Curse

Codesmythe · Nov 01, 2007, 10:16 AM // 10:16

AB monks please give advice/observations/etc...

CAP FTW! OK, seems to work very well. However, I've seen mob(s?) win games too-IDK blind luck maybe? Strategy is a whole discussion of its own. For the record, I'm a believer in the capture goal oriented strategy.

Whatever.

Let's narrow our focus down to a smaller detail for a few post.

As everyone knows you start out with a 4 man team which then becomes a component of a 12 man team. As far as I can tell(talking health bars here) the GW developers set the AB(s) up so that it's much easier to support your 4 man team members than to monk the whole 12 man team. Personally I prioritize my healing to my 4 man team members first and then support the other 8 team members as I can.

Let's suppose your 4 man team leader sucks(never happens in real life, but for the sake of this discussion). As a monk should you follow your 4 man team leader or go your own way and support all 12 as you can?

Codesmythe The Monk

moko · Nov 01, 2007, 10:30 AM // 10:30

you follow your team. going with others won't do any good. as long as you lack them members in the party window you are forced to stick with your team.

however, if they don't need any current support, or there's a group just next to you under attack while you are running to the next shrine, take a break and support them too. (if you can manage to click them all =P)

blurmedia · Nov 01, 2007, 10:36 AM // 10:36

I never PuG when I AB, put I would try to make the idiot follow my lead instead, hehe.

Cebe · Nov 01, 2007, 10:39 AM // 10:39

If your team is capable, always follow them. Even if the other two groups fight the enemy mob there's no reason for your group to, if you're group is able to cap shrines. I primarily stick with my group, if they're competant. On the odd occaision I get in with a group full of failure who split up and run amok, or just keep running into an enemy mob, I'll split from them, and follow a group who seems to be playing better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mokone

however, if they don't need any current support, or there's a group just next to you under attack while you are running to the next shrine, take a break and support them too. (if you can manage to click them all =P)

I like to do that. When I save someone from the jaws of death it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside when you get an occaisional "nice save mate" in team chat. It's not too hard to keep half an eye on the other players, and help out anyone who's in dire need.

Codesmythe · Nov 01, 2007, 10:44 AM // 10:44

Sounds like a winner to me Celestial Beaver,etc. Interesting. So far you all(I live in the South USA, hence the "you all") are right on cue as far as I'm concerned. I'm amazed at how similar our observations/advice are.

Thanks in advance guys.

Codesmythe

Chthon · Nov 01, 2007, 05:23 PM // 17:23

Mobbing is usually a guaranteed lose in AB. As a strategy (rather than a tactic), the only times it stands a chance are (1) when the other team sucks so badly that you couldn't lose if you tried, and (2) on the deep, deep maps where the fort (often) holds 2 shrines for you for free, so the mob only needs to manage to hold 2 shrines.

In general, since mobbing is a waste of time, supporting mobbing is a waste of time. Stick with your group. Keep them capping those shrines.

Now, there is a limited circumstance where mobbing as a tactic (rather than as a strategy) can be a good idea. If (1) you have a shrine advantage, and (2) you are not far behind on points, and (3) the other side starts to mob up on a single shrine, then you can win by keeping that mob busy at that shrine while points continue to rack up in your favor.
(This is something you can spot pretty regularly on Grenz Frontier during American primetime: The Luxons will get up 4-3 or 5-2, including the orb shrine; the Kurz will mob up and throw everything they have at the orb shrine; and the Luxons respond by mobbing up on the orb shrine too. The result is that no more shrines change hands and the Luxons eventually win because of their shrine advantage. In this situation the Luxons made a wise move by mobbing tactically.)

When you find yourself on the advantaged end of a mob-vs-mob situation like this, then it's maybe time to lend your monking abilities to bogging down the opposing mob. Since you an probably slow down the opposing mob better than any other class (except perhaps a MM necro), you can be especially useful in this effort. Just be ready to pull yourself out of the mob mentality and start capping again if your opponents wake up and start breaking off capping groups from their mob.

iridescentfyre · Nov 01, 2007, 05:47 PM // 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Codesmythe

CAP FTW! OK, seems to work very well. However, I've seen mob(s?) win games too-IDK blind luck maybe?

Mobbing wins in two circumstances:

The opposing team mobs worse than you, or
Its the end of the game, the enemy's back is broken, and there's only one or two areas on the map in contest—everyone naturally has one place to go. A mob is unavoidable, and can in fact blockade the enemy base.

