Hiyas, MMO refuge in the EQ2 campFollow

Hello,

I recently quit WoW(wife and I both grew bored with it, and the expansion pack didn't add anything really new other then more of the same stuff). I tried getting into CoHs but that games trial is odd and thus never could get a trial code to use. I'm a fairly long time veteran of MMOs, having played UO, Mu Online, Ac2, FFXI, WoW, L2, and a few others. WoW was grand for what it was worth, but in the end the game was to shallow for me in terms of content.

Eventually fell upon EQ2 after a visit to MMORPG.com. Wife and I are both currently burning our 1 week trial before getting the game. So far everything is great since both of our comps are capable of keeping the game on 'High Quality' in cities and higher when soloing.

Only trouble is the classes themselves and how they level. Some classes are fairly straight forward, much like the templar being main healer, but the one class I have yet to fully grasp(mainly because I am capped at lvl 10) is the paladin.

I enjoy playing pally's since UO, FFXI, ect and usually enjoy them, but EQ2 pally just doesn't seem to have a purpose. The heals aren't great, damage is subpar to a Berserker or Monk(from what I've seen even the gaurdian can do a bit more damage output), and they don't have as many defensive skills and taunts to main tank. Do they gain a clearer path past level 10 or do they just remain a filler type class where you grab if nothing else is on?

Is EQ2 much like FFXI, WoW, and most other MMOs where if you can, you usually have your character dual wielding or with a great weapon, but only when main tanking you bring out the sword and board? Some classes seem like they would benefit a bit more, such as the Beserker, from using their high damage capabilites instead of hunkering down and going defensive.

As you can see, fairly new since I never got involved with the original EQ(could only afford one MMO and UO was it for me at the time). most of my views are limited to level 10, so any clarifications for what I should expect after that level would be great(ie skills up, class roles, ect).

Thanks in advance.