Curse

Bront · Apr 11, 2008, 06:32 AM // 06:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keekles

If he's also going to NF he might as well get to consulate docks as well to get a set of max armor.

[what I'd do at least]

DOne and Done (Had a helper in getting to NF, did the rest myself other than a CD run). Haven't decked out my armor yet, but it's max, and I don't think I need to yet. I usually live off of what drops till I get fairly far in the campaign.

Got up to 8 or 9 running around getting Heroes, so I have Olias as a MM, Jin using a Broad Head arrow build, and Koss using a sword build that I'm sure isn't optimal, but it's functional. I guess I could use Meloni instead, but I think I'll hold off. Vekk and Gwen may join the rotation once I get tho GW:EN, but who knows. I'm going to try and PUG missions first, for the practice, and to not have to tell my stupid Heroes who to attack (which is annoying). They're more for questing/mapping/wandering around.

Haven't had much time to play since then, hope to get a chunk of time on the weekend, but from here on out, it's learning to monk, and aquiring skills as the #1 priority.

Age · Apr 11, 2008, 06:56 AM // 06:56

You made a wise choice in choosing Prophecies as it is a like you said slow learning curve.I would advise you not to use Alesia in post untill you reach Yaks Bend.You should be the only one doing the Monking not relying on her just learn and play around with your skills untill you get a feel for it.I would throw in a few protection spells around Old Ascalon to prevent damage from the charr anyway Goodluck and hope you enjoy your Monk.

Don't do any smiting of any kind untill you ascend and get most of your elites .It is ok to do it in pre.I would watch the rune prices and the insignia prices as when to take it to post unlesss you have stash.

When you get to post go to the skill tainer there and buy Guardian as it is very usefull.

Bront · Apr 14, 2008, 11:57 PM // 23:57

Just an odd question.

Would running a hybred monk with [great dwarf armor] be useful? Looks like a fairly nice prot, it's cheap, and while it doesn't offer the bonus of DF healing, the +60 max health subs in nicely for that.

Not sure what it'd replace. Shielding Hands maybe?

Age · Apr 15, 2008, 10:44 PM // 22:44

I wouldn't and there isn't much room on a Monks bar for PvE skills unless you are smiting with heros and henchies.Don't do that untill you get to 20 and ascend.

Dr Strangelove · Apr 15, 2008, 10:52 PM // 22:52

It's valuable when you want a prot spell without speccing prot. I suppose it could be useful on a healer's boon monk, but other stuff is more powerful if you have access to it.

Bront · Apr 16, 2008, 12:24 AM // 00:24

It was just a thought. Looked reasonably effective. I haven't done anything in GWEN beyond just getting there to grab the first 3 Heroes and a few skills anyway (Cure Hex has been quite useful as a conditional big heal and to remove pesky backfires)

JoeKnowMo · Apr 16, 2008, 03:25 AM // 03:25

[Great Dwarf Armor] is good if you know you'll be facing a lot of destroyers. +48 AL with a long duration for only 5e is too good to pass up, imho. In those situations it is a good replacement for a small prot, although it functions more like a big prot.

Bront · Apr 21, 2008, 02:23 AM // 02:23

More reports on my experience (for anyone who cares).

Got most of my skills in order. Still finishing a few skill quests in Proph, but got most of the skills I want.

Been running this for the most part, evolved as I've gone. I still haven't done all the runes yet, hoping they drop. I'll rune up once I get the Elite Armor I want (Asuran)

[build prof=Mo name="WoH Hybred Monk" box hea=10+1 pro=11 div=10][Patient Spirit][WoH][RoF][Shielding Hands][Guardian][Mend Ailment][Cure Hex][Divine Healing][/build]

Probably will swap out Mend Ailment for Mend Condition. I'd go with Restore Life if I need a res.

I ran something similar in RA just to fool around, did ok for a while, but someone asked me to ping my build and then laughed at it (which I found amusing, it's not too different from most WoH builds I've seen).

