Curse

Seraphic Divinity · Nov 27, 2007, 11:45 PM // 23:45

Yo

I've recently been reading up on high-end guides and watching high-end matches and seeing the monks switch sets on virtually every cast...

I want to practice weapon swapping, and prot monking, however I want to have the proper equipment, so I know exactly what I can expect from my armor and weapons in-game.

My basic question is... What is the preferred armor:

Is it full Survivor+2 vitaes+sup vigor+minor prot+minor divi?

What are the weapon sets (all 4- and more if needed)

When should I swap, and what should I swap into?

ye... kinda vague questions I guess, but I want responses such as follows:

"You need Full Survivor+reduce daze+vitae+vigor+prot+divi
need a standard 40/40 prot set that you always switch into when not casting....."

please be very specific if you're going to respond. I would VERY much appreciate this.

Div · Nov 28, 2007, 12:17 AM // 00:17

Full survivor+vitae+vigor+prot/div/heal

Weapon sets here:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10222589

You swap when you cast a spell that will benefit from the bonuses. (i.e. Aegis/SoA/Guardian on staff, WoH/Gift on 40/40, shield for defense).

Sections 2.4, 3.3, and 6 may be of interest to you if you PvP, or you can read through Tommy's post that I linked to if you're bored and have a lot of time.

Seraphic Divinity · Nov 28, 2007, 12:18 AM // 00:18

tyvvvm for the response

exactly/all I needed

/end thread here gg

Ensign · Nov 28, 2007, 12:33 AM // 00:33

Your armor should have a full set of Survivor insignias, Superior Vigor, Minor Divine Favor, Minor Protection, Minor Healing (if applicable), and either one or two Vitaes depending on whether or not you have any healing skills.

Standard weapon sets are:

+5e/+30 HP spear/axe/sword with +10 v Type / +30 HP Shield
+15/-1 Wand and Focus
20/20 Healing Wand and Focus
40% HCT Protection Staff of Enchanting

In your pack you will want to carry a -5e / +30 HP spear, in addition to a wide selection of shields with +10 armor vs every type of damage, as well as reduce cripple and reduce daze mods.

At the beginning of a match you adjust your shield set. Do a quick inspection of the opposing team, and change your shield's damage type to match up with the biggest threat from the other team. In GvG this is typically either Slashing or Blunt; in Heroes Ascent it is generally Fire. It is generally not worth microing your shield selection beyond that during a match. Also, if you see your opponent using a significant amount of unconditional edenial (Surge, Burn, Weariness, etc) then swap the +5 energy spear out for a -5 energy spear, to hide more energy while sitting on your shield.

Whenever you are not casting you should be on your shield set. There's no better set to be on when not using skills. When casting any spell switch to the set with the appropriate mods, the 40/40 healing set for healing spells and the enchanting prot staff for your prot skills. After casting switch back to your shield set. It's usually worth switching weapons to cast any Monk spell except for Reversal of Fortune.

Only go into your high set (15/-1s) when you no longer have energy to cast on your other 3 sets but need to cast anyway. You should be crying on vent about being stuck in your high set because you're in bad shape. Again only switch into your high set to cast; after casting go back into your shield set.

Those weapon sets work for most Monk bars. Occasionally you will want to swap out one of the latter two 'casting' sets for some other set of mods depending on your skillset; for instance a smiter's boon character, or a prot monk with no healing skills. Look at your skill bar and figure out what sets of mods are most important, and create two casting sets for those. For instance on a Smiter's Boon character you will want a 40/40 Smiting set or a 40% HCT / 20% enchanting smiting set to cast on.

Seraphic Divinity · Nov 28, 2007, 12:38 AM // 00:38

I will never NOT read a post by Ensign 3 times O___O

and wow, ty for that reply Ensign, VERY helpful

eh, I know its late to be practicing for high-end monking, but why not?

TYVM Ensign *goes off to make shields*

Turbobusa · Nov 28, 2007, 12:42 AM // 00:42

Quick question, I play with +10 vs physical on chest+legs, what are your opinions on that?

Seraphic Divinity · Nov 28, 2007, 12:44 AM // 00:44

yeah, TBH I used to play with +10 (blessed) on chest... but I guess High-End players don't

JR · Nov 28, 2007, 01:42 AM // 01:42

It's all about +health, on everything.

Div · Nov 28, 2007, 02:58 AM // 02:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbobusa

Quick question, I play with +10 vs physical on chest+legs, what are your opinions on that?

It's alright if all you're planning to do is RA, AB, and FA where bad warriors c-space onto you. If you want to prepare for higher PvP areas though, you should get +health. I've heard people who take +armor when suffering condition, but I prefer the health.

moko · Nov 28, 2007, 12:48 PM // 12:48

Tarlisin is an example of someone who runs the condition armor but /shrug.

JR · Nov 28, 2007, 02:29 PM // 14:29

I hope by /shrug you mean /scrub?

Age · Nov 28, 2007, 10:53 PM // 22:53

Quote:

Originally Posted byEnsign
In your pack you will want to carry a -5e / +30 HP spear, in addition to a wide selection of shields with +10

Where do you get one.

Help us Bobby.

Ensign · Nov 28, 2007, 11:48 PM // 23:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbobusa

Quick question, I play with +10 vs physical on chest+legs, what are your opinions on that?

I actually like +armor over +health in every format except GvG, in general. Unless you're getting hit with a lot of armor ignoring damage, +armor is going to make you a lot more durable than +health with the health totals people tend to have these days.

The main reasons for using +health armor in GvG are that DP is much more relevant in GvG than anywhere else, and +health becomes relatively more valuable with DP while +armor becomes less valuable with DP; and VoD. The big hit to health at VoD removes any sort of cushion you might have had, and the comparison works in much the same way as DP; when your health total is low armor really isn't that valuable.

I'd still look at +armor on a caster when I'd have at least 600 health on a shield set without health armor and am getting +10 armor across the board in the trade. While enchanted is unreliable (you tend to get shattered when spiked), but condition armor is pretty strong for a Monk; I use it in TA regularly and I can see using it in GvG if you're less worried about DP.

LightningHell · Nov 28, 2007, 11:53 PM // 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Age

Where do you get one.

Help us Bobby.

Spear with -5 energy inscription "Brawn Over Brains", and +30 Fortitude.

Celestial_Kitsune · Nov 29, 2007, 12:54 AM // 00:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Age

Where do you get one.

Help us Bobby.

Collectors that have spears with free inscription slot are: Poti and Kaya

Monk Shields

A Protection Rod with 15^50 dealing holy damage can be handy when you want to wand.

An alternative to a shield on a negative set is a Forgotten Fan.