Curse

Simon Tailby · Jun 11, 2007, 01:55 PM // 13:55

Hi folks,

I have just started playing Prophecies and am up to level 3 as a Monk.

I now have some points to allocate to my attributes, but before i do so i'd like some basic guidance in what to do.

I'm planning, unless anyone says this is a very bad idea, to be a Monk/Elementalist and focus on Healing and Smiting.

I have searched the site for details of this, but have only found details of a 55hp Monk?? or a farming Monk?? - no idea what these are.

Also, I could use some help in what skills to have, as i've picked Elementalist as a secondary after reading that this is good to help your Monk have high energy for use when healing.

Thanks in advance for your ideas.

Simon

Tab · Jun 11, 2007, 02:38 PM // 14:38

Regarding your idea of a Smiting/Healing hybrid, I wouldn't reccomend it. Although you can make some decent Smiting/Protection builds, they aren't very well suited to PvE, and smiting in general isn't very powerful. Aswell as this assuming Prophecies is your only chapter, you don't have access to any of the common smiting elites such as [card]master of magic[/card] [card]air of enchantment[/card] or [card]signet of removal[/card]. I would strongly reccomend that you stick to Healing/Protection as a monk, as this is what parties will want if you end up grouping.
A basic guide for a Prophecies - only monk would be to start with a basic [card]word of healing[/card] build, before trying out skills such as [card]restore condition[/card] and [card]shield of deflection[/card] as you get better.

Considering that you are a Mo/E, your choices from your second profession for energy management are pretty much limited to [card]glyph of lesser energy[/card], although later on you will be able to change to other professions, for example mesmer for [card]channeling[/card].

A decent starter build for PvE using a Mo/E would be along the lines of:
[skill]word of healing[/skill][skill]dwayna's kiss[/skill][skill]healing touch[/skill][skill]smite hex[/skill][skill]mend condition[/skill][skill]heal party[/skill][skill]glyph of lesser energy[/skill][skill]rebirth[/skill]

And about the 55 monk, it is a farming build where you equip 5 superior runes, which each reduce your maximum health by 75, and a -50 health offhand, to achieve 55hp. You then use the skills [skill]protective spirit[/skill] and [skill]healing breeze[/skill] and/or [skill]shield of absorption[/skill] to heal/reduce all of the damage you take. For damage, they normally bring [skill]shield of jugement[/skill], and bring [skill]balthazar's spirit[/skill] and [skill]essence bond[/skill] to provide energy. However, you shouldn't worry about this for the moment while you get used to monking.

As a final tip, you will want to move from Healing into Protection eventually, as this is a much more effective means of monking.

Hope you found this helpful.

Div · Jun 11, 2007, 03:05 PM // 15:05

At this point, just use all the skills available to you. Afterwards, you might start and decide to go with either healing, protection, or a hybrid of both. Smiting is generally not wanted in pickup groups, but it can be ok to play if you're with friends/guildies.

Alternatively, you can look here for builds: http://www.pvxwiki.com/wiki/Main_Page

Pick Me · Jun 11, 2007, 03:32 PM // 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Tailby

Hi folks,

I have just started playing Prophecies and am up to level 3 as a Monk.

I now have some points to allocate to my attributes, but before i do so i'd like some basic guidance in what to do.

I'm planning, unless anyone says this is a very bad idea, to be a Monk/Elementalist and focus on Healing and Smiting.

I have searched the site for details of this, but have only found details of a 55hp Monk?? or a farming Monk?? - no idea what these are.

Also, I could use some help in what skills to have, as i've picked Elementalist as a secondary after reading that this is good to help your Monk have high energy for use when healing.

Thanks in advance for your ideas.

Simon

Smiting is not normally a good idea as others have already said. I have a Mo/E for several reasons.

55 monk is a monk with 55 life, using smite and protection spells.
Farming monks are usually 55 monks, but doesn't have to be. They just kill a specific type of monster(s) for money (gaining money and/or selling items they get for money).

