Curse

Clay Brick · Feb 27, 2012, 04:18 PM // 16:18

Am I the only one that isn't a huge RoJ fan? Against undead or in very compact areas maybe, but it doesn't float my boat like a UA healer or swapped for another profession completely. My experience has been heroes will use it on that one frontline then use it on a minion and it goes on from there.

Queen Of Recovery · Feb 27, 2012, 05:40 PM // 17:40

you can always call a target and they will use it correctly
or if you dont like it, just dont use it ^^

InStars · Feb 27, 2012, 05:45 PM // 17:45

I am not a fan of RoJ too, not worth it IMO.

Only useful for "Strengh of Honor" if you use a melee profession.

Ewon · Feb 27, 2012, 06:04 PM // 18:04

You will find that RoJ becomes much more useful when you start microing your heroes. Does this make it better than other skills, maybe not, but you will not see the full power of RoJ if you just let your heroes use it as they please.

Maya Cerestiez · Feb 27, 2012, 06:15 PM // 18:15

I don't like RoJ. It's such a big investment in the smiting line which apart from the elite skill doesn't pack the most powerful bunch of skills. AoE Mesmers or Eles are much more powerful imo. Rupts, snares, conditions are all included and they have superior e-management compared to the monk. RoJ with a shorter recharge would be quite nice though, since it's really the only serious smiting damage skill.

Pew · Feb 27, 2012, 07:28 PM // 19:28

Useful when balling foes and/or vs undead. Otherwise you're not really getting the use out of it.

Venganza · Feb 27, 2012, 07:50 PM // 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clay Brick

Am I the only one that isn't a huge RoJ fan?

Well ROJ is highly overrated, fairly long cast time and recharge, not to mention the fact that all smart monsters move out of the way as fast as they can, and you need to run 16 points smite always to deal reasonable damage.

I use it on a hero when I am on a melee class, since the hero can run S&H, Balt spirit etc.

I also use it when I am on my monk with arcane echo, since it is a pain to run with heroes as a heal monk, but honestly the smite line is weak, so while a human can take PvE skills to make a decent bar with ROJ, heroes are limited.

I guess that is why they are looking to fix smite line, since overall it is pretty piss-poor as it is.

Ewon · Feb 27, 2012, 08:37 PM // 20:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amy Awien

Well, if other hero builds are as effective without having to micro them then those would be better. Personally I really don't want to micro their skills, setting flags, ok, but it ends right there.

Agrred, but I am not comparing RoJ to other bars. I'm just stating how the skill needs to be used in order to be successful.

Xsiriss · Feb 27, 2012, 11:25 PM // 23:25

RoJ was only ever useful becaused the AI ignored it. It's okay if you arcane echo it as a human player, but beyond that just no. Hell all of smiting prayers is pretty useless, just like a lot of things, and unfortunately none of it will get revamped.

Jeydra · Feb 27, 2012, 11:28 PM // 23:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venganza

Well ROJ is highly overrated, fairly long cast time and recharge, not to mention the fact that all smart monsters move out of the way as fast as they can, and you need to run 16 points smite always to deal reasonable damage.

I use it on a hero when I am on a melee class, since the hero can run S&H, Balt spirit etc.

I also use it when I am on my monk with arcane echo, since it is a pain to run with heroes as a heal monk, but honestly the smite line is weak, so while a human can take PvE skills to make a decent bar with ROJ, heroes are limited.

I guess that is why they are looking to fix smite line, since overall it is pretty piss-poor as it is.

This, although I'll disagree that Smiting is weak because it's got several strong skills (Balth Spirit / SoH, Smiter's Boon + Smite Condi / Smite Hex / Reversal of Damage), sufficiently so that Smiters are worth considering even though they're not top tier. What's weak about Smiting is its damage output.

I'll also add that one "drawback" of RoJ is that it (for casters at least) competes directly with UA, which is one of the best Monk elites out there. You can't use UA if you're already using Balth Spirit / SoH, but otherwise that skill is like the single best skill in the game when it comes to protecting against wipes.

Shaikar · Feb 28, 2012, 12:59 AM // 00:59

Not a big fan of RoJ here either. I'd like to be because it looks awesome but heroes are terrible at using it well without player intervention and it's just not that good outside of the ideal situation. Not bad, just not amazing, which is a problem when it comes to considering the alternatives for that hero slot.

I never go anywhere without a hero with a pile of smiting spec though, because as a warrior, doing anything without Strength of Honour and Judge's Insight just seems strange and wrong.

