(08-07-2013, 04:50 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: Dragoon - Like Mtoto said there is only ONE Azure Dragoon and this is the only Dragoon gifted with the Drachen Mail. However, anyone can be a dragoon, as a dragoon is just a dragon slayer. There are many dragon slayers in Ishguard. The Gae Bolg is only given to the chosen one who becomes a Dragoon. (Thats how I understand the quest text at least. There have been multiple Azure Dragoons over the course of history and each one is given a Gae Bolg.)
Paladin - Paladin is the name of those sworn under oath to protect the royal family of Ul'dah. Sultansworn usually choose their own, but the Sultana and the royal family can also dub someone a Paladin. However, this means you have sworn on oath to protect the royal family until your death. If you go missing you're considered a traitor and you lose the title of Paladin. So you might have to get a little creative to RP as a Paladin. Also the Curtana is one of a kind. Curtana is one of the three swords forged for the three founding Sultansworn Paladins.
Actually, as far as Gae Bolg is concerned - "There is a custom still observed in Ishgard today which ordains that the Holy See bestow a polearm dubbed Gae Bolg upon any lancer who ascends to the station of dragoon."
That heavily seems to imply that anyone who becomes a Dragoon by Ishgard standards is gifted Gae Bolg. Not just the Azure Dragoon. It's also quite possible that the "Drachen Mail" that you obtain through the quest chain is just a specific set of that type of armor. It's not entirely out of the question that certain Dragoons wear that armor, and the set that you're going after just so happens to be special, having belonged to a past Azure Dragoon.
I mean, we know there's at least two sets of it floating around. There's the possibility that there are more sets, and there is also the possibility that those aspiring to be Dragoons have forged armor of a similar likeness.
Now, as far as Paladin is concerned, you actually never become a member of the Sultansworn in-game. You're not a "Paladin" in those regards. You actually are dubbed what is called a Free Paladin. You still hold the station of Paladin, and have been trained in the art of the Paladins, and therefor are a Paladin, but your fealty is not sworn to the Sultana. That's one of the bigger points they choose to make. You're a Paladin, but you're not a member of the Sultansworn in-game.