Curse

Ashe. · Mar 30, 2008, 05:20 AM // 05:20

Well I have a particular problem with picking which character I want to use as my main and lately I've been using my Monk a lot so I've decided to go with that. In order to further explain my problem I'd like to state that the other choices were Ranger or Warrior.

The problem I have with this choice is I expect my main character to be able to do EVERYTHING (title grind, farm, help friends, be fun, have versatility) and although I realize getting one character that is able to do everything I want is nearly impossible, but so far monks have come the closest.

Title grinding with a monk isn't bad I guess, it can't accomplish cartographer through running as well as a ranger or warrior can but can clear each area finishing two titles at once (cartographer and vanquisher) so that's not a problem. Farming possibilities are endless (ranger farming is out of the question and warriors have little to offer) All 3 are capable of helping friends do whatever and as for versatility in my opinion monks are kind of at a loss. Sure there's healing and protting but other than that the only other build runnable is ursan. A warrior has it's swords, axes, and hammers and a ranger can run a bow build and even switch to melee with an axe or scythe...Versatility, to me, is the biggest issue because I get bored quite easily which is why I'm still stuck on this decision.

This giant wall of text leads me to my question. Do the people (you the reader) who play their monks consistently ever get bored of doing the healing/protting all the time? And for those that have started/finished the cartographer title; was/is it difficult for you?

Hott Bill · Mar 30, 2008, 05:45 AM // 05:45

Playing a monk constantly is extremely boring, so mix it up with your own crappy builds. Mo-A Shadow Step? Pfft. Mo-A Dagger attacks ftw. Remember to mix it up.

In pve, that is

Btw getting carto. with a monk itsn't actually as hard as you would think. So Mo-R with spell breaker

Konig Des Todes · Mar 30, 2008, 06:22 AM // 06:22

What I do, is have 2 main characters for titles, and a few other professions to play on. That way it won't get boring as fast and I can fill whatever is needed. And that works well with Ranger Warrior and Monk professions. Make one the one to get titles and get all 3 through each game you have and able to go to the elite missions and whatever you think you may need them for, then just work on titles until you need to go on whatever other profession(s) you have.

How I set myself up is:

Main Characters (professions I like)
Assassin
Necromancer

Side Characters (professions that are helpful to have)
Dervish
Paragon
Ritualist
Ranger

I don't work on titles or get fancy armor on my side characters, I just get them through the games and to places they would be needed.

Ashe. · Mar 30, 2008, 06:40 AM // 06:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hott Bill

Playing a monk constantly is extremely boring, so mix it up with your own crappy builds. Mo-A Shadow Step? Pfft. Mo-A Dagger attacks ftw. Remember to mix it up.

In pve, that is

Btw getting carto. with a monk itsn't actually as hard as you would think. So Mo-R with spell breaker

Well I find monking in areas that actually require my attention like DoA pretty fun. I'm sure monking in some scrub area where can alt+tab every now and then and heal area gets boring.

Eilo Rytyj · Mar 30, 2008, 06:46 AM // 06:46

Easy, play a Ritualist. You'll be swapping between friendly and hostile targets like a madman when playing a typical Channeling/Resto hybrid build. You can use all the martial weapons in conjunction with Spirit's Strength for a fairly decent melee option. There are skills that synergise well with Ranger Spirits. Native Splinter Weapon + Barrage/Volley. There's Minion Bombing with /N. Rit's have the E-management to take some /E or /Me skills and fill that particular role. Heck, I've even heard of Rits using Motivation along with Resto for some party-wide Healing and pseudo-Prot ability.

A Resto Rit healer/prot character requires similar attention to a Monk; You've got to know when and where to throw your Warding/Vengeful/Remedy Weapons, whether MBaS or a Spirit Light would be more effective, plus keeping an eye on the front line characters to add some AoE damage with Ancestor's Rage and/or Splinter Weapon. Then there's keeping an eye on your Spirits; whether it's a restorative spirit like Recuperation or Life, or just something to fulfill the "spirit within earshot" clause on certain skills (usually Bloodsong).

One of the good (or bad depending on how you see it) things about the Rit is that Spawning Power is such a mediocre and wholly useless primary attribute; you can generally run 2-3 attribute lines freely without being pressured to rely on your primary to fulfill your E-management needs as other classes do.

Most of the time it wont be as effective as another profession in a given role in a party. But OTOH you'll be able to assume pretty much every role a party needs to a certain extent.

Personally, my main is an Ele, but I've found myself playing my Rit a whole lot more, I'm forever finding new and different variations on builds with every secondary prof that work well in each given PvE situation I'm in.

Of course, I'm also very biased towards Ritualists and against Monks in general. Boo Divine Favor! Boo!!

