Curse

Clamatius · Feb 15, 2006, 11:35 PM // 23:35

The problem I have in CA right now is that I'm fairly competitive and like to win. Unfortunately, it seems that almost every offense or disruption build I play is very weak next to just playing a good monk build (boon prot being my preference for CA), simply because a CA team with 1 monk is almost always much better than one without a monk. The easiest way to guarantee you're on a team with a monk is to be the damn monk. Don't get me wrong, monking up the place is fun but sometimes a bit of variety would be nice.

Anyway, while I appreciate that CA is still somewhat useful for tweaking and getting the hang of different builds, tuning builds actually aimed at CA feels kinda pointless. It's like sharpening a knife when there's an Uzi right next to it on the table.

Highlights of things I've tried up to now:

Warrior hate necro (covered SS/Enfeeble)
Energy denial mesmer (inscriptions/weariness/surge/burn/distortion)
Blinding flash turret (prodigy/flash/orb/strike)
Blood nuke necro (OoB/s strike/gaze/pact)
Stoning ele (enfeeble/stoning/wards)

All of these were decent but still no comparison in terms of overall win %.

Firstly, any suggestions on some CA-specific offense/disruption builds, preferably casters? Secondly, is it just me that's got this feeling?

minor · Feb 15, 2006, 11:45 PM // 23:45

Have to say that unfortunately your right if u want to win in RA be the monk.
my choices when i get bored of monk would be interupt+apply poison ranger.
Other thing u can run is the illusion+inspiration mesmer, uses migraine, interupts, conjure. Just my ideas but basically if u can't shut down a monk and u run into a decent one ur screwed. Even if u can slow the monk down u still loss sometimes thats just the way it is.

wheel · Feb 16, 2006, 02:32 AM // 02:32

Playing a monk gets you the best return on higher player skill. You affect the team more positively than in any other build.

Lord Ertihan · Feb 16, 2006, 07:02 AM // 07:02

The problem with Random Arenas is this: nobody takes it seriously. Random Arenas is where you go if:
You're looking to kill time.
You're looking to score some easy kills every so often.
You've got a random build you think might work, but don't wanna embarass yourself in front of your buddies, so you test it out here.
You want to get consecs but can't be bothered to form a party in Team Arenas and have had the timer reset itself twenty times when you hit Enter Mission in Team Arenas.

For those reasons, monks (actually good monks) rarely frequent Random Arenas. It's a thankless job: if you do it right, nobody notices. If you do it wrong, everyone calls you a n00b. So why bother? However, your view is essentially correct. If you really want a good monk in random arenas, the best way to get one is to be one. But to be honest, I'd far rather be the warrior pounding on the enemy, knowing a good monk's got my back, rather than be the monk, desperately trying to keep everyone alive.

Accurax · Feb 16, 2006, 08:04 AM // 08:04

I totally agree with you.

I only play Random Arena's at the moment.... unless we get 10+ wins.
I'm allways a monk... i love it ..

The reasons i became a monk to begin with (and am now addicted)

1) Most monks get embarressed when they die and leave (vvv annoying)

2) Most monks (that have any skill) dont play RA (I wont myself when i improve)

3) In Pve monks that "think there the bomb" pissed me off.

Anywho.. ive never really been shouted at or called a noob by anyone.(well once maybe

)... and believe me thats not because im any good.... but more because of the way i treat my team.... if i make a mistake i apoligise to my team quickly and honestly and openly. ... if someone else on the team messes up i say something like... "carefull m8" rez him and play on.

CA is too fast paced for bitching... and RA it doesnt matter.. you just join a new game.

Just my own experiance but i find that whilst some individuals are a little childish... you just gotta know hoe to deal with them... ie be more mature.

And to address the OP's point (eventually), i aggree.. if u want quick consequtive wins in RA you really do need to be the monk.

Being the monk just cuts out those games where u dont get a monk and loose..saves time really. Eventually as a warrior you join a game with a monk & it goes from there.

However, has anyone else noticed this... when u play as a warrior you can go 4 or 5 games without a monk in a single team you join...... but... as soon as you play a monk you end up in teams of 3... or in one case 4 monks quite regularly??

wtf

Is this the wait all day for a bus and then 2 come along at once syndrome applied to CA ??

Curse you god for making CA this way!!!!!

Thom · Feb 16, 2006, 09:29 AM // 09:29

Rangers and warriors with topped out DPS and average pvp skills do fine. If you can drop someone fast enough 1v1, you can help out a bad team as much as a monk can. Rangers and warrior armor and "scare factor" will allow you to get away with minimal health buffs. All of the builds you mentioned really need good monk support since a noob warriorr will lay into you really hard forcing jogging or damage.

Ranger, warrior, monk... I really can't advocate running any other classes in RA. Run a gale warrior or an IW ranger and see if that goes better.

wheel · Feb 16, 2006, 09:33 PM // 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thom

Rangers and warriors with topped out DPS and average pvp skills do fine. If you can drop someone fast enough 1v1, you can help out a bad team as much as a monk can. Rangers and warrior armor and "scare factor" will allow you to get away with minimal health buffs. All of the builds you mentioned really need good monk support since a noob warriorr will lay into you really hard forcing jogging or damage.

Ranger, warrior, monk... I really can't advocate running any other classes in RA. Run a gale warrior or an IW ranger and see if that goes better.

The more popular classes out there are going to be Ranger and Warrior, and I do more to help my team out by having condition removal for them as well as keeping the team alive.