A little something I want to mention. - Guild Wars Forums

seraphite86 · Jul 14, 2005, 04:10 PM // 16:10

I know this isn't a question but I wanted to bring this up.

Yesterday I played for several hours getting in and out of teams. Anyway, one of the most respected, and most demanded, is the monk class. I like monks. They heal, protect, everything else that an elementalist can't do. They fix your boo boo's in time of need. But in one session I managed to stumble upon three of the worst monks I have ever played with.

I don't solely rely on monks at all but these three kids just didn't cut it for those tough missions. I???m not going to get into a lot of detail. One tried leeching us, saying he had to "go do something", so we took our time. But twenty minutes later after getting creamed, we said "F*** it" so we ditched him. Another just couldn't handle being a monk. And the third one, oh boy. He tried reviving everyone though there were enemies bashing his face in.

If you don't want to be a medic/nurse in real life, please don't be a monk.

Wolfedude · Jul 14, 2005, 04:32 PM // 16:32

I too played for several hours yesterday - as a monk healer. Spent most of my time with 4 different groups attempting the Thunderhead Keep mission. After the first try I questioned each subsequent group about their plan of attack and who would lead. The ones I selected to go with had the right answers but when it came to discipline to follow out those plans, they failed.

The first group I was with made it pretty far but failed protecting the dwarf king. It was all downhill from there. Group 2 had a ranger that felt he should lead and a healer should heal. I believe the quote was "how could you let me die when you only have one fricking job & that is to heal me?" This was after me saying after each encounter that I had a base of 57 energy and had to recharge after each battle. He, of course, preferred to battle continuously.

Group 3 stated that they were well disciplined and did listen to me about energy but would split up and try & fight in 2 different groups. Well, you can imagine how well that worked.

Group 4 was made up of 2 healers, 2 warriors, 2 rangers and 2 elementalists. I don't think this is a group that has an easy time with this mission because the warriors required so much healing taking the brunt of the fighting that the other teammates would die from neglect. I think we needed 1 more warrior.

I enjoy playing the healer role in Guildwars but to do it sucessfully you have to have a team. A team that understands everyone's role and how to maximize each role in the effort.

My guildmates heard my stories and offered to come & help me stating that it was after all a difficult mission. I declined thinking that sooner or later I would find a team that really did know what it was doing.

I don't blame my first team for failing the mission. I think it was a combination of it being a tough mission and us not having a real response for the Spectral Agony skill employed by the Mursaat. The others were, in my opinion, doomed to failure.

Celdor Nailo · Jul 14, 2005, 05:06 PM // 17:06

i quit playing a warrior to be a monk. i wanted to help people - plain and simple. 95% of my adventuring time is spent healing people. it's a challenge that i don't mind.

while you have been taking a look at the funny monks, let me change to a monk's perspective. lately i've been with a handful of players who keep running off before the group is ready. while this is way too common in GW, these knuckleheads keep running into groups of nasties and dying! i keep laughing when these players yell at me for not being healed! stop running off by yourselves you schmucks! my healing abilities don't have unlimited ranges. i make sure the group is healed before moving off.

sigh.

Azmodan · Jul 14, 2005, 05:16 PM // 17:16

One trick that I sometimes employ to make sure people let my energy regen is:
At the end of a battle, if there are people that are down to like 50% health, I don't heal them. This causes most people to stop and let their health regen giving me plenty of time to regen my energy.

It works most of the time, but there are still people that will aggro the next mob with only 50% health.

Dyeeo · Jul 14, 2005, 05:17 PM // 17:17

Not all monks heal/protect

Storm Crow · Jul 14, 2005, 05:33 PM // 17:33

I don't think that was the point

seraphite86 · Jul 14, 2005, 05:53 PM // 17:53

Even though I have never played as a monk yet, I understand how the healer class of any MMORPG works. But running in like a fool, reviving while in the fray, and/or being away from keyobard a lot doesn't really satisfy me, lol.

