Curse

Playing Is Srs Bsns · Jul 29, 2010, 10:41 AM // 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tharg

im such a epic troll

true story bro

To Chicken To Die · Jul 29, 2010, 10:01 PM // 22:01

Try balance your bar. And then use your bar over and over again. It always takes a bit of time to get used to it. I have been mainly monk for 61 months and lately active in RA so here some toughts.

You have 8 skill slots and for a monk hex removal and condition removal are important. Against hexes I can't really recommend anything but veil. This because you can use it on yourself and teammates before the match begins .Giving youmore hex removal at the start, and the extra casting times is great if you have teammates that interupt. I always pre-veil (maintain veil before the match begins),on myself and a melee (either assasin cause of double strike or wars because of frenzy, they make empathy and parasite the worst) wich are the next to most likely get hexed. This makes me able with a recharged veil the remove up to 3 hexes on me the melee and a random teammate that got hexed. More then 2 veil will give you a to low energy degen so thats why I only maintain 2. And always use tab to see if there are necro's or mesmers. If not I always remove one veil and maintain one on myself in case of a surprise attack from sins or ele's. Cure hex is good for it;s healing but then you might get overhexed fast. With condition removal I always have dismiss condition for the fast recharge and low energy cost. Personaly I don't like spotless soul because it takes atleast 3 sec to remove a condtion and it works not on yourself but if your good with the skill it can benefit well.

Now 6 skill slots left, I always take 2 defense skills. Mostly because the recharge or needed adreline is a big gap making you defenceless for to long. Bonneties defence is a good one for energy management and block. Blanace stance is good for anti KD but cancels your other defence stances. Dolyak sig doesn't cancel stances but makes you move slower making you a good target for AoE or ani melee since you can't walk away to prevent getting hit. If your good at paying attention to watch happening on the screen and not only in your party window you might consider shield bash. A warriors hammer attack takes long enough and should be fast enough to notice so you can react with shield bash (A warrior always has a other pose when using a skill like a colored flow around the hammer or bending backwards) Also a sin that misses his lead attack wich the almost always use when there running to you makes him/her very usless for a moment. Assasin have a few good defence skill such as smoke powder defense, dark escape (very good against spikes) and return to snare.

4 skills left for the actual healing wich should be more then enough.

I always go with WoH because of its massive healing. Then you will need a hard to rupt skill with good heal such as patient spirit with 1/4 casting time the will most likely don't get rupt and provides a nice heal. Against mesmers and necro's spells are sometimes not enough, a signet that heals is always good against things like backfire, shame, e-denial etc. I recommend Signet of Rejuvonation wich is in my opinion the only non elite healing signet worthy in a monks bar. So now you have healing skills working to heal a lot to cast fast and a signet that heals. For the fourth skill I always take Vigorous spirit. This enchantment with 14 healing prayers heals for 19 and has 30 sec maintain. This is basicly a good self heal so you and party members get healed the whole time taking pressure of you. Also everyone gets health when you can't heal because of things like backfire KD or overhexed. (example a sword war its every 1.33 second and thus gaining 19 health, thats 22 hits in 30 sec wich make vig spirit heals 418 health over 30 sec. wich costed you only 5 energy)

This is my look on my monking in RA atm. Hope it helped a bit.

Gennadios · Jul 30, 2010, 06:21 AM // 06:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swahnee

Really interesting things on the healing subject, i will try them

.

Regarding the Dolyak's/Bonetti's, as i said, i have no doubt that they are very effective in RA, and if you are already expert with PvP tactics, i see no problem in you running them. My only concern was that a PvP newbie using that couple of skill will not learn fundamental things like kiting/positioning, so i would suggest something else to someone who is still learning.

Kiting/positioning can only be learned while alive, no?

From my experience Dolyak/Bonetti's is an extremely effective defensive/e-management combo.

Once a player figures out how to stay alive with the large glowing target that monking tends to paint on you in pvp, there will be plenty of time to learn position. Hell, any halfway decent team mates will be able to find their way into your cast range when they need it.

As for kiting, that combo doesn't have full coverage, there is plenty of opportunity to practice those skills in between dolyak recharge and 8 adrenaline gaining.

Quote:

Originally Posted by To Chicken To Die

I always pre-veil (maintain veil before the match begins),on myself and a melee (either assasin cause of double strike or wars because of frenzy, they make empathy and parasite the worst) wich are the next to most likely get hexed.

Insidious Parasite is lifesteal, it doesn't increase frenzy damage. If anything, that particular skill is harder on sins, due to the ample doublestriking they do.