Ghostcell · Mar 30, 2008, 06:56 AM // 06:56

try out each one and see what you like.

My Main Profession:
Ele

Other Professions i enjoy and use:
Paragon
Sin
War
Necro

Ashe. · Mar 30, 2008, 07:14 AM // 07:14

Yea I was thinking about making a Rit.

I think I'll do that.
Sucks that I just spent 70k on my Monks armor though-_-.

Someone just told me Rits aren't that great in harder areas at dealing damage.
Can anyone explain this? I've never really had a Rit.

And from what other people have told me they're actually better at monks with their healing.

Ashe. · Mar 30, 2008, 11:18 AM // 11:18

Let me put it this way.

How do those of you who use a monk as your main character manage to play it so much. Answers that don't include "Use another character" are more helpful.

Daenara · Mar 30, 2008, 11:55 AM // 11:55

My monk is my main. She's my first choice to take if I have the chance. Im not sure what anyone can tell you, if you're going to put the effort into a character to max many titles, then it has to be something that YOU want to do, and you enjoy. (Who says monks can't run anyway, Spellbreaker ftw! Go /D, or /A, or even /R, and you're set :P)

As for the rits heal better than monks, I think it's been said many times before that prot>heal, so it all depends on your playstyle. If you like pushing red bars up, or the fun of a hybrid channeling/restoration bar, then that may be a better option for you. (Splinter owns mobs in PvE, whoever told you that rits don't do much damage in high end PvE is wrong. :P)

I don't think there's much advice anyone can give, if you like it, then go for it, if you don't, then nothing anyone can say will change your mind?

(Woah, alot of typing for no advice... rambling ftw)

Good luck!

Ashe. · Mar 30, 2008, 12:12 PM // 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daenara

My monk is my main. She's my first choice to take if I have the chance. Im not sure what anyone can tell you, if you're going to put the effort into a character to max many titles, then it has to be something that YOU want to do, and you enjoy. (Who says monks can't run anyway, Spellbreaker ftw! Go /D, or /A, or even /R, and you're set :P)

As for the rits heal better than monks, I think it's been said many times before that prot>heal, so it all depends on your playstyle. If you like pushing red bars up, or the fun of a hybrid channeling/restoration bar, then that may be a better option for you. (Splinter owns mobs in PvE, whoever told you that rits don't do much damage in high end PvE is wrong. :P)

I don't think there's much advice anyone can give, if you like it, then go for it, if you don't, then nothing anyone can say will change your mind?

(Woah, alot of typing for no advice... rambling ftw)

Good luck!

Yea, that's probably what I needed to hear...err read.
Thanks a lot.

Gun Pierson · Mar 30, 2008, 01:37 PM // 13:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashe.

Let me put it this way.

How do those of you who use a monk as your main character manage to play it so much. Answers that don't include "Use another character" are more helpful.

Playing with my monk only for over two years now, I can say it's the only character that can do almost everything, why would I use another character anyway, don't need them. Well I have 9 mules to support him and my heroes but that's it. I farm with my monk, h/h, pug if needed, vanquish whatever, you name it sorta speak.

Imo it's the most interesting class as they can bend the rules as no other one can. Few well known examples are the 55 and 600 build.

When I play h/h I will almost always go signet smiter as I can target foes easely this way and it's a lot of fun to play aggresive with my monk. With the addition of pve only skills, it's even more fun. I got a flagalant style build, that's run in a group and blow up things, like a suicide bomber lol. My corpse is good for the mm necro. Just saying, there's more to it than just healing or what you see on guru or wiki.

Duo UW with a necro or a support smiter. Heal party/healing seed monk for DoA. Play as bonder in FoW etc etc. Ah and don't forget to try a battlemonk (shield + sword or axe), lots of fun. Oh and btw, running is no prob for a monk at all. On the contrary with spellbreaker + prot skill and a few running skills you are an 'invincy' runner kay.

My monk has it all, both offense and defense, can't get enough of him. Tried all other classes except for assassin and I got bored very quickly and deleted them or they became a mule. But to each his own ofcourse.

Ashe. · Mar 30, 2008, 02:10 PM // 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gun Pierson

Playing with my monk only for over two years now, I can say it's the only character that can do almost everything, why would I use another character anyway, don't need them. Well I have 9 mules to support him and my heroes but that's it. I farm with my monk, h/h, pug if needed, vanquish whatever, you name it sorta speak.

Imo it's the most interesting class as they can bend the rules as no other one can do. Few well known examples are the 55 and 600 build.

When I play h/h I will almost always go signet smiter as I can target foes easely this way and it's a lot of fun to play aggresive with my monk. With the addition of pve only skills, it's even more fun. I got a flagalant style build, that's run in a group and blow up things, like a suicide bomber lol. My corpse is good for the mm necro. Just saying, there's more to it than just healing or what you see on guru or wiki.