And yes, Celdor Nailo, I too am quite guilty of running off and casting while nobdy is prepared. Most people are. That's why now a days I pace with the monk more than the warriors.

Healing may not be the most enjoyable job, but it's the most satisfying. In the end.

Celdor Nailo · Jul 14, 2005, 06:05 PM // 18:05

it is a satisfying job at times. knowing that i kept a lot of people alive several times during a quest is very pleasing.

and once, and unfortunately only once, when we finished one quest all the members of the group thanked me for the job i did! that was easily the most pleasing moment of my GW playing.

Omega Complex · Jul 14, 2005, 06:26 PM // 18:26

Heres a view from a full time monk. There are a number of different monk types, there is the protection monk, the healing monk, the smiting monk. or any number of combinations. I am a Mo/E20 (Brother Marion, drop me a line if ya need help in-game) and I have been perfecting my monk'ness for quite a while. I tend to shift from when I go out alone or with henches to when I play group missions.

When I go alone, I tend to be a smiting monk, with a few spells for myself, that also work on the henches. I'm good at it (espically with undead)
When I work with a group I'm a healing monk, with 2 Element skills to protect me, and nuke if the E's need help. I'm good at what I do, but if im stuck with a group that ignores me, then there is nothing more I can do.

Good monks are few and far between, and when you find one you konw it. Many people think that a monk just stands back and heals everyone, what they dont konw is that a monk is usually the first target of a mob of enemies. When the War's dont see a need to protect the monk, then we have a problem, because the 1st rule of a monk is KEEP YOURSELF ALIVE. For if you are alive, everyone else will be to. Some people just dont understand that.

Monk Alive = Good happy time

Monk Dead = Bad dead party members time

It takes some time before you find a good balance of skills, finding ones that dont take long to cast and are cheap to those that take some time for the non stressful moments. And it takes some intelligence to manage which ones to heal and which to let fight. There is a thread about Infuse Health down in the Arcane Repository section which I think will help any monk alot, it helped me figure out how to fine tune my build and how to better stack healing spells for max effect.

When you in battles, most monks need a game plan. We need to know who to concentrate on, who has res sigs (incase the monk dies) ect..

Rangers, Elementalsts, Necros...You guys are a wonderful part of the team, but most of you guys have builds that are not suited for hand-to-hand combat. I'm not saying your not good at it, but. If a group of elementalists try to take on a pack of Sand Elementals, one monk will not be able to heal the damage. Warriors need to take point, and any ranged fighters/spellcasters need to stay back, preferable close to the monk, because, at least for me, I have heal area, i can heal anyone around me for 120+ in one quick stroke.

Anyway, thats my rant, good monks are hard to find, and I'm not perfect myself, but I like to consider myself knowledgable about the few things I know pretty well. I'd be happy to help out peeps if im not helping my guild. I'm only at the Ironmines right now, but I can take on Fissure whenever I get a better chest armor piece.

Any more questions, let me know.

Fye Duron · Jul 14, 2005, 06:47 PM // 18:47

I am a Smiting Monk mainly Healing secondary. Lastnight I joined a group that first off did not wait and would not return to Yak's bend for me to set up my skills to Prime Healer. Then everyone would not listen to me when I would tell them to wait and let me recharge. Then when they were stupid and all but my self and the only other good player in the group got them selves killed they ported out and left me and this other guy to finish the War Machine Quest. It was okay since the 2 of us where able to finish it nice and easy without the others. Anyways my point is that too many people do not listen to the monks, and that is why its hard to find good ones. I my self have been much happier only grouping with guildies and a few other friends because of this.

Omega Complex · Jul 14, 2005, 07:18 PM // 19:18

I feel the same way. Most times monks do not have the energy of and elemtalist or the HP of a warrior. Our advice needs to be heeded becasue if we get tapped out, no one gets healed, not even the monk, and that sucks. So Necros, if you go on a mission with a monk, do us a favor and bring blood ritual along if you have it, in times of need, when your a casting and we get tapped, we could use it

.

