Curse

distilledwill · Dec 16, 2007, 12:07 PM // 12:07

Ok, i was awake last night for quite a while (insomnia) and so I was trying to come up with some monk builds with which to complete Shards of Orr. Of course, the staple against Undead is smiting, so here goes:

EDIT: In light of people looking at this thread again, I'm updating the builds:

Monk 1 Mo/E, set to avoid combat with a Totem Axe + HRT, HCT focus.
12 + 1 Divine Favour
12 + 1 + 1 Smiting Prayers

[card]Blessed Light[/card][card]Reversal Of Damage[/card][card]Smite Hex[/card][card]Judge's Insight[/card][card]Glyph Of Lesser Energy[/card][card]Resurrection Signet[/card]

Monk 2, Mo/Me set to defensive.
12 + 1 + 1 Smiting Prayers
12 Inspiration Magic

[card]Signet Of Judgment[/card][card]Bane Signet[/card][card]Leech Signet[/card][card]Balthazar's Spirit[/card][card]Mantra Of Inscriptions[/card][card]Holy Wrath[/card][card]Resurrection Signet[/card]

Monk 3, Mo/Me set to defensive.
12 + 1 + 1 Smiting Prayers
12 Inspiration Magic

[card]Signet Of Judgment[/card][card]Bane Signet[/card][card]Leech Signet[/card][card]Mantra Of Inscriptions[/card][card]Strength Of Honor[/card][card]Resurrection Signet[/card]

My Ranger R/D with a zealous Scythe Of Enchanting:
11 + 1 + 1 Expertise
10 Wind Prayers
10 Scythe Mastery

[card]Expert's Dexterity[/card]Aura Of Holy Might[card]Eremite's Attack[/card][card]Mystic Sweep[/card]Zealous Sweep[card]Whirling Charge[/card][card]Antidote Signet[/card][card]Resurrection Signet[/card]

The idea is that the signet spammers cast their enchantments on the frontliners (me and 2/3 warrior or dervish hench) then maintain mantra of inscriptions whilst spamming their smiting signets and interupting with leech signet.
The Smiter's Boon healer just provides healing with a decent amount of damage.

The only troubles I can forsee are that the signet spammers might not get energy regularly enough to maintain the mantra (although, i dont see this happening as they have 2 energy gain skills) and the smiters boon monk having energy problems, divine spirit is in there to combat this, but you never know.

Bare in mind that i havent tried this out yet, so any constructive crit is welcome.

Teutonic Paladin · Dec 16, 2007, 03:36 PM // 15:36

This looks like a solid build. Here's some random things I think could be improved.

You could definitely add some hard resses.
Heart of Holy Flame would greatly increase your ranger's damage.
Troll Unguent is bad in this situation, I'd replace it and all the WS points.\
Retribution is very low damage and is not holy, I'd scrap it for something else.
Your bonder monks shouldn't need blessed signet if they're only bonding three people. Consider Draw Condition or Smite conditions to help with the BSurge spam.
Zealot's Fire is an incredibly low source of damage, I'd scrap it for something else.
Divine Spirit only works ~10/60 seconds, scrap it for something else.

distilledwill · Dec 16, 2007, 03:46 PM // 15:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teutonic Paladin

This looks like a solid build. Here's some random things I think could be improved.

You could definitely add some hard resses.
Heart of Holy Flame would greatly increase your ranger's damage.
Troll Unguent is bad in this situation, I'd replace it and all the WS points.\
Retribution is very low damage and is not holy, I'd scrap it for something else.
Your bonder monks shouldn't need blessed signet if they're only bonding three people. Consider Draw Condition or Smite conditions to help with the BSurge spam.
Zealot's Fire is an incredibly low source of damage, I'd scrap it for something else.
Divine Spirit only works ~10/60 seconds, scrap it for something else.

what about scrapping Retribution for Holy Wrath?

EDIT: Also, Heart of Holy Flame is mysticism.

Teutonic Paladin · Dec 16, 2007, 04:16 PM // 16:16

That would work but you'd probably have to stop after each battle to gain energy and recast mantra of inscriptions, slower, but it'll turn those caster spikes against them.

Terraban · Dec 16, 2007, 05:40 PM // 17:40

Heart of the Holy Flame would do nothing....

The holy damage only helps against undead, and Aura of Holy Might already gives you holy damage.

Targuil · Dec 16, 2007, 05:44 PM // 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by distilledwill

what about scrapping Retribution for Holy Wrath?

EDIT: Also, Heart of Holy Flame is mysticism.

Heart of holy flame is only to change damage to holy damage. Mysticism doesn't determine it's duration.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teutonic paladin

Zealot's Fire is an incredibly low source of damage, I'd scrap it for something else.

If monk is spamming smite condition, smite hex and stuff, zealot's fire isn't SO low damage source.

distilledwill · Dec 16, 2007, 07:12 PM // 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Targuil

Heart of holy flame is only to change damage to holy damage. Mysticism doesn't determine it's duration.

ah, didnt know that. Although, I already have Aura Of Holy Might to change my attacks to holy (it doesnt say it in the skill description, but it does.)

Mr Pink57 · Dec 17, 2007, 08:47 AM // 08:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Targuil

If monk is spamming smite condition, smite hex and stuff, zealot's fire isn't SO low damage source.

Problem there is you start doing it enough monsters treat it like AoE and scatter. The only way they will not is if you cast a spell once every 3 seconds I believe.

What you are also going to have to watch out for is using Judge's Insight, they dont always cast it on physicals :/

pink

distilledwill · Dec 17, 2007, 05:46 PM // 17:46

Upon reflection, Id love for people to come up with a good replacement for the Smiters Boon bar. Talk seems to love using Judges Insight on EVERYONE, and not much else. She doesnt maintain Smiter's Boon, and it simply isnt that good. I love the idea, but a replacement build would be nice.

bhavv · Dec 18, 2007, 12:50 AM // 00:50

I just use a single smiter for undead areas and still use an SS and SV necro on top. I run smiters boon healer with zealots fire for some crazy damage. An all smiter team though just sounds like novelty fun so go for it if you like.

Teutonic Paladin · Dec 18, 2007, 01:18 AM // 01:18

What if you took the smiter's bar and changed GoLE and Judge's for Balth Aura and Auspicious then force cast them together? And thanks for telling me about the holy might thing, I never noticed! :-)

Amy Awien · Jan 08, 2008, 02:13 PM // 14:13

How about having the Wrath monk use [wiki]Balthazar's Spirit[/wiki] on the R/D to compensate for Expert's Dexterity?

tmr819 · Jan 08, 2008, 03:27 PM // 15:27

You might find some ideas in this thread: smite monk Heroes for Shards of Orr.

I ran through Shards very smoothly by playing my ranger as a "Survivor Tank" (with the skills Broad Head Arrow, Epidemic, Whirling Defense, Dryder's Defenses, and Choking Gas, and using Throw Dirt and Light of Deldrimor once the mob was close enough). I would just park my team and then run up and pull the enemy (activating [skill]Whirling Defense[/skill]) and then head back toward the hench/hero team part way. Once the mob was on me, I could unpark my team and let em roll.

The smiter builds were slight variations on the builds in that earlier thread: one Signet of Judgment smiter and two Ray of Judgment smiters. I was surprised by how effective this technique proved to be and by how resilient my ranger actually was. It made me wonder if perhaps I should start using ranger Heroes as my tanks.