.. another "monk awareness" thread.

[Studio Ghibli]

Originally Posted by BDStyle

Ok as much as I agree with the points made I have to say this is a somewhat common post and i have a feeling the majority of people on this forum already understand it. To actually feel like a change is being made do as has already been mentioned and learn to deal with idiots another way.

I don't expect this post to change the world.

Just to spread a little awareness and share the pain with like-minded compatriots.

[Jay the Jake]

/thanks you
The art of smithing monks in groups is lost. Just last week I went into fow with pug. I went healing, 2nd monk went bond/prot & 3rd monk went smith. 4th member was a warrior and rest were casters. We rocked, it was the easiest healing job i had in awhile. And the dmg the smith monk did blew members of the group away.
Protect monks rock, same situation was with a pug group leader was a monk and he had me go protect.As soon as he said that on team channel acouple members of the group went crazy. Protect, we need another healing monk. dont go protect monk go heal we NEED 2 healing monks. So i went protect as leader asked and it rocked. We only had to stop twice for heal monk to regen. Those guys that argued we needed a 2nd heal monk were like man your an awesome healing monk to the leader. You can go with me anywhere. On and on like that. They didnt have a clue. Of course the leader did I got my thanks whispered to me. And he was the one that said on the team channel 'It not just me, watch your screen look at what the protect monk is throwing your way.'
Man I could go on and on. Until these people play the game as a monk they will forever be in the dark about what it takes to be a monk.
So thanks again for this topic.

[Feminist Terrorist]

Smite! Smiting! Smited! Smote! It is NOT smithing! That's almost as common a mistake as Fractions.

Sorry, but I'm just wound up by that very common mistake and couldn't take it anymore.

[Shadowfox1125]

I was discouraged to play my monk. And those reasons would have been perfect a couple months ago..



Amen, brother.

[duanstar]

My first character was a monk, and it's still the class that I love the best. I have to agree--there are quite a few w/mo's (and others classe) that blame the failure to heal on the monk, and it is extremely discouraging.

However, I also think that it's important to mention the flip-side, that there are some people who just have no clue on how to heal efficiently. They stack Shield of Regeneration along with Healing Breeze when you're about dead and nearby mesmers are using Shatter Chants, or they use Infuse Health as their only heal and heal you when you're at 80% health. I just cringe when I see someone cast Peace and Harmony and refuse to believe that there are better elites that could be used. Later on, they spam their energy after only like 5 heals: Why? Because they've chain casted Heal Party to heal just one person who could've been better off with a Word or Signet of Devotion.

The other day, a monk that declared he was entirely heal when I asked him before going into THK decided to cast Balthazar's Aura and Divine Boon around 3 minutes after the mission started. Needless to say, I made the entire group start over because he was just a liability, spaming Balthaz's Aura and lv8 Heal Parties with no DF...

True, monks get a poor rap sometimes, but I think that if you really want to play such a crucial character, you need to have some understanding of how to heal efficiently, not just slap breeze on every target and use 10-15 energy heals whenever someone's lifebar drops a measily 10%. I'm finding that it happens a lot more than I would want, and personally, I would rather wait the extra 10 minutes for a good monk than spend an extra 50 minutes making up for a poor one. A lot of times, I end up taking Mhenlo instead of human monks, just because at least he knows somewhat how to heal...

P.S. Don't get me started on the ungodly 8xMending/Blessed Signet monks...:-P

[sun is in us]

Originally Posted by BDStyle

Ok as much as I agree with the points made I have to say this is a somewhat common post and i have a feeling the majority of people on this forum already understand it. To actually feel like a change is being made do as has already been mentioned and learn to deal with idiots another way.

I've been a slaphead now for 8months, its been my only charachter class and I'm very confident with it in pve and pvp. I have tosay the biggest skilli've learnt so far is 'signet of patience' Due to the fact we cannot overtly control the flow of battle as easily as other classes we must rely on others to do our dirty work while we keep them healthy. This means party forming skills must be developed if you wish to keep a thread of sanity.