Still practicing swapping weapons, as when I do that, I tend to start swapping weapons instead of using skills

but beyond that, I've enjoyed monking.

Now, on the PUG road, run into some AWEFUL groups (I once had an R/E complain that she was doing more damage with her Ele spells than the ranger ones she swapped to. Didn't seem to understand that firestorm is only slightly better on a ranger than it is on a warrior, and flare is pointless on a ranger, and in the same group, and Ursan Elementalist who claimed to be the nuker.), and got one griefer in Dragon's Lair, but I've also managed to do missions short handed as a result with a good group of players. It's been fun, as well as a learning experience about how bad some PUGs can be.

You all have been a big help. I'm far from super-monk, but I feel I'm at least reliable, and more of an asset than a monk Hero, and I'm having fun, which is the most important part.

JoeKnowMo · Apr 21, 2008, 07:39 AM // 07:39

- [Reversal of Fortune] doesn't do so well in normal mode. In your build it could be replaced by [Dismiss Condition] which would help with bar compression because you could drop [Mend Ailment] too.
- You could use a big prot: [Prot Spirit] or [Spirit Bond]. The former is more useful against huge boss damage, but the latter is great for letting you know how effective your (pre-) prot was.

- In RA, you need to take self-sruvival skills like [Return] or a stance due to the prevalent monkstomp.

I D E L E T E D I · Apr 21, 2008, 08:51 AM // 08:51

Another thing that you might want to consider is bringing [skill]Shield of Absorption[/skill] instead of [skill]Shielding Hands[/skill] it does a whole lot better in PvE, because the AI will doesn't know how to change targets.

And I second [skill]Dismiss Condition[/skill] for your Condition Removal. Lastly I would suggest you change [skill]Divine Healing[/skill] for a big Prot as mentioned by joe.

And when you go RA change out one of your small prots for a self-survival skill such as [skill]Return[/skill] or [skill]Balanced Stance[/skill]

Age · Apr 21, 2008, 11:12 PM // 23:12

He is doing a good jop on learning his role though.

Bront · Apr 22, 2008, 12:14 AM // 00:14

I have noticed RoF has been more useful in EotN (which I've been doing some of now that I have most of my skills), so I can understand how that's more effective in HM.

I'm confused about Shield of Absorption over Shielding Hands. SoA has a shorter duration, longer cast time, and reduces damage less, but has a shorter recharge time. SH reduces damage per hit, correct?

<reads> Oh, SoA increases with each hit... I could always swap it out for Divine Healing instead. I find I haven't been using that skill much.

I'll look into Dismiss condition. Need to either unlock it or finish the Consulate Docks with my monk (Need to finish farming Land of Heroes, should be easier now that I'm 20th, though I did fairly well at 10th and actually had to quit early). [Mend Condition] has actually been extremely useful in EOTN for me so far. Removing conditions with a heal has been very effective, and the 2 second recharge makes it spamable. I guess if I need it that often for many different targets though, I'd be better off with Extinguish.

I don't think I've grabbed Protective Spirit yet, should probably finish up the skill quests in Prophecies. I did grab Spirit Bond though.

Defensive for RA, I'll note that. I know I have Return unlocked, so I'll give that a try. Is that of any use in PvE too?

Edit: Changed Mend Ailment to Mend Condition.

Snow Bunny · Apr 22, 2008, 01:21 AM // 01:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bront

Defensive for RA, I'll note that. I know I have Return unlocked, so I'll give that a try. Is that of any use in PvE too?

Not especially.

Unless you're being chased by something big and scary, in which case your return won't be of much help either. Glyph of Lesser Energy is simply nice and consistent, and will give you a cushion to land on should you get pressured out of energy.

Some may disagree with me here, but a skill that has been around for a while is Infuse Health. You shouldn't go out and starting mainboarding it, but you should try it out every once in a while. It has its uses, can be a fun skill, and teaches you interesting things about skill usage and conservation.