Vecte · Jul 30, 2010, 12:10 PM // 12:10

I don't normally play a Monk in RA, but one thing I can definitely recommend is Bonetti's Defense. You do have to sacrifice points in the protection tree altogether, but honestly, it's worth it. Most people who will be attacking you, are stupid enough to not really know what Bonetti's Defense does. I will admit, I was ignorant at first, but after learning the skill, I know not to attack the Monk when it's up. However, due to the majority of players in RA living in blissful ignorance, Bonetti's Defense is essentially an energy bar refill, not to mention great against Rangers spamming interrupts.

EDIT: Also, I've always had a lesser view of Vigorous Spirit than most. Honestly, from a Corrupt Necro/General Necro standpoint, and from a Mesmer standpoint, Vigorous Spirit is just a way to feed their more useful Enchantment Removal skills. When I play my Necro in RA, I normally run Corrupt, and I love it when I see Vigorous Spirit spread around. I understand the view on Healing from Vigorous Spirit, but honestly, I feel it helps two of the more overpowered classes in RA, rather than help with overall healing.

Bobby2 · Jul 30, 2010, 04:47 PM // 16:47

...Mesmers like cover enchants?

To Chicken To Die · Jul 30, 2010, 08:53 PM // 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gennadios

Insidious Parasite is lifesteal, it doesn't increase frenzy damage. If anything, that particular skill is harder on sins, due to the ample doublestriking they do.

I was refering to the double strike sin. With a skill this old and often usage by necro's I assumed everyone knew that it does not double with frenzy. Sorry if you misunderstood that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vecte

EDIT: Also, I've always had a lesser view of Vigorous Spirit than most. Honestly, from a Corrupt Necro/General Necro standpoint, and from a Mesmer standpoint, Vigorous Spirit is just a way to feed their more useful Enchantment Removal skills. When I play my Necro in RA, I normally run Corrupt, and I love it when I see Vigorous Spirit spread around. I understand the view on Healing from Vigorous Spirit, but honestly, I feel it helps two of the more overpowered classes in RA, rather than help with overall healing.

Well if I am an ele or dervish I prefer vig spirit to get removed then energy management or other important enchants. Vig spirit is easy to recast 5e and 4sec recharge wich can be renewed fast after corrupt enchant to lower the pressure from it's degen. Small sacrfice for a such a skill.

Wish Swiftdeath · Aug 01, 2010, 07:58 PM // 19:58

Or you don't use vigorous once you see a CE necro unless it's to cover something like spotless on your war?

A lot of great advice in this thread, though reading can only do so much. The quickest way to get better would be to apply for some GvG guilds that play regularly (don't have to be high ranked) though it can be rough if you're all beginners. The important thing is to look at the advice you're given and watch the replay "I should kite when I see melee coming to attack me, I should kite when that warrior runs to unload his spike on me when the timer is at 1:15" "Am I pushed up too far? am I burning energy taking damage I shouldn't?" "How did that Mesmer die? Did I lose that warrior? What skills should I be watching for?" "Was I sitting in range of their Mesmer the whole game? did I screw up my positioning?" "Am I overhealing/using the wrong skill for that situation?"

Obviously there are far more questions and situations one could look at, those are just a few off the top of my head. You do that and you will learn quickly and become a good player, a great thing about that too is that you can help your friends, tell your lazier teammates what they're doing wrong and a) learn a bit about playing different professions for if you're missing people and b) Make friends and contacts on your friendslist getting you better known and maybe getting you some guest invites too (within reason as long as you aren't a douche about it or go over the top).

I know this is mainly for GvG but you do all this and RA will be a joke for you ^^

Vecte · Aug 02, 2010, 10:46 PM // 22:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by To Chicken To Die

I was refering to the double strike sin. With a skill this old and often usage by necro's I assumed everyone knew that it does not double with frenzy. Sorry if you misunderstood that.

Well if I am an ele or dervish I prefer vig spirit to get removed then energy management or other important enchants. Vig spirit is easy to recast 5e and 4sec recharge wich can be renewed fast after corrupt enchant to lower the pressure from it's degen. Small sacrfice for a such a skill.

Fair enough. I guess my view came from playing against the vast majority of retardedness that is RA, where I'm able to have a field day on my Necro, if I so choose. But, you're right, if played correctly, I can see it being useful.

Corporeal Ghost · Aug 04, 2010, 03:04 AM // 03:04

Skill usage will come in time. What will not come unless you train it specifically is the correct mentality. The vast majority of monks in RA really have no idea what their role in the game is. You are not a defensive character. You are there to augment your offense, which does include keeping them alive, but includes much more than that.

Basically, at any point in time, you can ask yourself "Why isn't the other team taking deaths?" followed swiftly by "What can I do to mitigate this?" The sad fact is that in RA, the answer will often be "My team isn't capable of killing theirs, no matter what I do." But it's not as often as most people will tell you.