My fave call if looking for a pug is....

'monk lfp that understands the use of the word noob is punnishable by death'

This has bore many fruits since i adopted it

Remember learning to use a class isn't just how to use your skills, you need to adjust your way of thinking. If you let them wind you up then you will be.. have clarity in purpose and you will not have the issue in the first place.

Very good post that this Newb takes to heart. You rock.

[Kaguya]

Originally Posted by Feminist Terrorist

Smite! Smiting! Smited! Smote! It is NOT smithing! .

I can play my smithing monk if I want to! :<

Now do you want this sword sharpened or not?

[TimberOwl]

About time someone spread a little "Monk Love"...

I haven't been a monk for long, about 3 weeks. But im already familiar with most of those points! Really the only thing that bothers me is when the W/Mo's in our party start spamming "RESS ME!! RESS ME!!" as soon as they die.. Im not sure if they have actually noticed that ive got my hands full with a huge mob that they aggro'd while also trying to res people and above all this trying to keep myself alive..

~ Good thread no doubt...

[Avarre]

Now, I agree with this thread, however...

I see so many 'monks r not loved omgg!' threads and posts it's really annoying me. You'd think monks have the worst existance in the world. The fact is, the party leans on you. You, along with the tank, are the most important people in the team. And honestly, the vast majority of monks either are as effective as a mending tank in tombs, or complaining that they get no love.

Whether people like you or not, and whether you like them or not, you still get nearly free passage to any quest, any mission, any ToA group. The 'lesser' classes, the rangers, the mesmers, don't even get that. I would endure a thousand flames if I could walk FoW with any PuG of my choice, whenver I wanted.

That which has the power to destroy a thing has ultimate control over it. Some person griefs you, they die. A monk and his subjects (and lets face it, usually we are the monk's subjects) is a symbiotic relationship, not a parasitic one. If you aren't getting the right treatment back from the group (slow pace, no harsh demands on your skills), then they don't get healing/protting. The counterside problem to this is if the monk is as idiotic as the tanks you portray, alot of groups are going to be extorted for them. It is for this reason the monk is also the class that really does require the most level thinking and maturity.

Monks are not blameless in this. There have been monks in my teams that seem to fancy themselves tank, and tell the warriors to stay back while they rush ahead with their 'uber guardian spell'. In my opinion, if a support character tries to aggressively run ahead and lead, they should be cut off from group support, much as a tank who rushes too much should be cut from monk support.

A good monk can work with a team that is moronic, and likewise, a good party can often work with a screwball monk. However, I usually get at least one decent monk in my team, and that's enough.

To end off, I can't understand why monks feel the need to whine. You're what everyone wants. If someone behaves horrendously, that person is, to put it quite simply, a noob*. Why you would feel horrible because of a screaming noob is beyond me. I've always felt an affinity to monks because, much like mesmers, everyone knows what they want you to do but have little clue about how you do it. The only difference is our more divine brethren are appreciated

I have never played a monk outside of CA, so all that I say is from observations and highly biased opinions. Regardless, these threads are tiring and the sheer number of them is larger than several subsections of the forums.

*I am taking, as I always have, a noob to mean a degenerate imbecile, and not a new player or someone with a lack of game knowledge from newness.

[Medion]

Warrior "A" is the designated attention getter. Warrior "B" should have the smarts to hold back and let him draw the first wave of spells. It's not a hard concept.

What I was trying to say is: if you don't tell that the other warrior is the 'designated attention getter', then the other warrior can't know that he is.

I agree with Avarre, being a monk means you can choose any group to join, which is so much easier then other classes have.

I found a wonderful solution for all those really bad non-monks out there. Bring Unyielding aura, if they bitch, let them fall. Then you own them If they bitch again, drop the enchantment. They'll get the hint quickly, and it works every time.