I used it when I first began monking in factions and I gained a lot of valuble insight into spikes. I know you're in proph/eotn but Afflicted spikes as a learning curve really forced me to learn quick the best usage of my skills.

horseradish · Apr 22, 2008, 01:38 AM // 01:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bront

I'm confused about Shield of Absorption over Shielding Hands. SoA has a shorter duration, longer cast time, and reduces damage less, but has a shorter recharge time. SH reduces damage per hit, correct?

<reads> Oh, SoA increases with each hit... I could always swap it out for Divine Healing instead. I find I haven't been using that skill much.

SoA has the most damage mitigating potential out of all the small prots.

Quote:

[Mend Ailment] has actually been extremely useful in EOTN for me so far. Removing conditions with a heal has been very effective, and the 2 second recharge makes it spamable. I guess if I need it that often for many different targets though, I'd be better off with Extinguish.

[Mend Ailment] has a 5 sec recharge. Perhaps you mean [mend condition]?

I love [Mend Ailment] in condition heavy places. The heal from it can be godly.

It's not the best idea to bring Extinguish. If you're under that much condition pressure, better put it on the Ele or Nec hero.

Quote:

Defensive for RA, I'll note that. I know I have Return unlocked, so I'll give that a try. Is that of any use in PvE too?

Defensive skills aren't that necessary in PvE. Just stay to the back, and you should be fine.

Bront · Apr 22, 2008, 01:56 AM // 01:56

Yeah got the Mends confused (fixed my initial post to avoid futher confusion.

Is [Divine Spirit] a functional Energy Management skill? Or is [GoLE] better? Or is there a mesmer skill that will work well? (I'm in theory a Mo/Me)

horseradish · Apr 22, 2008, 02:16 AM // 02:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bront

Yeah got the Mends confused (fixed my initial post to avoid futher confusion.

Is [Divine Spirit] a functional Energy Management skill? Or is [GoLE] better? Or is there a mesmer skill that will work well? (I'm in theory a Mo/Me)

Divine Spirit is fine with Glyph of Renewal, but i'd recommend GoLE over that cuz it doesn't take up your elite slot. It also forces you to learn e-managment.

The only skill from mesmers that i'd put on my monk is [hex breaker]. I saw [mkay] bring [Power Drain] on their monks too, so that's an option.

Bront · Apr 22, 2008, 04:07 AM // 04:07

Nah, Power Drain, while a nice recharge, requires you to focus on an opponent, which isn't always a good thing for a monk (or at least, where I'm at monking).

I'm sure some of the other defensive mantras could be useful as well. Matra of Fire (or flame, whatever it is), is useful even at 0 spec at He, and it's pretty cheep to get it up to 6.

[Channeling] I think was one I was curious about. Didn't care for it as a Mesmer, but might function well as a monk, particularly against melee opponents.

I used [Mantra of Inscriptions] on a smite build I ran for a little while for fun (L20 doing some of the early prophecies missions with 2 hero monks who I wanted to level to 20)

Snow Bunny · Apr 22, 2008, 04:56 AM // 04:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bront

[Channeling]

Best used in a place like HoH, the biggest clusterRED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GO of all time.

Not that great in PvE

JoeKnowMo · Apr 22, 2008, 05:26 AM // 05:26

[[Divine Spirit] comes in real handy if your elite is [[Glimmer of light]. However, it's more of a panic button that won't teach you e-mgmt. [[GoLE] is your best bet.

Glad to see your monking it coming along.

FoxBat · Apr 22, 2008, 05:31 AM // 05:31

[skill]Shield of Absorption[/skill] is an additional 5 per hit. So if you get hit with 25 damage 5 times, the actual damage recieved is 20, 15, 10, 5, 0. It's absolutely nuts in PvE.

I've become a fan of [skill]Selfless Spirit[/skill] on bars with spam like [skill]Word of Healing[/skill] + [skill]Patient Spirit[/skill] for the rough spots. You heal everyone (else) in a dangerous situation and get all your energy back while doing it. You can debate whether that's "good training." Still, [skill]Divine Spirit[/skill] has seen play at times on RC GvG monks.