The duration of the main story in FF14 depends on several factors. If you play at a moderate pace and do all the necessary quests, it might take around 50-100 hours. But if you rush through or skip some content, it could be shorter.
The main story of FF14 is quite lengthy. It can take anywhere from 50 to 100 hours or more to finish, depending on how quickly you go through the quests and your level of engagement with the game's world.
The main story of FF4 is not too short or too long. On average, players spend about 25 to 30 hours completing it. However, your experience could differ based on how quickly you progress and your level of engagement with the game's world.
Alphinaud is also a main character in many FF14 short stories. He is a young but intelligent Elezen who plays a significant role in the political and strategic aspects of the stories. His sister, Alisaie, is also important. She is more impulsive and combat - oriented compared to Alphinaud, and they both contribute to different storylines. There are also various NPCs from different races that play important roles depending on the specific story, like Y'shtola from the Miqo'te race who is a powerful mage.
I think the Gladiator/Paladin is one of the best for the main story. Paladins are tank classes, and being a tank means you're often at the forefront in battles. In the main story, there are many group scenarios where having a reliable tank is crucial. They have high defense and can use their abilities to protect the whole party. Their healing and self - sustain abilities also make them quite sturdy during the main story quests.