If you would put that enchantment on me, I would leave the group in seconds..... not that I often party with other monks then guildmembers or Mhenlo, but that is not the point .

[torquemada]

Kinda offtopic...

Well it all comes down to PUG's basically. Of course the PUG's suck because good players avoid em like the plague.

Why the hell do I have to scream DONT RUSH every time when noone's gonna listen? For target pulling I usually get a lot of ???'s.

Then your typical headstrong rushing W/x dies halfway across the map screaming RES ME! atop of his lungs.

But u monks out there are gettin a bit elitistic, IMO. Like surgeons in RL!

[saphir]

nah, if you pug enough you meet a lot of good players out there. and all of my best groups have been pugs. but then i never went with any of my guilds much.

the problem with guild groups is sometimes they take forever to form, often you get pickups anyway to fill out the group. and even guilds have jerks or bad players in them, the only problem is you might have to pretend to be nice with them even when they don't listen. unless you're guild leader or an officer of course =)

i won't even go into the many "guild group lf monk" groups i've gone w/. They're often times more inexperienced than pugs, often their first time with no clue what to do. Pug players accumulate more experience simply by getting in more play time usually. doesn't mean they're better, but the ones that are good are usually very good.

pug benefits include variety, challenge and generally instant play. no need to sit around in some elitist ts/vent only group that may take 30-45 minutes to finally get together and go. in that time you may have gone w/ 2 pugs already, one really bad the other really good.

besides, how are you supposed to improve your skills if nothing ever changes in your group?

i'm a monk, and i love pugs =)
i meet some of the best and most interesting players in them.

[thor hammerbane]

/signed X 49

As a monk, i encounter this all the time, they yell heal me. i simple yell back what you said" STFU, i can see your health bar". One thing i always say before we enter a hard mission is "if you aggro onto me nub wars....your not gonna get heals"

BTW::LOL at AURA!

[torquemada]

Originally Posted by saphir

nah, if you pug enough you meet a lot of good players out there. and all of my best groups have been pugs. but then i never went with any of my guilds much.

the problem with guild groups is sometimes they take forever to form, often you get pickups anyway to fill out the group. and even guilds have jerks or bad players in them, the only problem is you might have to pretend to be nice with them even when they don't listen. unless you're guild leader or an officer of course =)

i won't even go into the many "guild group lf monk" groups i've gone w/. They're often times more inexperienced than pugs, often their first time with no clue what to do. Pug players accumulate more experience simply by getting in more play time usually. doesn't mean they're better, but the ones that are good are usually very good.

pug benefits include variety, challenge and generally instant play. no need to sit around in some elitist ts/vent only group that may take 30-45 minutes to finally get together and go. in that time you may have gone w/ 2 pugs already, one really bad the other really good.

besides, how are you supposed to improve your skills if nothing ever changes in your group?

i'm a monk, and i love pugs =)
i meet some of the best and most interesting players in them.

Don't get me wrong...I've been in good PUG's, just not recently so I'm a bit vexed

Since I'm more a freelancer and more into PvE (which might change, yet might not) PUG's are my ideal choice.
Sometimes you get to know real nice people and gameplay is really rewarding. But sometimes it's proportionaly the opposite. Like good days and bad days, I guess.

[Studio Ghibli]

Originally Posted by Avarre

Now, I agree with this thread, however...

I see so many 'monks r not loved omgg!' threads and posts it's really annoying me. You'd think monks have the worst existance in the world. The fact is, the party leans on you. You, along with the tank, are the most important people in the team. And honestly, the vast majority of monks either are as effective as a mending tank in tombs, or complaining that they get no love.

...

We complain because, despite being the most desired class, we're also the most underappreciated. Yes, there are bad monks out there, but when you -know- you're doing your job, and people start spamming "omg u sux," it's a little frustrating.