There is a debait about Divine Spirit vs Glyph Of Lesser Energy, you should read it.

I will go smite or ele when I hench/hero things. I am more proficient than computer AI regarding ele spells and monk spellcasting. Never go smite or ele in a PUG, they will hate you and you will endup dead (as you may endup being the only one with healing in the group).

Protection is best in PvP and in PvE. Healing is second, then divine favor. Then ele skills, as attunements may help you if you choose to go offense or defense. Smiting would be last.

If you want spells to help you, what campaigns do you have?

That will help us give you better info.

olly123 · Jun 11, 2007, 03:44 PM // 15:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibreaktoilets

Regarding your idea of a Smiting/Healing hybrid, I wouldn't reccomend it. Although you can make some decent Smiting/Protection builds, they aren't very well suited to PvE, and smiting in general isn't very powerful. Aswell as this assuming Prophecies is your only chapter, you don't have access to any of the common smiting elites such as [card]master of magic[/card] [card]air of enchantment[/card] or [card]signet of removal[/card]. I would strongly reccomend that you stick to Healing/Protection as a monk, as this is what parties will want if you end up grouping.
A basic guide for a Prophecies - only monk would be to start with a basic [card]word of healing[/card] build, before trying out skills such as [card]restore condition[/card] and [card]shield of deflection[/card] as you get better.

Considering that you are a Mo/E, your choices from your second profession for energy management are pretty much limited to [card]glyph of lesser energy[/card], although later on you will be able to change to other professions, for example mesmer for [card]channeling[/card].

A decent starter build for PvE using a Mo/E would be along the lines of:
[skill]word of healing[/skill][skill]dwayna's kiss[/skill][skill]healing touch[/skill][skill]smite hex[/skill][skill]mend condition[/skill][skill]heal party[/skill][skill]glyph of lesser energy[/skill][skill]rebirth[/skill]

And about the 55 monk, it is a farming build where you equip 5 superior runes, which each reduce your maximum health by 75, and a -50 health offhand, to achieve 55hp. You then use the skills [skill]protective spirit[/skill] and [skill]healing breeze[/skill] and/or [skill]shield of absorption[/skill] to heal/reduce all of the damage you take. For damage, they normally bring [skill]shield of jugement[/skill], and bring [skill]balthazar's spirit[/skill] and [skill]essence bond[/skill] to provide energy. However, you shouldn't worry about this for the moment while you get used to monking.

As a final tip, you will want to move from Healing into Protection eventually, as this is a much more effective means of monking.

Hope you found this helpful.

what ibreaktoilets has put is a very nice build for a proph onyl monk with little experienced and is a build if follow to the letter. as he say u go further throguth the game ur relise that heaing is out done by protection y heal for the 200 dam taken when u could have prevented that down to 60 dam or less.

tho with proph being proph and most skills now out dated ur limeted to a good build in there, for the lines of protection id go
[skill]Restore Condition[/skill][skill]Reversal of Fortune[/skill][skill]Guardian[/skill][skill]Mend Ailment[/skill][skill]Signet of Devotion[/skill][skill]Protective Spirit[/skill][skill]Aegis[/skill][skill]Rebirth[/skill]

[skill]Mend Ailment[/skill] is for own use

if u have yet to cap [skill]Restore Condition[/skill] id go with [skill]Shield of Regeneration[/skill], as u get it in the second misson avalable to cap moves, and u have to fight him, so no going out of ur way to kick his ass also if u have yet to cap soem move [skill]Shielding Hands[/skill] will come in handy

hope it al helps, but remember what ever ppl say its ur game go how u want

Darkpower Alchemist · Jun 11, 2007, 04:10 PM // 16:10

Geez, he is lvl 3 ppl. Restore Condition is way ahead of his gameplan atm. He will get these skills to start with;

[skill=card]Healing Breeze[/skill][skill=card]Bane Signet[/skill][skill=card]Orison of Healing[/skill][skill=card]Banish[/skill][skill=card]Reversal of Fortune[/skill][skill=card]Shielding Hands[/skill][skill=card]Symbol of Wrath[/skill], so smiting and healing are his real strong monk skills currently. I say balance it out, and have fun. Learn builds later. I started monking with a Mo/E and they are good to start with thanks to getting[skill=card]Glyph of Lesser Energy[/skill] in Pre Searing.

