Curse

Taurucis · Dec 03, 2007, 09:01 PM // 21:01

This is my favorite for my Ranger.

[skill]Melandru's Shot[/skill] [skill]Savage Shot[/skill] [skill]Disrupting Shot[/skill] [skill]Sloth Hunter's Shot[/skill] [skill]Mending Touch[/skill] [skill]Read the Wind[/skill] [skill]Troll Unguent[/skill] [skill]Storm Chaser[/skill]

I usually run with 10 expertise, 10 WS, 16 Marksmanship, and the rest in prot prayers. Ran this build ever since I began ABing and I never plan to toss it - I only modify it as the need arises.

TheOneMephisto · Dec 03, 2007, 09:46 PM // 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by the ruloes

First time I've played AB, I'm running this build:

12+1+1 protection prayers
9+1 healing prayers
9+1 divine favour

[skill]spirit bond[/skill][skill]shield of absorption[/skill][skill]guardian[/skill][skill]reversal of fortune[/skill][skill]gift of health[/skill][skill]protective spirit[/skill][skill]healing touch[/skill][skill]signet of removal[/skill]

It's the build I run around with when monking. I can often lend a little helping hand in any kind of situation

Get rid of prot spirit, heal touch, and sig of removal, add in ZB/WoH, dismiss, and holy veil. If using WoH definitely drop gift for self-protection (dark escape probably for AB, possibly shield bash, balanced stance, or mending touch), if using ZB dropping gift is up to personal preference.

Riotgear · Dec 03, 2007, 10:51 PM // 22:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOneMephisto

Get rid of prot spirit, heal touch, and sig of removal, add in ZB/WoH, dismiss, and holy veil. If using WoH definitely drop gift for self-protection (dark escape probably for AB, possibly shield bash, balanced stance, or mending touch), if using ZB dropping gift is up to personal preference.

I wouldn't recommend relying on Dark Escape alone in scrub arenas where every other Assassin packs Wild Strike.

With Return, yes. Return is more useful in AB than Dark Escape anyway. Without Return, Shield Bash is ftw.

TheOneMephisto · Dec 03, 2007, 10:58 PM // 22:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riotgear

I wouldn't recommend relying on Dark Escape alone in scrub arenas where every other Assassin packs Wild Strike.

With Return, yes. Return is more useful in AB than Dark Escape anyway. Without Return, Shield Bash is ftw.

I only said dark escape because speedboosts are amazing in AB. Just the added mobility allows you to do so more much, and either way, against sins with wild strike you won't need much more that small prot + heal.

And return isn't that great in AB, just because of the cases that you're going to get caught in without people nearby. I just feel that dark escape is all around the best option for AB, combining strong self-defense, more mobility, and the ability to function alone.

Turbobusa · Dec 03, 2007, 11:09 PM // 23:09

Dark escape works great for me, and if you are to bring return, bring either both or return/dash. Speed boost are always a plus in AB and I really feel I'm missing one on the packhunter.

You meet some wild strike sins but just remember his name and use dark escape after wild strike the next time you meet him.

bungusmaximus · Dec 03, 2007, 11:09 PM // 23:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taurucis

This is my favorite for my Ranger.

[skill]Melandru's Shot[/skill] [skill]Savage Shot[/skill] [skill]Disrupting Shot[/skill] [skill]Sloth Hunter's Shot[/skill] [skill]Mending Touch[/skill] [skill]Read the Wind[/skill] [skill]Troll Unguent[/skill] [skill]Storm Chaser[/skill]

I usually run with 10 expertise, 10 WS, 16 Marksmanship, and the rest in prot prayers. Ran this build ever since I began ABing and I never plan to toss it - I only modify it as the need arises.

Might wanna try concussion shot, with the energy management you should have enough, else, prepared shot as an elite works also. Only use that one when you're confident of your interrupting skills because it's rather pricey.

