thf. nevertheless, lv30-59 a pt w/out a main thf will have a difficult time controlling hate, regardless of the jobs.

[Cedric-Archaon]

For paladin, raise cooking skill to 30+. You can make juices that don't suck and then just carry ingrediants with you, and make the juices in the time it takes for someone to pull a chain.

For the love of god, don't be a lazy paladin, there's too many of those.

[Extreme]

My only advice to you is this, and its something ive seen ALOT of bad pld's neglect to do: HEAL YOURSELF. kplzthnxbye

[Exsol]

being a PLD myself.
Its far better to have thf in the party, while its easier to keep hate with the thf, it shouldnt be nessisary.
The PLD has to work uber hard and will lose hate a couple times, but another party member should never get into too much danger.
Oh, and somthing i learned as a PLD...stay away form exorays untill genkai1...606 damage in one hit...ouch.

[exile2k3]

about exorays, in my high 40s, i was in a PT in CN, an exoray aggroed the galka PLD, who was at full HP. He did his special, the PLDs HP went from ~1000 to 0. My mouth dropped...

[Aldo]

Spider types have a similar special called Sickle Slash, it also killed a lv70 PLD and also killed me after I used my weaponskill. I really don't know what to advise for those situations other than not fighting the monster.......or having a ninja tank :D

[exile2k3]

Originally posted by Aldo
Spider types have a similar special called Sickle Slash, it also killed a lv70 PLD and also killed me after I used my weaponskill. I really don't know what to advise for those situations other than not fighting the monster.......or having a ninja tank :D

*noted*

[orts]

don't forget to make a macro for shield bash and cover. save a shield bash for those ancient-magic-casting mofos and cover for the dmg dealer that misses yoko or the ranger that does too much dmg

my simple cover macro:

/ja ‚©‚΂¤ <st>
/p ‚©‚΂¤‚µ‚Ü‚·?`?@<lastst>‚³‚ñ?@<call4>

(choose target with f2, f3, etc.)

i put the call in there because some people don't know i covered >.>

ced gave some good advice. i encourage you to raise your cooking skill to about 25++ for pine juice which will be very useful since you don't have a rdm for refresh (well yet). you'll be able to make ‚ä‚Å‚ª‚É as well which is sexcellent defense food.

[Russta]

Originally posted by orts
don't forget to make a macro for shield bash and cover. save a shield bash for those ancient-magic-casting mofos and cover for the dmg dealer that misses yoko or the ranger that does too much dmg

my simple cover macro:

/ja ‚©‚΂¤ <st>
/p ‚©‚΂¤‚µ‚Ü‚·?`?@<lastst>‚³‚ñ?@<call4>

(choose target with f2, f3, etc.)

i put the call in there because some people don't know i covered >.>

I remember when I was getting my Star Spinal in Quicksands, the Paladin had a /tell to the person in his cover macro. It scared the shit out of me the first time I saw it but when the battle was over I read it and it just asks the person to stand still.

[Elite]

Have all the cure spells bought ahead of time, if you miss one your in big trouble.

Also after yokodama is being taken out, your going to have to learn to reduce your hate during rennkei time so the melee whether it be drk/war or sam/war whatever is able to taunt and take it away from you.

Dont worry you will get the shit back once its over, but if you know ahead of time the melee wont be able to take it away then tell the thf to do it behind him and not you. Ofcourse that means now you have to create hate greater than the rennkei which isnt that hard if you try. If you fail to keep it and the enemy is raping the melee now then use cover and slowly move it away with taunt and cures~