Curse

Rainstorm13 · Oct 13, 2006, 01:28 AM // 01:28

After playing in PvE for a while, I've grown a little tired of straight out healing. So, after capping Life Sheath, I've been working on a Prot build and have been constantly tweaking it. With the help of guildies, I've got it right where I think I want it to be but I'd like some other advice. So here's the build:

Attributes:
Protection Prayers: 12+1+3
Divine Favour: 12+1

Skills
Life Sheath {E}
Reversal of Fortune
Guardian/Shield Guardian
Protective Spirit
Inspired Hex
Mend Condition/Aegis
Balthazar's Spirit
Rebirth

Basically, RoF is the main heal for when people need it, while Life Sheath prevents most damage. If LS is combined with PS, then LS can last longer and not get removed in one hit from a boss. I'm still not sure between Guardian and Shield Guardian. the first lasts a while and is only 5e, while the other only lasts for one "block" but heals when it ends. BS is for the energy management. When placed on the right target, it provides a constant stream of energy. Any suggestions?

Effigy · Oct 13, 2006, 01:58 AM // 01:58

I'd say drop iHex for Holy Veil unless you're going to put points in Inspiration. Otherwise, it seems fine for a PvE prot build.

Also, Shield Guardian is a largely pointless spell. It costs 10e but is actually less effective than just casting Guardian + RoF. The latter will provide blocking for the full duration, regardless of whether the target gets hit, and will also give twice the DF bonus.

Rera · Oct 13, 2006, 02:16 AM // 02:16

My suggestion is to play a BP. There isn't any point in running Life Sheath, because it's essentially a conditional heal that can be stripped.

Guardian and Shield Guardian aren't really comparable, because they're designed to do different things. I think RoF and SG are more directly comparable:

RoF advantages:
- prevents damage from any preventable source (ie. not lifesteal), up to the listed amount. SG only prevents damage from attacks.
- damage prevention is not conditional; it always works the next time target would take damage. SG only prevents damage from the next blocked attack, at 75% chance, and some attacks cannot be blocked.
- casts in 1/4s, costs 5e. SG casts in 1s, and costs 10e.

SG advantages:
- the heal is aoe, with a fairly large radius (nearby). RoF is single-target.
- the strength of the heal is not dependant on the strength of the hit. RoF only heals for the damage dealt.
- all of the incoming damage is prevented if the attack is blocked. RoF only prevents damage up to its listed maximum.
- SG is active for 10s. RoF is active for 8s.
- recharge is 1s. RoF recharge is 2s.

Effigy · Oct 13, 2006, 02:40 AM // 02:40

Fair enough, but I still don't see SG as being very useful. It may have an AoE heal, but this is only beneficial if nearby teammates actually need healing. SG also has a shorter recharge, but since it costs twice as much you certainly wouldn't want to spam it. So I guess the only real selling points on SG are the unconditional damage mitigation and heal. I'd wager that the double DF bonus from just casting Guardian+RoF or RoF+RoF would easily balance out that discrepancy.

In the end, having a less powerful but cheaper spam spell is more flexible, at least in my eyes.

Blurry · Oct 13, 2006, 08:42 AM // 08:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainstorm13

After playing in PvE for a while, I've grown a little tired of straight out healing. So, after capping Life Sheath, I've been working on a Prot build and have been constantly tweaking it. With the help of guildies, I've got it right where I think I want it to be but I'd like some other advice. So here's the build:

Attributes:
Protection Prayers: 12+1+3
Divine Favour: 12+1

Skills
Life Sheath {E}
Reversal of Fortune
Guardian/Shield Guardian
Protective Spirit
Inspired Hex
Mend Condition/Aegis
Balthazar's Spirit
Rebirth

Basically, RoF is the main heal for when people need it, while Life Sheath prevents most damage. If LS is combined with PS, then LS can last longer and not get removed in one hit from a boss. I'm still not sure between Guardian and Shield Guardian. the first lasts a while and is only 5e, while the other only lasts for one "block" but heals when it ends. BS is for the energy management. When placed on the right target, it provides a constant stream of energy. Any suggestions?