Seriously, when's the last time you've seen someone in the group spaming "omg warrior attack wtf" "are u even fighting?" "hit this with that!" "HIT IT" "WTF US UX" "FIGHT IT".

Also, as you said, the party does lean on us.

The entire party depends on us.

Anywhere from three to seven other people have invested time with a group that depends on me or me and another monk to keep them alive for anywhere from thirty minutes to say, hey, three hours--and it's a frustrating event when I'm constantly told -how- to heal when I know exactly how to, that I'm charged with keeping the party alive when certain members of that party insist on charging into battle despite being squishes.

No other class has pressure like this. No other class is depended upon by the entire party like this. The monk, for the most part, is the keystone, and we feel the pressure--unnecessary, even.

[michaelp68]

I play my monk as either a pure smiter or a pure healer, preferably and most often as a smiter.

I completed the game as a smiter (not a solo/55 build) with a build that does a pretty good amount of damage as an offensive spellcaster. Plus, the nerfed aoe spells are completely unnecessary for doing lots of smiting damage. Also, I'm careful that if I join a pug, they are all made aware that I don't heal.

Some other posters have mentioned that the art of smiting is lost, or at least isn't seen too frequently. I agree that there aren't many smiters. At least I don't see many. Too bad, because a good smite build is super effective for killing enemies as an offensive spellcaster.

After completing the game as a smiter, I obtained a 2nd set of armor with dyes and runes, and also obtained different items for my hands, and set out to play as a pure healer for a while.

WOW! What a difference!

As a smiter, my biggest problem was getting into a pug that only wanted monk healers. But it could be done with a little effort on my part.

As a healer, the amount of crud to deal with is amazing. Definitely add my signature to this thread. There are bad characters in every profession, as stated in many posts above. But the big difference is that there is less hostility and there are less dumb comments directed at the bad characters of other professions. Monks receive the brunt of the dumb comments and hostility. It amazes me.

Now, I'll play as a healer to help my guildies if someone really needs a healer, or if I really want to get into a certain group for a run, it's just easier to get in as a healer sometimes. But there sure is less stuff to deal with as a smiter, and the smiting is way more fun with the amount of damage I can do.

The bottom line is that whatever character or build you play, you're either effective or you're not. Good players recognize and appreciate this, and importantly, play their roles well, too, so that you all support each other's roles. Bad players spew hostility or comments that show they don't really understand the game or how certain characters should be played. So, hopefully, some players who don't understand healing monks will take some useful information away from this thread.

Okay, enough of my rant. Back to work.

[Celdor Nailo]

Originally Posted by Kaguya

I'll start spamming 'attack that monster' when someone spams 'heal me'

As a healing monk let me just say, LOL!

[Zehnchu]

Originally Posted by Studio Ghibli

I'm constantly told -how- to heal.

That's when I tell them there's is a great book they should read

[Studio Ghibli]

While doing another Thirsty Rivers run today, after the movie ended (where the Hero is explaining how to do it), I ping that my energy is low (as I'm running a prot bonder).

This is ignored.

I quickly use my blessed signet. While doing so, the warrior has already run off, drawn aggro, and is now fighting two illusionists INSIDE a chaos storm.

He tells me to heal him.

[Yamat]

Originally Posted by Ensign

Endure Pain is the best skill for a warrior to use when he is looking to commit suicide. Most warriors are retards and pre-endure before every fight, so that right in the middle when energy starts to get tight they eat a fat 300 HP hit that'll finish them off more often than not. It's a good skill that can give you a big buffer in the right situation, but it's main use in a PUG is to trick your teammates into thinking you have more health than you really do.

LMAO!!!

A guildie friend of mine was bringing EP and using it this way, and i was monking. For the life of me I couldn't work out why I couldn't keep him alive. I thought I was sucking big time. Then I decided to watch his skills going off through the next fight... low and behold. We were all on Vent, so I had a fun time letting everyone in on the secret....