Dan Mega · Jul 14, 2005, 07:49 PM // 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celdor Nailo

while you have been taking a look at the funny monks, let me change to a monk's perspective. lately i've been with a handful of players who keep running off before the group is ready. while this is way too common in GW, these knuckleheads keep running into groups of nasties and dying! i keep laughing when these players yell at me for not being healed! stop running off by yourselves you schmucks! my healing abilities don't have unlimited ranges. i make sure the group is healed before moving off.

Instead of labeling them as 'players' please call them as what they are:

Warriors.

Kali Ma · Jul 14, 2005, 08:04 PM // 20:04

If I may add to this... one thing that can help a monk a lot is having a Necro that carries either Blood Is Power, Well of Power or Well of Blood. I carry BiP into every party nowadays with my own self heal, and make an effort to bip the healer every 15 seconds or so. At +4 to +6 energy regen for 10 seconds, this can make a major difference in how quickly and effectively a monk can keep the party alive.

However, if you do come across this... understand that the necro is sacrificing 33% of their max health each time they cast it. I carry self healing spells, but it's not always easy to keep myself alive when being pounded on, especially when my self heals are regenerating because I just BiP'd you. It's been my experience that many creatures will avoid the tanks and run all the way in back to go after the necro, most times before the monk, yet nobody pays attention or seems to care, leaving me to fend for myself. If I BiP the healer when my health is below 50%, then I'm going to die unless I get a little help too.

I'd guess that in around 8 out of 10 parties, the monks always just let me die first while focusing on the tanks instead. But then often the entire team starts to fall because their energy can't keep up (I'm talking about in the post-Droknar's areas and missions). I can't count the number of times I've been laying on the ground, watching the battle and the healers start pinging "My energy is 1 out of XX" while everyone's health bars are plummeting. It's usually during the lull after everyone dies that I politely suggest that I can't BiP the healers if I'm dead...

I'm not complaining, really - necros are used to not being understood or appreciated as a supporting role for healers. I'm just trying to shed some light on this for all of you good monks out there... it's in your best interest to keep that necro alive if they are sacrificing their life to bump your energy or cast wells that give +6 health regen and/or +2 energy regen to everyone within 39' of the well. It can make a monk's job sooo much easier, especially in the later parts of the game.

riluve · Jul 14, 2005, 08:07 PM // 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Mega

Instead of labeling them as 'players' please call them as what they are:

Warriors.

Says who? I just had this argument last night with a Nec - thought he could just run around and start a fight with everyone at the end of the famous Ashes quest. He was sooooo upset when I refused to rez him.

Actually, I insisted first that if he wanted rez'd he would have to behave. When he wouldn't submit, I let him remain face down in a pool of his own blood.

The Sensei · Jul 14, 2005, 08:10 PM // 20:10

I love being a monk, that's why i don't play my warrior much, except to farm. Monks, good ones, can keep 5 people alive, this includes himself, without being to stressed. All you have to do is sit down and work out the perfect build for how you play. If your build is mainly healing try to switch up the other spells a bit to "tweek it" and see if you can make it so that 1 and only 1 person, the main target, will gain life when hit and not lose it. That's the way i have my banana build set up, I throw up Aegis, then Prot. Spirit and heal as needed. But if the tank, main target, is taking some uber damage I'll throw up Shielding Hands then either or both of these spells Healing Seed and Healing Breeze. It actually let's the main tank gain more life than he could possibly lose and if he has Seed on him it helps the other healers in their job too. As with all my other monkey friends if you EVER need help PM Sensei of Peace I'll be more than happy to help keep anyone alive!!!

Always trying to help out
The Sensei

teny10 · Jul 14, 2005, 09:49 PM // 21:49

I just want to say this, monks are a little overrated. I beat the final mission in a team w/o a monk primary, besides a henchie. And we went through the mission w/o getting much trouble. Though at one point only one of us was alive, we did finish it. Thus came to the conlusion that you can't have idiots in your team, ESPECIALLY stupid monks.

With that being said, I love monks and please join my teams.

