Curse

Div · Feb 28, 2008, 08:42 PM // 20:42

So the backstory is that there's been a pretty popular RA/TA build going around revolving around healers covenant:

Build:
Healers covenant
Patient spirit
Contemplation of purity
Dwayna's kiss
Vigorous spirit

Optional:
Spotless mind
Spotless soul
"I am unstoppable"
Divine spirit/selfless spirit (dunno why you'd need more energy)
Divine healing/heaven's delight
Healing touch (since main heal comes from divine favor)
Seed of life

Heal = 12+1+1 (or 12+1+3+(grail of might+candy corn+golden egg)=19 healing)
Divine = 12+1

Even without an imbagon, it seems like this bar can (may require a little support on harder areas) easily solo monk all of normal mode, even for less experienced monks who can't time their prots well with a normal WoH hybrid bar. I've done some tests and it feels pretty solid and easy to use. Granted, the lack of prots makes this a "red bars go up" bar, but that's generally what makes monking easier, so this could be a viable option for starting monks who have played other characters but want to ease into monking.

And yes, I know it's weaker than the typical hybrid bar in the hands of a veteran monk, but since Racthoh posted a monk build here recently, I can't lose to him, can I?

Flem · Feb 28, 2008, 08:45 PM // 20:45

Is energy management a problem?

Div · Feb 28, 2008, 08:47 PM // 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flem

Is energy management a problem?

When every spell on your bar costs 1-2 energy to cast, you can pretty much spam on recharge without ever running out.

Flem · Feb 28, 2008, 08:52 PM // 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by holymasamune

When every spell on your bar costs 1-2 energy to cast, you can pretty much spam on recharge without ever running out.

Neat, I'm gonna try it out when I get home.

I always noticed it, but always though that I'd have to spam skills more often to get almost equal benefit. Also the 1 less pip always deterred me, too.

Dr Strangelove · Feb 28, 2008, 09:03 PM // 21:03

I've been running this on a monk hero for a while, and it's pretty amazing for them. Heroes suck at preprotting anyway, so you're not losing much.

Racthoh · Feb 28, 2008, 09:32 PM // 21:32

I question the use of CoP in PvE. A lot of the problem hexes a monk would face are less common in PvE, and most monks that know what they're doing wouldn't get hit that often.

Quote:

Originally Posted by holymasamune

And yes, I know it's weaker than the typical hybrid bar in the hands of a veteran monk, but since Racthoh posted a monk build here recently, I can't lose to him, can I?

I'm at 3 pages of discussion already, oh bebe.

Magikarp · Feb 28, 2008, 09:58 PM // 21:58

lol @ the word "imbagon"... and yeah, Healers Cov builds are kinda old news...

heroes run this jazz pretty good, but you could just throw in an easy power drain or a few sigs if you want the heroes to run energy out slower. then your elite isnt kinda... wasted.

Tyla · Feb 28, 2008, 10:46 PM // 22:46

Like Racthoh's build, that looks fun to toy with.

JDRyder · Feb 28, 2008, 11:53 PM // 23:53

ive used this for some time but due to lack of prots i never liked it that much but u still can run a 14-10-10 attribute with it

atm when i use this build i use
dwayna's kiss
patient spirit
protective spirit or guardian
reversal of fortune
healer's coveant
contemplation of purity
and both spotlesses

ShockValue · Feb 29, 2008, 12:39 AM // 00:39

Covenant turns a nickel healer into a "2 bit" healer. I ran this for a while, but spamming red bar go up skills gets old fast.

Div · Feb 29, 2008, 12:48 AM // 00:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racthoh

I question the use of CoP in PvE. A lot of the problem hexes a monk would face are less common in PvE, and most monks that know what they're doing wouldn't get hit that often.

Yeah, that's fair. I just took the more important aspects of the RA/TA build and used it. CoP for the most part serves as something that'll not only get rid of condi degen or annoying hexes, but also as a huge self heal. You generally have two heals (patient/dwaynas) for your allies, but only one for yourself. Having a second heal would get you through stickies where aggro goes wrong, or if you're H/Hing.

