Well figure i could bring about my point aswell.
I myself have no specific experince from the paladin what concerns EQ1 , started my own path with MMO's in EQ2/WoW/Lineage 2/FFXI(not listed in a specific chronicle order) ect :P anyway
First of all , i' m very thrilled over the initial release information about the paladin class that has been given as it's leaves quite a bit of imagination on wheras how the Paladin will be able to tank and which encounters (Sanctify Corpse , totally cool heh
).
I myself would as some posters before me have posted to see the MT/tank roles switch depending on the type of fight that's ahead , where the paladins possible could be well , undead and such due to the paladin having more appropriate abilities to handle that certain situation possibly better then the other deffensive fighters and of course this would apply for the other deffensive classes aswell.
When not tanking , well , to be honest , the paladin still seems like a backbone class to have along , with his auras/rescues and such, an excellent supporter to say the least , so i dont belive that we'll end up un the short stick of it all , opposite if you ask me.
Even though i do belive that the general choice for the MT will be the warrior class, mostly seeing as the threat/mitigation for the warrior doesnt seem to be built around an specific encounter , a sort of all rounder to put it roughley , then again still a bit to go untill release heh .
Although as long as the paladin will be considered a tank not only by theory but in actual practic , just to mention a rough example with WoW , if you read through the paladin description you'd belive he was the undesputet tank of'em all...well , in the end all i practically did there was watching healthbars go up and down
just an example where theory sort of backfired on one >_<
Like i said , to be able to -tank- not with any sidenotes or this or that heh but i'm quite certain that'll be sorted after have followed this game.
Only problem that i might have with this "certain encounter tanking" is the variety of tanking , with this i mean , say that they develop an undead based dungeon , the paladin's will have more of a tanking role their but later on if they choose to make create another dungeon which is say more high lvled then the previous one the paladin will be most likely stuck as a "mana sponge"(thanks for that wording Zenya , had a great laugh when i read that heh). With this brought up i just want to see a healty amount of variation of ecounters not just one calling of the other
.
Anyway , i'm quite certain that we'll see the paladin in a tanking role if any a class to count on.
oh dear , went of track there it seems , apologies , tend to do that for some reason :/
Aerian