Taurucis · Dec 03, 2007, 11:16 PM // 23:16

Well, I'm usually doing something else that requires the internet when I'm ABing... like browsing Guru, not what you're thinking. I don't really trust my ping to stay stable, and I like to pull off spikes: Melandru's-Savage and Sloth Hunter's-Disrupting.

Riotgear · Dec 04, 2007, 12:12 AM // 00:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOneMephisto

And return isn't that great in AB, just because of the cases that you're going to get caught in without people nearby. I just feel that dark escape is all around the best option for AB, combining strong self-defense, more mobility, and the ability to function alone.

The only real reason for being caught without allies nearby with Return is either all of them being dead or those allies running into their doom.

The mobility granted by it is still exceptional, I'd rather have the ability to be very loose with positioning when kiting enemies and quickly port back to an ally to get moving than 10-ish seconds of a minor speed boost. That and be able to keep pace with teammates that feel like wandering off.

10 seconds of 25% run speed is only 2.5 seconds saved after all, I'm pretty sure one Return cast can match that.

TheOneMephisto · Dec 04, 2007, 12:17 AM // 00:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riotgear

The only real reason for being caught without allies nearby with Return is either all of them being dead or those allies running into their doom.

The mobility granted by it is still exceptional, I'd rather have the ability to be very loose with positioning when kiting enemies and quickly port back to an ally to get moving than 10-ish seconds of a minor speed boost. That and be able to keep pace with teammates that feel like wandering off.

10 seconds of 25% run speed is only 2.5 seconds saved after all, I'm pretty sure one Return cast can match that.

Meh. I've been in situations where I've wanted to delay groups of people by running off with 4 guys chasing me. I've also been in plenty of situations where I've gone solo to go protect a shrine (though this isn't as applicable because you usually have shrine NPCs to return to, though they're more annoying to use).

Dark escape is also plenty good for keeping up with enemies, and also allows you to be pretty much just as loose with positioning as the speedboost helps out. It also gets incredible as a speedboost when under the battle cry shrine.

But I mean, return also has it's advantages over it, and it mostly comes down to preference. Depending on the map, the ability to jump elevations to allies can be invaluable, and when in groups return is arguably the better option for pure self defense. They both have purposes and I'd consider both of them, I just personally like the speedboost in AB.

MasterSasori · Dec 04, 2007, 04:37 PM // 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by bungusmaximus

Might wanna try concussion shot, with the energy management you should have enough, else, prepared shot as an elite works also. Only use that one when you're confident of your interrupting skills because it's rather pricey.

With 10 expertise I would definitely not try concussion shot. Even with Melandru's Shot, its too pricey.

bungusmaximus · Dec 04, 2007, 06:00 PM // 18:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterSasori

With 10 expertise I would definitely not try concussion shot. Even with Melandru's Shot, its too pricey.

I stand corrected, expertise would ofc have to be upped.

MasterSasori · Dec 05, 2007, 06:36 PM // 18:36

Now that WoH has been buffed, I've been seeing many more healer monks.

I've also been noticing the amount of Critical Defenses Sin increasing.

Elementalist numbers have also increased.

Course this might have changed, but this was the trend during the recent double fac weekend.

Gigashadow · Dec 05, 2007, 10:22 PM // 22:22

When monking in AB, I've found Blessed Light to work pretty nicely. The reason is that hexes are extremely common in AB, and in fact the first person to charge in to a group of enemies usually gets hexed and conditioned up the ass.

Blessed Light + Deny Hexes (not necessarily on the same person) is quite good for keep your party clean. Blessed light has a shorter recharge than it used to though, so you have to cast Deny Hexes immediately after, and you definitely won't want to use a HSR set for it.

Blight is conveniently in the divine favor attribute, which makes everything more efficient.

In addition to escaping melee attackers, Return is also useful to keep up with your other party members who are packing speed boosts.