Jul 14, 2005, 04:10 PM // 16:10	#1
seraphite86 Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Florida Guild: Talk Less More [Sekz] Profession: Rt/E	A little something I want to mention. I know this isn't a question but I wanted to bring this up. Yesterday I played for several hours getting in and out of teams. Anyway, one of the most respected, and most demanded, is the monk class. I like monks. They heal, protect, everything else that an elementalist can't do. They fix your boo boo's in time of need. But in one session I managed to stumble upon three of the worst monks I have ever played with. I don't solely rely on monks at all but these three kids just didn't cut it for those tough missions. I???m not going to get into a lot of detail. One tried leeching us, saying he had to "go do something", so we took our time. But twenty minutes later after getting creamed, we said "F*** it" so we ditched him. Another just couldn't handle being a monk. And the third one, oh boy. He tried reviving everyone though there were enemies bashing his face in. If you don't want to be a medic/nurse in real life, please don't be a monk.

Jul 14, 2005, 06:26 PM // 18:26	#9
Omega Complex Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Arlington, TX	Heres a view from a full time monk. There are a number of different monk types, there is the protection monk, the healing monk, the smiting monk. or any number of combinations. I am a Mo/E20 (Brother Marion, drop me a line if ya need help in-game) and I have been perfecting my monk'ness for quite a while. I tend to shift from when I go out alone or with henches to when I play group missions. When I go alone, I tend to be a smiting monk, with a few spells for myself, that also work on the henches. I'm good at it (espically with undead) When I work with a group I'm a healing monk, with 2 Element skills to protect me, and nuke if the E's need help. I'm good at what I do, but if im stuck with a group that ignores me, then there is nothing more I can do. Good monks are few and far between, and when you find one you konw it. Many people think that a monk just stands back and heals everyone, what they dont konw is that a monk is usually the first target of a mob of enemies. When the War's dont see a need to protect the monk, then we have a problem, because the 1st rule of a monk is KEEP YOURSELF ALIVE. For if you are alive, everyone else will be to. Some people just dont understand that. Monk Alive = Good happy time Monk Dead = Bad dead party members time It takes some time before you find a good balance of skills, finding ones that dont take long to cast and are cheap to those that take some time for the non stressful moments. And it takes some intelligence to manage which ones to heal and which to let fight. There is a thread about Infuse Health down in the Arcane Repository section which I think will help any monk alot, it helped me figure out how to fine tune my build and how to better stack healing spells for max effect. When you in battles, most monks need a game plan. We need to know who to concentrate on, who has res sigs (incase the monk dies) ect.. Rangers, Elementalsts, Necros...You guys are a wonderful part of the team, but most of you guys have builds that are not suited for hand-to-hand combat. I'm not saying your not good at it, but. If a group of elementalists try to take on a pack of Sand Elementals, one monk will not be able to heal the damage. Warriors need to take point, and any ranged fighters/spellcasters need to stay back, preferable close to the monk, because, at least for me, I have heal area, i can heal anyone around me for 120+ in one quick stroke. Anyway, thats my rant, good monks are hard to find, and I'm not perfect myself, but I like to consider myself knowledgable about the few things I know pretty well. I'd be happy to help out peeps if im not helping my guild. I'm only at the Ironmines right now, but I can take on Fissure whenever I get a better chest armor piece. Any more questions, let me know. Last edited by Omega Complex; Jul 14, 2005 at 06:28 PM // 18:28..