Don't overthink it just yet. You have plenty to do before elites and major build development occurs. Get to Post searing first, do your monk quests around ascalon, get to level 10, and when you reach Piken Square, then worry about how you're going to get through with a build.

JDRyder · Jun 12, 2007, 12:19 AM // 00:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

Geez, he is lvl 3 ppl. Restore Condition is way ahead of his gameplan atm. He will get these skills to start with;

[skill=card]Healing Breeze[/skill][skill=card]Bane Signet[/skill][skill=card]Orison of Healing[/skill][skill=card]Banish[/skill][skill=card]Reversal of Fortune[/skill][skill=card]Shielding Hands[/skill][skill=card]Symbol of Wrath[/skill], so smiting and healing are his real strong monk skills currently. I say balance it out, and have fun. Learn builds later. I started monking with a Mo/E and they are good to start with thanks to getting[skill=card]Glyph of Lesser Energy[/skill] in Pre Searing.

Don't overthink it just yet. You have plenty to do before elites and major build development occurs. Get to Post searing first, do your monk quests around ascalon, get to level 10, and when you reach Piken Square, then worry about how you're going to get through with a build.

this is a new monk i started

never to soon for RC or Lod :P

Simon Tailby · Jun 13, 2007, 04:29 PM // 16:29

Hi folks,

Thanks for all your replies, they have explained a great deal.

The main reason for asking for help was that I thought very early on you'd be faced with choices as to what skills etc you wanted and this would, in turn, affect the rest of your game playing time.

However, it now seems - if I've got it right - that you initially just get given skills rather than having to choose them.

This is great as it means, as someone suggested, that I can just go ahead, play and have a laugh with what I currently have.

That said, the advice about smiting is taken on board, as are your suggestions for skill choices later on in the game.

Cheers,

Simon

Age · Jun 15, 2007, 03:31 AM // 03:31

It is fun to play around with smiting in presearing but when you get to post it best to go to heal with only 4 skills on your bar to manage it easy.When you get to lvl 12 or 13 say you can make up a heal/protect hybrid monk.This is so you can get enough points in each attribute and for the most part you won't be using any elemental skills except glyph of lesser energy.

When in post be the only Monk even in an all hench party.

Sir Pandra Pierva · Jun 15, 2007, 08:38 PM // 20:38

yep he will be that.

Simon Tailby · Jun 18, 2007, 12:42 PM // 12:42

Hi again,

Played on Friday night and got a very sharp lesson in why everyone has said Smiting skills are generally weak. Went to get some Monk training and was sent on a mission to kill some skeletons in a nearby field.

Off I went feeling confident in my two new skills and ably assisted by my E/Me friend. I located the skeletons, steamed in for the kill and a matter seconds later, they 'tore me a new one'.

We both died and had to finish them off with a second attempt. Now i'm more than happy to admit this defeat could well be due to a lack of skill on our part, but I still think this has highlighted the problem with Smiting.

Since then I have re-arranged my points to be split equally between Protection, Healing and Divine.

I have also started a new character - W/Mo - which is up to level 4 now so that I have a choice of getting stuck in or staying back and mending people.

Loving the game and each time I play, I can't wait to play again. Played this Fri and Sat just gone until about 3am both nights.

Cheers,

Simon

Age · Jun 18, 2007, 10:35 PM // 22:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDRyder

this is a new monk i started

never to soon for RC or Lod :P

Wait a minute.How did you get those skills at lvl 14?

ca_aok · Jun 18, 2007, 10:46 PM // 22:46

Tomes, obviously