12+1+1 divine favor
7+1 prot (enough to get guardian to 5s)
6 in shadow arts
The rest (9+1? I'm at work and can't remember) in healing

Dark escape is not that critical, I find Return to be the better of the two spells.

[skill]Return[/skill][skill]Reversal of Fortune[/skill][skill]Blessed Light[/skill][skill]Gift of Health[/skill][skill]Guardian[/skill][skill]Dismiss Condition[/skill][skill]Deny Hexes[/skill][skill]Dark escape[/skill]

bungusmaximus · Dec 05, 2007, 11:12 PM // 23:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterSasori

Now that WoH has been buffed, I've been seeing many more healer monks.

They're still hybrids, they only take WoH instead of ZB. Pure healer monks aren't too hot.

Turbobusa · Dec 06, 2007, 12:24 AM // 00:24

It's really a matter of preference between WoH and ZB. both works well, ZB rewards you more when < 50%, Woh is always effective and usable.

Tyla · Dec 06, 2007, 12:46 AM // 00:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbobusa

It's really a matter of preference between WoH and ZB. both works well, ZB rewards you more when < 50%, Woh is always effective and usable.

i still prefere ZB over WoH myself, i prot likes to keep people over 50% health anyway

just started monking...again anyway and its going quite well for me - but as you said...its a matter of preference

TheOneMephisto · Dec 06, 2007, 12:51 AM // 00:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigashadow

12+1+1 divine favor
7+1 prot (enough to get guardian to 5s)
6 in shadow arts
The rest (9+1? I'm at work and can't remember) in healing

Dark escape is not that critical, I find Return to be the better of the two spells.

[skill]Return[/skill][skill]Reversal of Fortune[/skill][skill]Blessed Light[/skill][skill]Gift of Health[/skill][skill]Guardian[/skill][skill]Dismiss Condition[/skill][skill]Deny Hexes[/skill][skill]Dark escape[/skill]

I'm pretty sure that bar would be a lot more efficient if you dropped blessed light for ZB or WoH. Just because BL isn't really an efficient skill unless you're hitting all three conditionals, and if you take ZB/WoH and switch up your hex removal, you can also free up a slot by dropping GoH.

Using a hex removal then using ZB/WoH is a lot more efficient than using BL, and the extra slot frees up space for a big prot (or another small prot if you don't think big prots are worth it in AB).

EDIT: Forgot, dropping BL also allows you to get away with a much lower DF spec, giving you more prot (on both the WoH and ZB bars, but even more on WoH) and more raw healing power on your red bars go up skills.

bungusmaximus · Dec 06, 2007, 01:01 AM // 01:01

Shield of deflection also seems to work pretty well, dissmiss condition can also be easily used as a heal on top of it. I found SoD monks a pain in the ass to kill, target swapping might own it, but it remains to be seen if the enemy has time to engage in lengthy fights like that. When they're 100 points behind there's no point in slowly exhausting the enemy.

TheOneMephisto · Dec 06, 2007, 01:10 AM // 01:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by bungusmaximus

Shield of deflection also seems to work pretty well, dissmiss condition can also be easily used as a heal on top of it. I found SoD monks a pain in the ass to kill, target swapping might own it, but it remains to be seen if the enemy has time to engage in lengthy fights like that. When they're 100 points behind there's no point in slowly exhausting the enemy.

Shield of deflection isn't that great just because it isn't a good solo template though. I mean, if you can get the monk to burn the SoD on an ally or you just have some enchant removal, it isn't hard to just jump on the monk and roll him, especially if you have the aforementioned enchant or some caster damage supporting you.

The lack of a good self heal really hurts the character, along with heavy reliance on enchantments. A good warrior with rend touch with some support should be able to monk-stop an SoD fairly easily.

bungusmaximus · Dec 06, 2007, 01:19 AM // 01:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOneMephisto

The lack of a good self heal really hurts the character.

Yeah that could really be problematic, people tend to forget to defend their monk rather often anyways.