Rebirth....>_-
Monk ressing is fine but rebirth is a terrible option. I myself carry Restore Life(afterbattle res, a monks job is to keep alive imo) Casting time and energy loss makes alot of resurecting skills very poor in Monk builds.

But changes i c. Take out balthazars spirit and replace it with essence bond. Tak it onto ur main aggro source(tank, touchers, or skillfully place on who u see taking the heat) n u got a good source of energy coming in. I also like to use The non elite aura(cant remember name right now). I have it set as +32% lasting time on enchants. mixed with a +20% offhand and a +20% totem ur enchants are lasting upwards of 72%. thas all i see. Ill leave my prot build for u to get ne ideas off of.

Reversal of Forune
Guardian
Mend Condition(or whichever has 2 recharge)
Blessed Light
Blessed Signet
Boon of Creation
Essence Bond
Aura of ??(non elite increases enchants last %)

boon comes on n off depending where my energy is at.

also if ur tired of healing try being a bonder ^_- or work with a bonder n be a mender.

nice build btw

Carth` · Oct 13, 2006, 09:51 AM // 09:51

This is PvE Blurry, where Rebirth is the res of choice, and boon prots are not very useful.

Effigy · Oct 13, 2006, 12:01 PM // 12:01

Like Carth said, Rebirth is the best all around heal in PvE because you will only be using it after a fight and it allows you to res a dead teammates without drawing aggro on them. Usually the monk won't be ressing at all, but it's good to have Rebirth on monks in case you're the last one standing.

For ressing during combat (monks should never do this, but others might), either Ressurection Signet or Ressurection Chant are by far the best options. Restore Life is decent with high Healing since it resses with more energy, but personally I think ressing at full health is more important to prevent a repeat death.

Rera · Oct 13, 2006, 02:30 PM // 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Effigy

Fair enough, but I still don't see SG as being very useful. It may have an AoE heal, but this is only beneficial if nearby teammates actually need healing. SG also has a shorter recharge, but since it costs twice as much you certainly wouldn't want to spam it. So I guess the only real selling points on SG are the unconditional damage mitigation and heal. I'd wager that the double DF bonus from just casting Guardian+RoF or RoF+RoF would easily balance out that discrepancy.

In the end, having a less powerful but cheaper spam spell is more flexible, at least in my eyes.

I certainly didn't mean to imply that I would actually play Shield Guardian. I absolutely agree that RoF is the superior choice, and I thought it would be obvious from my breakdown. I'm sorry if it was confusing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth`

and boon prots are not very useful

BPs are actually quite good for PvE. Easily better than most, if not all, of the active prot builds I've seen that were 'made for PvE'.

Effigy · Oct 13, 2006, 03:19 PM // 15:19

BP definitely works in PvE. I play it all the time in missions and FoW. If it works under high pressure in PvP, it only stands to reason that it would work in the more relaxed PvE atmosphere.

Tsai · Oct 13, 2006, 03:20 PM // 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainstorm13

If LS is combined with PS, then LS can last longer and not get removed in one hit from a boss.

Im fairly certain LS is applied before PS so using PS with LS is pretty much pointless other than a cover enchant. but if thats what you meant then my apolagies. I remember i toyed with this idea and was dissapointed to find out PS didnt make LS last longer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blurry

mixed with a +20% offhand and a +20% totem

afaik there are no +20% offhands, feel free to prove me wrong if u have a screenshot of one. infact i hope you can proev me wrong so i can go out and get one

Age · Oct 13, 2006, 09:38 PM // 21:38

I would use bonetti's instead of shield guardian no need for energy and it does the same job.

Rera · Oct 13, 2006, 10:28 PM // 22:28

1. Bonetti's requires adrenalin
2. Bonetti's is a stance, meaning you can't cast it on anyone else.
3. Bonetti's ends when you use a skill, meaning that it'll last maybe 3/4s as a monk.

