Curse

itiscurtains · Feb 19, 2012, 05:57 AM // 05:57

Having become a little bit bored with the usual lately, I decided to set out a challenge for myself. I started a new PvE monk - having never played one before - and will try for Legendary Master of the North playing as the primary backliner for my 7h group. But I intend to do so while using only one of each profession in my team; only one rit hero, one mesmer, one necro, etc. I've also tried to shy away from relying too much on the heroes' secondaries, using them mostly for rezzes or the occasional utility skill.
Ultimately, this is what I ended up with:

It's a bit of an eyesore, but it was the best I could come up with. It's kind of a scrap heap of meta caster builds and odd physical builds with essentially zero synergy. I was thinking of adding "ToF!" and Blazing Finale to the para, but I'm not so sure it'd be worthwhile (actually, "GftE!" should be on there somewhere - I forgot to add it).
Can anyone come up with something better? I'd definitely appreciate any advice or alternate teams before I start my endeavor.

Gabs88 · Feb 19, 2012, 06:57 AM // 06:57

Haha, as far as I'm concerned you've chosen the worst possible hobby in this game ;p Playing as a backliner just plain sucks

Sagittario · Feb 19, 2012, 07:17 AM // 07:17

You'll soon find out, that back-line is the most boring role in general PvE. Monks are only fun in SCs, elite end-game and PvP.
You'll also soon find out, that since you don't fight, you heroes won't fight properly.
And about the heroes' builds, you should consider a major overhaul.

mage767 · Feb 19, 2012, 09:06 AM // 09:06

Will require a lot of c-spacing and I don't think you have enough heals for HM stuff in EOTN.

Morte66 · Feb 19, 2012, 10:24 AM // 10:24

Had you considered smiting?

I would get Holy Spear and Spiritual pain on the para/mes for some anti-minion/spirit firepower.

If you're going to have 3 physicals + minions + pet + EVAS, then if you're prepared to micro try putting Mark of Pain the necro instead Putrid Bile. [Stick him in the top 3 heroes so you can hotkey it.]

Bring Winter on the ranger against destroyers and the various fiery critters.

You seem good for direct heals and prot but could perhaps use more party heal, maybe on the paragon.

Don't forget to buy your monk a longbow for pulling things onto pre-placed spirits/minions.

Looking at this thread, it brings home just how much we rely on synergy and multiclassing to get groups that are stronger than the sume of their parts. It makes me wonder what playing GW2 is going to be like.

KotCR · Feb 19, 2012, 06:27 PM // 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morte66

HYou seem good for direct heals and prot but could perhaps use more party heal, maybe on the paragon.

Yeah, the Paragon could bring party heals but it'd come at the cost of losing your Command skills, else you'd be spreading your attributes too thinly.

As "Stand Your Ground" is your only global party damage reduction (and you definetly need one of these in most fast reasonably effective team builds that you don't want to have to stop and think about before every pull in HM), then you'd have to either fit it on another character, or indeed replace it with that "They're on Fire" idea you were thinking about.

You could quite easily adapt that into your build though, with some simple changes.

For basic starters, give the Elementalist Searing Flames, for one source of constant mass burning, and adapt one or two of the other skills to compensate (probably dropping Rodgort's for some more energy-management to make up for the loss of Elemental Attunement).

On the Ranger swap Volley for Barrage, drop Rampage as One for Call of Haste (the pet can use the speed buff and attack speed increase, but if the Ranger is just spamming Barrage probably won't need it themselves, Call of Haste is also a Shout, which will be important in a moment), and swap Sloth Hunter's Shot or one of your Ranger 'rupts for your team's third Rez (as the Paragon will be losing his).

Then, taking a que from Khomet, give the Paragon a Ranger secondary and let him wield a Bow with something like the following:
Marksmanship 10, Leadership 11+1+2, Motivation 10+2.
Barrage, Distracting Shot/Anthem of Flame, They're on Fire, Burning Refrain, Glowing Signet, Chorus of Restoration, Aria of Restoration, Ballad of Restoration.

You could also consider giving the Dervish one of their own skills that cause Burning to adjacent, if you felt you wanted a third source of Burning.

Have the Paragon use Burning Refrain on himself and the Ranger as secondary sources of mass burning, whom both can then spam burning on multiple opponent's in HM by spamming Barrage (which will also work well with your Ritualist's Splinter Weapon), as enemies will nearly always have more health than you there since the HM changes in the Elementalist update last month (unless they are near death in which case you don't need the damage reduction from burning anyway as they are no longer a threat), to meet the requirement for They're on Fire!.

Anthem of Flame would maintain it in between fights, though if you don't mind recasting it (or going to the trouble of manually having the hero alternate between spamming his healing Anthems out of battle to maintain it), use Distracting Shot for another nice 'rupt.

Chorus of Restoration and Glowing Signet would keep the Paragon's Energy high, despite the Barrage Spam. The high Leadership score would basically make the Chants almost pay for themselves. Chorus of Restoration would be a party heal that the physical-only classes (the Ranger and the Paragon) could trigger, Aria of Restoration a party heal for the rest (the casters), Ballad of Restoration as a weaker party heal for everyone. Alternatively you could drop either Ballad or Aria for Song of Restoration, then take Volley instead of Barrage, though I'm not sure it'd be worth the reduced damage output and burning spread.

This would also introduce a few synergistic elements into your team, which as you noted, for the most part you lack.

It wouldn't be an optimal set-up, and you'd probably be better off switching some professions out for others (like using a Monk or Ritualist as your party healer instead of a Paragon, or a Soul Twisting Ritualist for your global party damage reduction), though those are my ideas of what you could do with keeping the current 'theme' and hero set-up of your current team consistant and intact.

Wenspire · Feb 19, 2012, 09:08 PM // 21:08

I will have to be the odd-one in all this; I find playing a backline monk very fun. With pure heroes, not as much as with a real group of people though, but fun none-the-less. One good thing is that since I fill one of the more delicate roles (that you will no longer need to leave to hero-AI), it opens up some nice possibilties with which heroes you take. It's kinda hard to explain what I mean in words though. It does also require a bit more skill since you have to divide your attention between your allies and enemies more than if you were to just play a front/mid role.

In regards to your builds, you may want to try using HealingBurst instead of WoH (if you have access to it). Maybe give the derv DeathsCharge so he can jump in quicker and maybe grab more of the initial agro. And you will probably need more healing in your group for HM, as stated above.

Lanier · Feb 20, 2012, 02:45 AM // 02:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wenspire

I will have to be the odd-one in all this; I find playing a backline monk very fun. With pure heroes, not as much as with a real group of people though, but fun none-the-less.

I just wanted to agree with this. Healing/protting is pretty fun in my opinion, and I actually like it more with heroes than with people because it there is less pressure on you if you accidentally mess up and let someone die.

@ the OP: I'v tried Khomet's odd bow-wielding paragon setup and was not really impressed. I would just stick with a spear on the para, and focus on command support + single target dps.