PLD61 -- Advice sought.Follow

So my Paladin is 61.

I'm planning on leveling it in the near future, but...

I'm afraid I'm a bit out-of-the-loop as far as grouping in FFXI goes.

I've taken nearly a year hiatus, and returned just a month or two ago, and have been wanting to get paladin leveled.

I have WHM, RDM, THF and WAR on 75, but I hate WHM and RDM (haste spam annoys me) and THF isn't really wanted, and DD are a dime-a-dozen... so I was thinking of trying out PLD.

I don't really know how things go these days in 6-man groups; I haven't grouped since a little bit before Level Sync was released (after Level Sync, mom and I used low-levels to level our mains).

The gear I currently have for it, is Turtle-ish... last time I used my PLD in groups, that was usually the preferred method, and the last thing I remember doing, are green crawlers in Aydeewa.

My gear:

Full AF for Body/Legs/Hands/Head.

I do have a Haubergeon available to me, that I could wear instead. TK Army Shield, Gluttony Sword, capped Sword and Shield (I don't know if my Great Sword is capped or not, though. I don't think it is *too* far from being capped; I could always work on it with my 75 WAR if needs-be).

For Rings, I have a Rajas, and a few other rings, ranging from STR, VIT, AGI, and DEX rings from other jobs. I have a Parade Gorget, PCC, and Spike Necklace. For Ears, I have Spike, and I believe Drone Earrings around somewhere.

I don't have any bows for that level, though I could use a Bibiki? Seashell instead (that is a ranged item, right?).

My Campaign Rank is only Ribbon $$$ (going to try for $$$$ this weekend) and I have roughly 29k AN.

For Food, I recently made myself a bunch of crab sushi (wasn't sure what else to eat) and I have a Lv100+5 Cook with Raw Fish Handling, so I can make nearly anything.

Any advice/etc would be nice, thanks!

Edited, Jun 24th 2010 9:12pm by Lyrailis

+Shield > +ACC > +Atk > +Emnity > +DEF

Macro in AF for enmity. Full-time your AF boots though. At your level, Crab Sushi is fine since you're at the perfect level to be synced for Colibri. When you get to imps though, switch to Pizza.

For Ranged/Ammo, Use this.

What you have now is actually very good (Hauby, PCC, Rajas). The only thing that needs to change specifically is your sword and shield. For Shield, get an Iron Ram Shield (or Sentinel Shield if you have the Mercenary Rank). For Sword, get Tac. Mag. Espadon(+1). @65, switch to Company Flueret. As for Earrings, Spike Earrings will work, but try to get an Assault Earring and Minuet Earring if you can.

All of that doesn't need to be upgraded at once. I'd prioritize your sword/shield first since they're dirt cheap to upgrade. Then work on the Tiphia Sting since Bibiki Shell just sucks.

Gear yourself like a DD. This means Acc and Atk.

Use Flash as a first voke.

Dont try to hold hate at all costs. Your melees are /nin for a reason. If you are /war, Voke, Flash. Right after the mob turns away from you it should be dead.

Use the rest of your mp to heal whoever needs it

PLD is a fairly decent DD, and the extra healing can be really good in some pts.

No, the Macahuitl is a horrid sword for anything more than a kiting piece. Don't ever xp with it.

I personally used Espadon (+1) until Company Sword. You can survive with it for quite a while, so I wouldn't upgrade unless you can get your hands on a Fleuret.

Ahh, okay, no Macuahtil (sp?).. *nods* I figured I'd ask; I'll keep checking for the Flueret then until one pops.

I checked the LFG lists today; with 15 paladins LFG, it is unlikely I will get to 65 anytime soon anyways, so I've got time yet.

*unrelated*
I retired about 5 years ago (just peeking around since XIV is coming out) and... man, i see times have changed for pld's after reading through this.