Quote:

I'm at 3 pages of discussion already, oh bebe.

That's because you made every other post

I need to get on that!

xDusT II · Feb 29, 2008, 05:19 AM // 05:19

I was messing around with this bar in RA/TA awhile ago, and overall I didn't really like it. As you said it's a nice bar to run if you don't want to worry about skill usage, energy management or all that jazz, but overall it really lacks problem response depth. I really didn't like how the only way I could respond to problems was mash Patient Spirit and Kiss as fast as I could, even if I could keep doing it for ages. Vigorous Spirit also seemed like a bit of a waste, considering it's best function was as a trigger for Kiss/CoP.

You also have to watch your positioning a bit, relying on only Patient Spirit and CoP to keep you alive (Especially in RA, where you can assume everyone would have spam called you as their target the moment they saw Mo/X) can be pretty nasty. Especially when your bad at reading skills like me and realise Spotless Mind/Soul are target other half way through a match, meaning your only condition removal is a 10r CoP, which is really your big "oh shit" skill as well.

Well yeah I'll probably give it a twirl on heroes, otherwise it makes red bars go up while putting e.management on auto-pilot for you, although that's really all there is to it.

Keekles · Feb 29, 2008, 05:30 AM // 05:30

I ran this in RA earlier today. Worked out miraculously. I threw in Spirit Bond, and could survive most spike attempts. Also had hex-breaker thrown in as well. Turned out to be pretty resilient.

Overall, to me, it seems like it's a decently strong build. It was extremely easy on the energy, even with spirit bond thrown in. Stayed in my negative energy set for most if not all of the matches. Although I did swap to my 20% enchant staff for the spotless enchants.

Wish Swiftdeath · Mar 01, 2008, 07:56 AM // 07:56

ridiculously boring, i got around 20 glad points with it in an hour and a half(RA of course) before i stopped using it. Boring as hell (and easy to counter if you're team has half a brain).

Keekles · Mar 01, 2008, 11:17 AM // 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wish Swiftdeath

ridiculously boring, i got around 20 glad points with it in an hour and a half(RA of course) before i stopped using it. Boring as hell (and easy to counter if you're team has half a brain).

Yea, it is. It's different from what I usually run, so it's a bit of a change of pace =)

Jaigoda · Mar 01, 2008, 04:06 PM // 16:06

I have to question the survivability in RA.. To me, it seems that your healing skills wouldn't be enough to counter the inevitable 3 melee professions training you at all times. The most effective build I've found in RA is a SoD build, which absolutely owns RA since at least 70% of professions there are physical attackers (another 20% is monks, and the last 10% is eles, mesmers, necros, rits, etc.). IMO, I don't think that this build would be superior to a well placed prot. I do have to say that it's probably a good way to start with the monk profession for its obvious ease of use.

Keekles · Mar 01, 2008, 07:27 PM // 19:27

Lots of kiting helps. A lot of warriors in RA will forget to bring a speed boost. Spirit bond (which I bring) also helps out a lot. A lot of it does depend on your team being good enough to either gank their healer, or eliminate the melee who are on you. You can't last forever no, but I've found that I can last a significant amount of time. Only major problems for me are shattering assault sins, things that spam enchant removal, and shutdown mesmers.

Racthoh · Mar 01, 2008, 07:34 PM // 19:34

From what I know about the build it originates from TA more than RA. Vigorous Spirit loses a lot of its effectiveness if you don't get any physicals in your party.

Div · Mar 01, 2008, 11:27 PM // 23:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racthoh

From what I know about the build it originates from TA more than RA. Vigorous Spirit loses a lot of its effectiveness if you don't get any physicals in your party.

Yeah, I think it started being used as a secondary healer in TA. Vig spirit is alright if your casters know how to wand :P

xDusT II · Mar 02, 2008, 12:19 AM // 00:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by holymasamune

Yeah, I think it started being used as a secondary healer in TA. Vig spirit is alright if your casters know how to wand :P

or spam flare.