Jul 14, 2005, 08:04 PM // 20:04	#13
Kali Ma Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jun 2005 Profession: N/Mo	If I may add to this... one thing that can help a monk a lot is having a Necro that carries either Blood Is Power, Well of Power or Well of Blood. I carry BiP into every party nowadays with my own self heal, and make an effort to bip the healer every 15 seconds or so. At +4 to +6 energy regen for 10 seconds, this can make a major difference in how quickly and effectively a monk can keep the party alive. However, if you do come across this... understand that the necro is sacrificing 33% of their max health each time they cast it. I carry self healing spells, but it's not always easy to keep myself alive when being pounded on, especially when my self heals are regenerating because I just BiP'd you. It's been my experience that many creatures will avoid the tanks and run all the way in back to go after the necro, most times before the monk, yet nobody pays attention or seems to care, leaving me to fend for myself. If I BiP the healer when my health is below 50%, then I'm going to die unless I get a little help too. I'd guess that in around 8 out of 10 parties, the monks always just let me die first while focusing on the tanks instead. But then often the entire team starts to fall because their energy can't keep up (I'm talking about in the post-Droknar's areas and missions). I can't count the number of times I've been laying on the ground, watching the battle and the healers start pinging "My energy is 1 out of XX" while everyone's health bars are plummeting. It's usually during the lull after everyone dies that I politely suggest that I can't BiP the healers if I'm dead... I'm not complaining, really - necros are used to not being understood or appreciated as a supporting role for healers. I'm just trying to shed some light on this for all of you good monks out there... it's in your best interest to keep that necro alive if they are sacrificing their life to bump your energy or cast wells that give +6 health regen and/or +2 energy regen to everyone within 39' of the well. It can make a monk's job sooo much easier, especially in the later parts of the game. Last edited by Kali Ma; Jul 14, 2005 at 08:13 PM // 20:13..

Jul 14, 2005, 04:32 PM // 16:32	#2
Wolfedude Academy Page Join Date: May 2005	I too played for several hours yesterday - as a monk healer. Spent most of my time with 4 different groups attempting the Thunderhead Keep mission. After the first try I questioned each subsequent group about their plan of attack and who would lead. The ones I selected to go with had the right answers but when it came to discipline to follow out those plans, they failed. The first group I was with made it pretty far but failed protecting the dwarf king. It was all downhill from there. Group 2 had a ranger that felt he should lead and a healer should heal. I believe the quote was "how could you let me die when you only have one fricking job & that is to heal me?" This was after me saying after each encounter that I had a base of 57 energy and had to recharge after each battle. He, of course, preferred to battle continuously. Group 3 stated that they were well disciplined and did listen to me about energy but would split up and try & fight in 2 different groups. Well, you can imagine how well that worked. Group 4 was made up of 2 healers, 2 warriors, 2 rangers and 2 elementalists. I don't think this is a group that has an easy time with this mission because the warriors required so much healing taking the brunt of the fighting that the other teammates would die from neglect. I think we needed 1 more warrior. I enjoy playing the healer role in Guildwars but to do it sucessfully you have to have a team. A team that understands everyone's role and how to maximize each role in the effort. My guildmates heard my stories and offered to come & help me stating that it was after all a difficult mission. I declined thinking that sooner or later I would find a team that really did know what it was doing. I don't blame my first team for failing the mission. I think it was a combination of it being a tough mission and us not having a real response for the Spectral Agony skill employed by the Mursaat. The others were, in my opinion, doomed to failure.

Jul 14, 2005, 05:06 PM // 17:06	#3
Celdor Nailo Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: May 2005 Profession: Mo/E	i quit playing a warrior to be a monk. i wanted to help people - plain and simple. 95% of my adventuring time is spent healing people. it's a challenge that i don't mind. while you have been taking a look at the funny monks, let me change to a monk's perspective. lately i've been with a handful of players who keep running off before the group is ready. while this is way too common in GW, these knuckleheads keep running into groups of nasties and dying! i keep laughing when these players yell at me for not being healed! stop running off by yourselves you schmucks! my healing abilities don't have unlimited ranges. i make sure the group is healed before moving off. sigh.

Jul 14, 2005, 05:16 PM // 17:16	#4
Azmodan Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: May 2005 Profession: Mo/Me	One trick that I sometimes employ to make sure people let my energy regen is: At the end of a battle, if there are people that are down to like 50% health, I don't heal them. This causes most people to stop and let their health regen giving me plenty of time to regen my energy. It works most of the time, but there are still people that will aggro the next mob with only 50% health.