Blurry · Oct 14, 2006, 11:18 AM // 11:18

-I have sum green effigy that has 20% enchant
-BP works fine in pve eDurf!
-Rebirth still sux

Ensign · Oct 14, 2006, 11:52 AM // 11:52

Life Sheath does not trigger the way you want it to with either Protective Spirit (Life Sheath eats the full amount without Prot Spirit mattering) or Reversal of Fortune (Life Sheath again eats the full amount, RoF prevents nothing, but still gives you the heal). That it has such poor synergy with two of the most important Protection skills really kills it in my book.

Peace,
-CxE

Tsai · Oct 14, 2006, 05:36 PM // 17:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blurry

-I have sum green effigy that has 20% enchant

no, you really dont, the straw effigys have +1 attribute (20%) and +30 health.

feel free to post a screenshot of this effigy though and prove me wrong

XvArchonvX · Oct 16, 2006, 09:02 PM // 21:02

Unless you are either A) the only target taking damage or B) trying to be a monk battery, switch out Balth Spirit for Essence Bond.

For Inspired Hex, drop either Divine or Protection Prayers by one attribute and put it in Insiration to give you 6 att in Inspiration resulting in a net gain from hex removal.

As for the Rebirth debate, I would argue that Rebirth is the best rez for a monk (especially a prot monk) in PvE even with mid battle rez. However to be used correctly the monk should have a -energy set (such as a -5 energy sword with a -2 energy scroll from the Cities of Ascalon quest). Using these at the right time will only cost you the 10 energy you spend on casting Rebirth along with the energy you would regen during the casting of Rebirth. Afterwards switch back to your normal weapon set or switch to a high energy set temporarily if you are in a squeeze. A careful eye must be kept on the current situation as well as your energy, but if done right, this rez technique can really help out when you lose a critical member mid battle. Of course this should only happen if you have no members with active rez sigs since they are the best candidates for mid battle ressurection (outside of fast cast mesmers with Rez Chant). This technique is best used after battle to allow your group to get back on their feet quickly since you can cast 3 consecutive Rebirths if you have a high, medium, and low energy set.

Age · Oct 16, 2006, 10:48 PM // 22:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rera

1. Bonetti's requires adrenalin
2. Bonetti's is a stance, meaning you can't cast it on anyone else.
3. Bonetti's ends when you use a skill, meaning that it'll last maybe 3/4s as a monk.

It doesn't take long to gain energy and even when protecting an ally it lights up and sure you can't cast it on someone else but you can cast something else instead.You only need 5 sec. and then you can use a skill.It is also great when you are being pounded on.

Rainstorm13 · Oct 19, 2006, 10:52 PM // 22:52

I did mean to put EBond in there in the beginning and put points into Inspired Hex, just had a brain lapse. I've been screwing around with this build some more and have considered putting in Spirit Bond, and taking out either the rez or Life Sheath. I'm now beginning to notice how little it does when someone is being attacked by more than one enemy, because it lasts for such a short time. SB is is nice for saving casters and works well on them with Prot Spirit (600 lol), even though it is a little taxing on energy. Anyone have other suggestions for elites that would work in this build?

Age · Oct 19, 2006, 11:33 PM // 23:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainstorm13

I did mean to put EBond in there in the beginning and put points into Inspired Hex, just had a brain lapse. I've been screwing around with this build some more and have considered putting in Spirit Bond, and taking out either the rez or Life Sheath. I'm now beginning to notice how little it does when someone is being attacked by more than one enemy, because it lasts for such a short time. SB is is nice for saving casters and works well on them with Prot Spirit (600 lol), even though it is a little taxing on energy. Anyone have other suggestions for elites that would work in this build?

if this is for PvE do not remove your res from your bar keep in there and you don't need Spirit Bond and Protective Spirit together.

James Bondo · Oct 20, 2006, 03:48 PM // 15:48

IMO Rebirth is the rez of choice by 99% of players . Rezing people back into the frey is not a option . In tombs where the agro comes long after the abort switch has been activated you would never see ranger/monks taking restore life. If you cant pull the dead out safely why have them rezed with 100%. Why restore them at 100% only for them to get grasped for 2/3s of their health .