This mindset will probably decrease your win percentage (especially initially), but it will also decrease your average match time and increase your average streak length dramatically. It will also vastly increase your energy efficiency (but in most matches, not your energy spent per unit time).

Expanded version (and shameless self-plug)

Also, to people arguing over bar slots, it's really not that important, as long as you understand what you're trying to accomplish. There are literally dozens of skills that you can use as effective self-defense, and the one that fits you, your bar, your playstyle, your projected team composition, and covers your weak points the best will vary pretty highly from person to person. Unfortunately, many people do not realize this and just bring Dolyak/Balanced Stance and Bonetti's. For example, I got huge mileage out of a single Return because I wanted the extra skill slot to keep people super clean and I was much better at pre-kiting than most people (which increases Return's effectiveness exponentially).

urania · Aug 04, 2010, 08:31 AM // 08:31

it takes but a few swift glances at your team mates after the match starts to see whether or not the team will stand a fair chance of getting to 25.
and yes, a mo can only do as much when they have hundred blades warriors on your team, melandrus resilience paras or sins and casters without secondary proff.

as for return vs doliaks...nothing prevents you from prekiting even with doliaks/boni. the diff is that with return they will get you eventually, you will run out of energy without a chance to gain it back and you will not have full armour from the shield.
but its cool if you just want a change without a real objective to get to 25. if you get lucky you might still make it thou.
because RA has been 80+% about luck ever since they merged the districts.

on a side note, i stopped using veil months ago and dont regret it that much at all, because then times when i actually get a PROPER ranger/mesmer rupter on my team is just too low to bother.

Wish Swiftdeath · Aug 04, 2010, 01:40 PM // 13:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corporeal Ghost

Skill usage will come in time. What will not come unless you train it specifically is the correct mentality. The vast majority of monks in RA really have no idea what their role in the game is. You are not a defensive character. You are there to augment your offense, which does include keeping them alive, but includes much more than that.

Basically, at any point in time, you can ask yourself "Why isn't the other team taking deaths?" followed swiftly by "What can I do to mitigate this?" The sad fact is that in RA, the answer will often be "My team isn't capable of killing theirs, no matter what I do." But it's not as often as most people will tell you.

This mindset will probably decrease your win percentage (especially initially), but it will also decrease your average match time and increase your average streak length dramatically. It will also vastly increase your energy efficiency (but in most matches, not your energy spent per unit time).

Expanded version (and shameless self-plug)

Also, to people arguing over bar slots, it's really not that important, as long as you understand what you're trying to accomplish. There are literally dozens of skills that you can use as effective self-defense, and the one that fits you, your bar, your playstyle, your projected team composition, and covers your weak points the best will vary pretty highly from person to person. Unfortunately, many people do not realize this and just bring Dolyak/Balanced Stance and Bonetti's. For example, I got huge mileage out of a single Return because I wanted the extra skill slot to keep people super clean and I was much better at pre-kiting than most people (which increases Return's effectiveness exponentially).

Good guide, I picked up a couple things from that.

I was wondering if I could pm you or urania ingame to ask about veil usage?

ign: one percent skill

bhavv · Aug 07, 2010, 09:16 AM // 09:16

Try out:

RoF / Guardian / Dismiss / Boon Sig / Sig of Reju / Deny Hexes / Divine Boon / Dolyak Signet.

Energy stays high even with DB on against team with no E Surge mesmers, and when youre getting camped by an E Surger, you should be able to keep your party alive much better than you can with WoH.

Wish Swiftdeath · Aug 07, 2010, 01:37 PM // 13:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhavv

Try out:

RoF / Guardian / Dismiss / Boon Sig / Sig of Reju / Deny Hexes / Divine Boon / Dolyak Signet.

Energy stays high even with DB on against team with no E Surge mesmers, and when youre getting camped by an E Surger, you should be able to keep your party alive much better than you can with WoH.

troll?

Also thanks to the person that helped me ingame even if I don't know your guru name.

Corporeal Ghost · Aug 09, 2010, 11:12 PM // 23:12

I don't know about Karla, but I'm rarely online anymore unless I get a phone call for GvG. Still, I guess you're free to PM me.

Divine Dignitas · Aug 15, 2010, 12:21 PM // 12:21

may be a bit late, but i use:

WoH/patient/vig spirit/draw condi/contemplation/cure/bonnetis/dolyak

Take 12+1+1 healing
10+1 divine
8 tactics (invest in a req 7 15 armour shield)

tips: use +5 armour on your spear, disciples insignias and the q7 shield to have about 105 armour, you can pretty much keep yourself alive with vig spirit and spearing things.

PM me on 'Divine Dignitas' if you got any questions