Duo UW with a necro or a support smiter. Heal party/healing seed monk for DoA. Play as bonder in FoW etc etc. Ah and don't forget to try a battlemonk (shield + sword or axe), lots of fun. Oh and btw, running is no prob for a monk at all. On the contrary with spellbreaker + prot skill and a few running skills you are an 'invincy' runner kay.

My monk has it all, both offense and defense, can't get enough of him. Tried all other classes except for assassin and I got bored very quickly and deleted them or they became a mule. But to each his own ofcourse.

You're a real jerk you know that? :P You make monking sound so fun...Here I go, second guessing myself.

Terraban · Mar 30, 2008, 02:20 PM // 14:20

Your main should be a character that you like playing, not a character that can do everything in the game.

And titles are /fail.

Gun Pierson · Mar 30, 2008, 02:48 PM // 14:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashe.

You're a real jerk you know that? :P You make monking sound so fun...Here I go, second guessing myself.

Yeah well don't let me influence you because in the end you wanne have a class you have the most fun with. In my case this happens to be a monk somehow.

Burst Cancel · Mar 30, 2008, 03:07 PM // 15:07

Short of an imbagon, Rts are one of the best general-purpose support characters in the game. They get, in two skills (Splinter Weapon and Ancestor's Rage), the type of offensive capability that other characters spend their entire skillbars on, and they have better raw healing strength than monks. However, they are support characters - complementing, not replacing, primary damage dealers and backline.

Traditional monking in PvE is boring, because PvE is easy. Monking is only really exciting when people are in real danger of dying, and that just doesn't happen very often in PvE. When H/Hing in most areas, I rarely have to do anything - just call targets and alt-tab for a few minutes; not really an ideal situation, obviously.

Monks also have very limited offensive capability - smiting is ridiculously strong against undead, but is useless against just about anything else (with the exception of farming scenarios). There's no point playing to your secondary because you're just a gimped version of that profession with no compensating advantage. Sure, you can play a Dragonslash monk, but a warrior is infinitely better at it.

Monks are excellent runners due to Spellbreaker. They were (and maybe still are) the first choice of runner in areas that feature hex snares (e.g., Southern Shivers).

Monks are excellent farmers, for obvious and notoriously well-known reasons.

When looking at party building, a monk is a standard choice. What's more, you gain more benefit from having a human (as opposed to hero or hench) monk than any other class except Paragon (and to a lesser extent, Warriors). When H/Hing, you'll find some areas easier simply because you are in control of the prot and healing, whereas other professions have to rely on AI.

Finally, cartography is ridiculously easy no matter what profession you play.

Ashe. · Mar 30, 2008, 03:22 PM // 15:22

All opinions appreciated I believe I've made my choice.

Thanks everyone.

I've decided that the best route for me to go is to probably have two characters to use. Monk and an ele...and possibly a less expensive warrior.

High Moral · Mar 31, 2008, 01:43 AM // 01:43

Thisis what you do..

Monk only when you are in group , elite areas.. Fow, Uw, Slavers, Doa.. That is pretty fun because you haveto be active, .. okey fow is not that fun but still..

When you H/H and do quests and stuff like that, go URSAN..
I am currently r8 ursan with SABWAY then healer henchmen will do the trick for you. Using the BISON CUP will give you some extra armor and energy, enjoy!

Squishy ftw · Mar 31, 2008, 10:46 AM // 10:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashe.

This giant wall of text leads me to my question. Do the people (you the reader) who play their monks consistently ever get bored of doing the healing/protting all the time? And for those that have started/finished the cartographer title; was/is it difficult for you?

Actually I very rarely get bored of monking and if I do get bored, go /a and act all ninja-monkish IMO.

JoeKnowMo · Mar 31, 2008, 11:47 PM // 23:47

I was trying to decide on a primary character who could do it all before GW:EN came out.

I liked my Rit but got annoyed at being left out of pug's, especially in high-end areas. I didn't like the lack of Prot spells when playing in HM either.

I liked Para at first but got somewhat bored with the lack of skill required for the profession in pve (imho).

I enjoy the challenge of playing monk in HM and in rushing pugs. I usually play a smiting hybrid with pve-only skills like Necrosis or some weird experimental build when running with h&h.

flettir · Apr 02, 2008, 02:13 AM // 02:13

completely depends on you.
i personally don't get bored of monking.
however, if you do, you could always run ursan for a couple rounds and then jump back to monking.
which leads me to my next point...it doesn't even matter what class you are...i've seen assassins with god walking and i'm around 99% sure that if ursan didn't exist they'd never have gotten that title.