Curse

Arri · May 06, 2005, 05:23 AM // 05:23

This would be my first time ever trying this type of build, and I wanted to know how this build might work in PVE and PVP? I heared smiting is pretty good and lightning damage does lots of damage to warriors.

My true question is, what kind of skills/attributes should I get and would this work in PVP as well as PVE? Thanks...

Miral · May 06, 2005, 08:07 AM // 08:07

interesting... never seen a monk yet that picked that profession for anything but healing... anyways theres a lot of smiting spells... theres the signets like Bane, etc, as well as some nice maintained spells that damage attackers... can basically make yourself a human porcupine =)

bald · May 06, 2005, 08:55 AM // 08:55

wont you get too much attention in group pvp with such char?

kanedafx · May 06, 2005, 09:15 AM // 09:15

Yeah, if you're going for damage, why in the world make Monk your primary? You should go E/Mo. Absolutely no reason not to. If you're doing ANYTHING but primarily healing, don't go Monk, because your primary attribute will not be as useful plus you'll be targetted LIKE your a main healer, even if you're not.

Akshara · May 06, 2005, 09:50 AM // 09:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by bald

wont you get too much attention in group pvp with such char?

That's actually one of the more clever misdirection strategies in using a build like that, especially if there are other pure healers in the party. It pulls attention away from the primary healers, and sets the attackers up for potentially receiving a lot of unexpected damage quickly. Especially melee attackers, since the holy damage and air magic both have armor piercing qualities to them.

However, the smiting monk will more than likely die very quickly, depending on their defensive skill selection and whether the other healers have the time to take care of him/her. It's somewhat of a sacrificing role, but if used properly in the right party, could turn the tide of a battle.

The Smiting Monk is one of the few roles that doesn't seem to have found it's place in PvP quite yet. Most players relegate it to a supporting class, and don't consider a primary version a threat in PvP. However, it may very well be that the class itself is more subtle than apparent at first glance.

To the topic in general...

This would be a great PvE setup and a lot of fun. But understand that to be successful with this type of character in PvP will require being in a very good team that knows how to use your build in a strategic manner, and it won't be easy to stay alive.

Akshara · May 06, 2005, 10:03 AM // 10:03

Quote:

If you're doing ANYTHING but primarily healing, don't go Monk, because your primary attribute will not be as useful...

The Divine Prayers attribute gives a passive healing bonus (+32 at lvl 10) to any monk spell cast, regardless of which attribute class it comes from. If a monk casts Smiting Prayers on their allies, they also heal them. Plus there are several good healing and resurrection spells available to a monk that doesn't take points in Healing Prayers - a smiting monk has access to Divine Healing, Divine Boon, Watchful Spirit, Resurrect, along with several anti-hex and condition spells.

The Smiting Monk's main function isn't to deal damage themselves - it's about supporting and strengthening the damage output of the entire party. It's the same as with health buffing, but specifically geared towards damage instead.

Holy damage ignores armor class, and so all of the Smiting Prayers buffs can wreak havoc when cast on party members that are up against armored opponents. Casting a smiting prayer on a healing monk at the right time can be the difference between that monk's life or death, and possibly the outcome of the entire battle.

Quote:

...plus you'll be targetted LIKE your a main healer, even if you're not.

The wise Smiting Monk knows this, and uses it to both his, and his team's advantage.

bald · May 08, 2005, 04:02 PM // 16:02

hm.. actually can be nice idea... like 10 smiting 10 earth 11 fire, pull agro and spam pbaoe

nub · May 17, 2005, 04:21 PM // 16:21

Quote:

If a monk casts Smiting Prayers on their allies, they also heal them.

except you can't use offensive skills on allies.

Arri · May 17, 2005, 06:08 PM // 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by nub

except you can't use offensive skills on allies.

theres also judges insight/zealots fire/balth's aura etc etc that are smiting prayers targeted on yourself/allies

Epinephrine · May 17, 2005, 06:14 PM // 18:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by kanedafx

Yeah, if you're going for damage, why in the world make Monk your primary? You should go E/Mo. Absolutely no reason not to. If you're doing ANYTHING but primarily healing, don't go Monk, because your primary attribute will not be as useful plus you'll be targetted LIKE your a main healer, even if you're not.

Reasons to go Monk Primary when not playing a healing role.
1.) You want energy and the other class is Warrior or Ranger
2.) Misdirection in PvP; if you want to be the target.
3.) You plan on running Zealot's Fire and tanking while using Balthazar's Spirit, so the DF makes sense for the self healing you are planning.
4.) The ultra cool dance moves

Blaze997 · May 18, 2005, 12:25 AM // 00:25

Yeah smiting monk can be awesome. Just go Monk/Warrior and use balthazar's aura, symbol of wrath, and gladiators defense to punish people who come after you then when they figure out to stop targeting you, bust out skills like smite, bane signet, and holy strike that will punish those attacking the real healers or whoever else.

Mercury Angel · May 18, 2005, 02:38 AM // 02:38

Zealot's Fire and Smite Hex alone can be pretty deadly.

Dealt over 200 damage in a single cast of smite hex (80x2 for smite hex because the necro had the -Al for holy, and another 40 or so from Zealot's Fire). Zealot's fire is like a cheap flare spell that triggers every time you use a spell on an ally, except unlike flare, it's AoE. (AbAoE: Ally based AoE? o_O; ) What you lack in healing power, you make up in damaging at the same time for a net result of sometimes more than you could have healed in actual healing. That is, 3 people are attacking another monk, or you, and you heal yourself, but you also damage them all for 20's (because warriors and rangers have enough armor to pretty much halve the damage from zealot's fire). so you deal ~60 damage and heal yourself for ~90 with orison of healing for a net difference of 150 health exchanged in your party's favour. When your party is under fire, you'll be spamming skills like Smite Hex, Orison of Healing, Mend Ailment, and doing quite a bit of damage, and smite hex manages to hurt quite a bit. In the tombs, people clumped together a little too much on the enemy team, and through healing, I took 4 people down to half HP that weren't being attacked by anyone else.

And then there're other smites, but that's just an example of using smiting as a supplementary aspect to your healing. Smiting Prayers are just as diverse and useful as any other branch of monk skills, and chosen effectively, can tie in well.