Jul 14, 2005, 05:17 PM // 17:17	#5
Dyeeo Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Diego Guild: Lost Children Profession: E/Mo	Not all monks heal/protect

Jul 14, 2005, 05:33 PM // 17:33	#6
Storm Crow Desert Nomad Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: With Vanatiel by the Lion's Arch Lighthouse, waiting for the storm with which we are accoustomed Guild: Children of the Order [CoO] -True Heroes Fight to Keep the Balance-	I don't think that was the point

Jul 14, 2005, 05:53 PM // 17:53	#7
seraphite86 Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Florida Guild: Talk Less More [Sekz] Profession: Rt/E	Even though I have never played as a monk yet, I understand how the healer class of any MMORPG works. But running in like a fool, reviving while in the fray, and/or being away from keyobard a lot doesn't really satisfy me, lol. And yes, Celdor Nailo, I too am quite guilty of running off and casting while nobdy is prepared. Most people are. That's why now a days I pace with the monk more than the warriors. Healing may not be the most enjoyable job, but it's the most satisfying. In the end.

Jul 14, 2005, 06:05 PM // 18:05	#8
Celdor Nailo Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: May 2005 Profession: Mo/E	it is a satisfying job at times. knowing that i kept a lot of people alive several times during a quest is very pleasing. and once, and unfortunately only once, when we finished one quest all the members of the group thanked me for the job i did! that was easily the most pleasing moment of my GW playing.

Jul 14, 2005, 06:47 PM // 18:47	#10
Fye Duron Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chico, CA, USA Guild: Dragon Fang	I am a Smiting Monk mainly Healing secondary. Lastnight I joined a group that first off did not wait and would not return to Yak's bend for me to set up my skills to Prime Healer. Then everyone would not listen to me when I would tell them to wait and let me recharge. Then when they were stupid and all but my self and the only other good player in the group got them selves killed they ported out and left me and this other guy to finish the War Machine Quest. It was okay since the 2 of us where able to finish it nice and easy without the others. Anyways my point is that too many people do not listen to the monks, and that is why its hard to find good ones. I my self have been much happier only grouping with guildies and a few other friends because of this.

Jul 14, 2005, 07:18 PM // 19:18	#11
Omega Complex Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Arlington, TX	I feel the same way. Most times monks do not have the energy of and elemtalist or the HP of a warrior. Our advice needs to be heeded becasue if we get tapped out, no one gets healed, not even the monk, and that sucks. So Necros, if you go on a mission with a monk, do us a favor and bring blood ritual along if you have it, in times of need, when your a casting and we get tapped, we could use it .

Jul 14, 2005, 08:10 PM // 20:10	#15
The Sensei Academy Page Join Date: Jul 2005 Guild: Brotherhood of the Horrati Profession: Mo/Me	I love being a monk, that's why i don't play my warrior much, except to farm. Monks, good ones, can keep 5 people alive, this includes himself, without being to stressed. All you have to do is sit down and work out the perfect build for how you play. If your build is mainly healing try to switch up the other spells a bit to "tweek it" and see if you can make it so that 1 and only 1 person, the main target, will gain life when hit and not lose it. That's the way i have my banana build set up, I throw up Aegis, then Prot. Spirit and heal as needed. But if the tank, main target, is taking some uber damage I'll throw up Shielding Hands then either or both of these spells Healing Seed and Healing Breeze. It actually let's the main tank gain more life than he could possibly lose and if he has Seed on him it helps the other healers in their job too. As with all my other monkey friends if you EVER need help PM Sensei of Peace I'll be more than happy to help keep anyone alive!!! Always trying to help out The Sensei

Jul 14, 2005, 09:49 PM // 21:49	#16
teny10 Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jul 2005 Guild: Servants of Fortuna Profession: W/Mo	I just want to say this, monks are a little overrated. I beat the final mission in a team w/o a monk primary, besides a henchie. And we went through the mission w/o getting much trouble. Though at one point only one of us was alive, we did finish it. Thus came to the conlusion that you can't have idiots in your team, ESPECIALLY stupid monks. With that being said, I love monks and please join my teams.