However if more of your team is mobbing than the enemy's team, for the majority of the game, its almost mathematically impossible to win.

glountz · Nov 01, 2007, 05:56 PM // 17:56

Choose your own team (aka guildies), go on TS or VEnt, and win by capping.
AB is a lot more easier when your team have communications device and synergised builds, a little like when in TA you face a RA team.

blurmedia · Nov 02, 2007, 01:07 PM // 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Codesmythe

CAP FTW! OK, seems to work very well. However, I've seen mob(s?) win games too-IDK blind luck maybe?

They win because they (all 12) are capping in a circle, and the morons on the other team leeroy into the mob one by one while only ONE team (my team of 4 :P ) are capping behind and around them. This results in just as many capture points, BUT the mobbing side will win because they get a huge amount of points from killing all the idiots who believe they can kill a mob by themselves. This happens at least once a day to me, and I AB at least once a day, so yeah-_-

moriz · Nov 02, 2007, 09:53 PM // 21:53

mobbing is a very good tactic if there are enough targets to supply it. remember: you gain 3 points for every kill. if there are enough targets to feed it, a mob can sit on a single shrine all game and win. a shrine gives 1 point every 8 seconds or so. so even with one shrine, as long as you can farm (haha, i love farming nubs) 7 points (which means getting 2 kills, since the shrine you're sitting on is giving you 1 point) every 8 seconds, you win.

as for monking in AB, to me it's often rather pointless. playing a monk is futile if you pug, and is rather obsolete if you play with a good organized team. 'cause you know, if your group is as organized and as good as you think it is, then it doesn't need a monk. it will benefit more from having that extra offensive char.

DokkyDok · Nov 04, 2007, 05:36 AM // 05:36

If you're on the defensive team on Ancestral or...Uh...The Luxon version of the Ancestral Lands (haven't been there in a while) then picking up the elite warrior & ranger can be a good idea. If you keep them going, (And they do fairly well) you should be able to capture any shrine.

carbajac · Nov 04, 2007, 06:28 AM // 06:28

If I'm pugging as a monk and the group all split up, I'll pick the one I like and follow him. If he makes decisions I don't see the point to, I'll pick someone else. Running off by yourself is not a real good idea since you'll end up on a survival test trying to keep yourself alive since you kind of get targeted quick if your running around alone (as a monk especially, but it goes for any profession really).

Otherwise, monking with people you know is much more fun because they usually don't abandon the group and you can feel like your contributing.

Leonof · Nov 04, 2007, 08:20 AM // 08:20

Like some other I don't pug when I monk, it's just a bad idea altogether. Even though you can keep on guy alive, it's much more productive healing 3 other people when you can. Since pugs never really care, they normally don't always stick together (not all pugs though).

Best way is to stick to a guild/friend group and keep those red bars up. Main reason I monk in AB is because when we have a monk we normally engage the other teams and we try to wipe them out. Cap that shrine then engage another team. That way the rest can cap and the other team has 1 team down so 3 vs 2 in our favor.

Burst Cancel · Nov 04, 2007, 12:59 PM // 12:59

Follow your team. But following your team doesn't preclude you from healing other people - if you're watching the field, it should be obvious who needs healing and who doesn't, whether their name is in your party window or not.

Codesmythe · Nov 04, 2007, 03:21 PM // 15:21

First valid/reasonable explanation to mob, etc. Very good Moriz...

On the following quote(taken out of context)...Ouch!

Quote:

...as for mocking in AB, to me it's often rather pointless. playing a monk is futile if you pug, and is rather obsolete if you play with a good organized team. 'cause you know, if your group is as organized and as good as you think it is, then it doesn't need a monk. it will benefit more from having that extra offensive char.

I have observed this strategy a little bit(from afar) and wondered about it's value. It appears you've a very valid point. As a favor to all AB loving monks, please never mention this again. If the other AB team leaders pick up on this, we monks may not get to play AB any longer! <==== I'm only kidding of course(ahem, cough, cough, why am I sweating so profusely?)

All kidding aside, I've observed this phenomenon myself. Groups with All offensive members can decimate the enemy very quickly.

Great comments from everyone, thanks again guys.

Codesmythe The Monk(Codes for short)

Burst Cancel · Nov 04, 2007, 04:27 PM // 16:27

It's okay, dualsmite is lollerskates in AB. By 'smite' I mean monks smiting off of stacked frontliners, not that Signet of Weaksauce BS.