Daesu · Feb 28, 2012, 02:23 AM // 02:23

RoJ suits melee better if you hold aggro well. Look at EFGJack's videos to learn how to use it.

http://www.youtube.com/user/EFGJack

Kunder · Feb 28, 2012, 02:34 AM // 02:34

RoJ alone is fairly poor. SoH is godly though, and smite hex + smite condition for a melee is a great combination, they are in the area range (which is 10x better than adjacent). Judge's Intervention is also particularly good for Dervs, combined with SoH you are looking at about +35-40 damage per swing.

Real problem with RoJ itself is the adjacent range. The only reason you really want to use a smiter is if you are a melee, and if you are a melee and enemies are clustered in adjacent range then Splinter Weapon deals damage 10x better than RoJ. This isn't even unique to RoJ, the majority of of adjacent spells in the game have similar issues unless they are really quick recharge/cast time. RoJ is on smite bars more because... well look at the other Smiting Elites.

Personally I like Rt/Mo Channeling/Smite combinations more though. The monk primary just doesn't do much for smiting while a rit primary boosts exponentially the best physical buff in the game and adds a lot of energy management.

Also UA's are pretty bad, don't run them.

Chthon · Feb 28, 2012, 03:02 AM // 03:02

RoJ feels meh because RoJ is meh.

Clay Brick · Feb 28, 2012, 03:10 AM // 03:10

As others have noted the recharge time, casting time, and energy cost along with erratic AI makes me feel the same even when you micro the skill.

Lanier · Feb 28, 2012, 04:09 AM // 04:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeydra

I'll also add that one "drawback" of RoJ is that it (for casters at least) competes directly with UA, which is one of the best Monk elites out there. You can't use UA if you're already using Balth Spirit / SoH, but otherwise that skill is like the single best skill in the game when it comes to protecting against wipes.

Is this a joke? UA is one of the most overrated skills in the game. Maybe it'll protect you against wipes but the job of a party's defense should be to protect against deaths. Anyway, with all the OP defense that comes with minions and spirits and, if necessary, ER prots or panic mesmers... I mean really, deaths shouldn't be happening outside of the super high-end areas like the DoA and HM WoC.

Showtime · Feb 28, 2012, 04:15 AM // 04:15

You just gotta know how to properly use RoJ. Though it would be nice if the smite line got a buff.

Daesu · Feb 28, 2012, 04:16 AM // 04:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lanier

Is this a joke? UA is one of the most overrated skills in the game. Maybe it'll protect you against wipes but the job of a party's defense should be to protect against deaths. Anyway, with all the OP defense that comes with minions and spirits and, if necessary, ER prots or panic mesmers... I mean really, deaths shouldn't be happening outside of the super high-end areas like the DoA and HM WoC.

I disagree, bringing a res is still still useful in case the player makes a mistake and UA is one of the best res in the game. I would vote against any generic hero team build in pvx without a res.

RoJ is useful only if you know how to use it. Unfortunately if you don't bother to hold aggro, then it may not serve you well.

Lanier · Feb 28, 2012, 05:08 AM // 05:08

Well of course you need to bring a rez. I typically bring 2 (one if I have scrolls in my inventory). I'm just saying that rezzes are safety nets, and you should never have to use them. You shouldn't be using an elite that you never have to use, and if you do have party member dying outside of super tough areas (like the before mentioned DoA or WoC HM), then your team build has some serious problems.

Honestly, I have argued countless times on these forums about why UA is bad, so I'm just going to bow out of this arguement. Saying the same thing over and over again gets tiring...

Daesu · Feb 28, 2012, 05:34 AM // 05:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lanier

Well of course you need to bring a rez. I typically bring 2 (one if I have scrolls in my inventory). I'm just saying that rezzes are safety nets, and you should never have to use them. You shouldn't be using an elite that you never have to use, and if you do have party member dying outside of super tough areas (like the before mentioned DoA or WoC HM), then your team build has some serious problems.

I misunderstood your statement then as it sounded like you were against having a res at all.

Quote:

Honestly, I have argued countless times on these forums about why UA is bad, so I'm just going to bow out of this arguement. Saying the same thing over and over again gets tiring...

About UA, it maybe just a matter of personal opinions, I don't see it to be as bad as you do. Heroes use it very well and if you flag your UA monk far from danger you would probably be res safe next to him at full hp and energy. I believe Jeydra and EFGJack use UA in their builds too for the really tough areas.