So I am currently making several toons now that I have decided to just play for fun and enjoy the nostalgia and not sweat all this AT and min/max crap but I have just made a Friar..like lvl 3 acolyte still lol..and am actually wondering...did they not design the paladin and friar to somewhat be the same class with just some minor variations?

As I sit here and think about it

Friar is a warrior/healer hybrid

Paladin is a warrior/healer hybrid

Now both can solo but in group paladin is a bit more wanted cause they are atleast somewhat tanky if nothing else I guess?

Then when it comes to RvR it seems that neither one is particularly high on any "wanted" list.

Do not get angry with my generalization, you must understand I have been away for 10+ years. I am just asking because I was wondering which one I really wanted to try playing and just thought...well...they are more or less the same class kind of but one gets plate and slash/thrust/etc weapons and other dodges a lot and uses staves.

Now I know they have some what different spell lines as far as buffs/heals but all in all..is one not quite a lot like the other?

I am just seeking some input, because I may go "ohhhh" then decide to roll a paladin instead of a friar or just stick with my little staff swinger.

Anyways...what is the big difference here folks?

Big differences... mainly to couple healer with paladin makes me laugh.

Paladin is a tank, with plate armor, shield spec, and provides endurance regen/other aid through chants for the group. The healing provided through the chant is not to be mistaken for actual healing, and is more akin to a health regen than actively being able to keep someone alive.

Friar is a secondary melee/healer with only leather armor, poor defense vs. multiple targets, while getting access to base buffs and base/spec heals/resists.

They perform much differently in groups. I can't draw any comparison. Different armor, different weapons, different skills, different playstyles?

Depending on RvR setup, Paladin will be more wanted, especially early on. But, that's 8v8 only. I'd personally run a friar with the right spec, for RvR.

Dont let them lie to you OP, dont level a melee without Determination RA if you plan to RVR

Im not an elitist, but most ppl here are.

When it comes to RvR, there is a slight chance that you will find a slot in a 8man group with a Paladin - but not with a friar. A friar is nice for smallmen or solo RvR tho. But a great in PvE, with Paladins having the edge here because of the group endu chant and tankyness (assuming you do not go for AT...).

As you already stated, Paladins are defensive tanks with some beneficial chants - a friar is more akin to a melee supporter like Warden on Hib. But the way that Alb groups work, you'd need a ninth slot to fit in a friar ^^

To sum it up:

Paladin is definitely a defensive tank (probably THE tank when it comes to PvE) with additional, beneficial chants. In PvE you will always be wanted because of your endu chants and as a main tank, in RvR the more elitist 8vs8 groups wont have a place for Paladin because he lacks the RA determination (he will stand there mezzed or rooted most of the time).

Friar can heal, buff, melee (depending on spec)... but nothing very well. It's definitely nice to have one in your xp group if you lack a cleric (or second cleric). Friar lacks determination too.

Both classes can solo pretty well (many players that don't want to play the typical farm classes Cabalist or Necro choose Paladin or Friar for solo farming, or even solo PvP)

They're not even close. Paladin is hands down the best defensive tank (PVE) in the game. The heal chant is just a means to control aggro really. Friars are not tanks at all. They're healers that can spec to be DPS. Friar staff damage is pretty leet at high level. Neither are rvr friendly here for group stuff, but both are really good for solo rvr (edge, friar).

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If you want to play a Tank that's good in RvR, roll an Armsman. If you want to be a light tank with more DPS, roll a Merc.

Well heck yeah I was off.

Guess I was thinking that a monk was a dps styled cleric hybrid and a paladin was more of a tank styled cleric hybrid but based on what chants sound like id be more sane to say that a paladin sounds like a tank minstrel hybrid where as a friar sounds like a dps cleric hybrid.

Quite the different lot though I do see....far as solo character goes...both can solo rather well from what I have read but sounds like a paladin is group friendly more so than a friar.

So a paladin= solo/group friendly...not a lot of RvR usage though?

Friar= solo...and solo RvR but that is more or less it?

So...very different play styles and very different classes but I am looking for a solo/group PvE class that will be wanted....and I like the utility that the hybrids offer or else I would straight up roll a merc but I do enjoy having more then one use other then just say dps or tank or healer...so I think I shall roll a paladin and friar and see what sticks...got a feeling it will be the paladin though at this point.

Thank you all for your input and sorry again for my very ignorant OP...clearly I know nothing of what I stated