Curse

Guardian of the Light · Dec 09, 2006, 04:56 AM // 04:56

Before when you went on observer mode you could only see 1 or 2 distict monk builds. But has anyone else noticed lately that many guilds are using many different monks?

JR · Dec 09, 2006, 04:58 AM // 04:58

Light of Deliverance, Zealous Benediction, Restore Conditions, Glimmer of Light, Divert Hexes, Blessed Light...

Definately more viable elites than their used to be - with the main difference being the Healing line being far more popular now. Other than that Monk bars are pretty standard RoF/Gift/PS etc. affairs.

shardfenix · Dec 09, 2006, 08:14 AM // 08:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR-

Light of Deliverance, Zealous Benediction, Restore Conditions, Glimmer of Light, Divert Hexes, Blessed Light...

I've never seen anyone run glimmer in HA or GvG. It's an elite orison with no benefit. I don't see why it would be used.

Bankai · Dec 09, 2006, 08:29 AM // 08:29

I agree, it's a golden age, since there are not 2 builds that are dominating.

I like it.

Agyar · Dec 09, 2006, 08:32 AM // 08:32

I wouldn't quite call it a "golden age", but there are lots of nice options (some situational of course) to choose from. Better than one boon to rule them all, at least.

Zuranthium · Dec 09, 2006, 09:17 AM // 09:17

I'm not seeing many Healing monks at all (Monk runners do not count) and I think the line still needs a bit of improvement.

However, I'm loving the multitude of secondary classes that can now be effectively used on a Monk.

~Z

Seamus Finn · Dec 09, 2006, 09:50 AM // 09:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by shardfenix

I've never seen anyone run glimmer in HA or GvG. It's an elite orison with no benefit. I don't see why it would be used.

1/4 cast time. I've seen top ten guilds run it.

hyro yamaguchi · Dec 09, 2006, 12:35 PM // 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by shardfenix

I've never seen anyone run glimmer in HA or GvG. It's an elite orison with no benefit. I don't see why it would be used.

Well actually I was in a group once,playing the RC, and the other guy was a GoL, worked pretty decent though, vs. SF that is.

JR · Dec 09, 2006, 08:01 PM // 20:01

Maybe I shouldn't have listed Glimmer - only reason I currently use it is the play-off Core and Nightfall only rule.

Wasteland Squidget · Dec 09, 2006, 08:42 PM // 20:42

I think things are in a great place for monks right now. Skilbars are tight, and there's a lot of choices and different builds that give the class a great deal of versatility. My only real complaint is the complete reliance on Gift of Health for most major monk bars - I'd love to see some non-sucky alternatives for that skill that deliver big heals.

The biggest difference in practice between the current meta and the boon prot meta is that it's possible to attack monks on any front. You can deal damage everywhere constantly and threaten their energy. You can do pushes with a lot of damage on several targets and force kills because their skills are recharging. Of course, you can also 321spike people down all day. Monk bars can take skills that prevent any one of these things, but they can't really bring skills to effectively deal with all three.

master_of_puppets · Dec 09, 2006, 09:23 PM // 21:23

It's the golden age for monking, but the dark age for everything else.

Wasteland Squidget · Dec 09, 2006, 09:27 PM // 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by master_of_puppets

It's the golden age for monking, but the dark age for everything else.

Actually, Dom mesmers are in a similar situation to monks at the moment. Lots of great elite and non-elite options with different uses. Spiritual Pain is rather overpowered though.

romO · Dec 09, 2006, 09:41 PM // 21:41

Squidget is right. Basically, every offensive and defensive choice has received additional benefits and counters, whether new or existing. There's a lot more variety on individual bars aside from a lot of gimmick builds running around.

Monk casts Divert Hexes on hexed ally. Takes 240 damage. Whoops! A new way to utilize Scourge Healing. Divert can take the hexes off, but the hexes still deliver damage. It basically makes both teams more powerful. In this particular scenario, Divert will most likely win out, but at least there is a new way to power through monks in hex builds.

Monk sees three melee opponents heading to train a single target. Casts Shield of Absorption. Avatar of Grenth Dervish removes the enchant instantly and the train plows through monk's teammate. Whoops!

There are so many new ways to play that skillbars are getting packed tighter and it's getting harder to prepare for everything. Which is kind of nice, assuming there don't get to be too many gimmicks.

Etrik · Dec 10, 2006, 01:03 AM // 01:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR-

Light of Deliverance, Zealous Benediction, Restore Conditions, Glimmer of Light, Divert Hexes, Blessed Light...

Definately more viable elites than their used to be - with the main difference being the Healing line being far more popular now. Other than that Monk bars are pretty standard RoF/Gift/PS etc. affairs.

I'm appauled. You forgot Healer's Boon!

Quote:

Originally Posted by shardfenix

I've never seen anyone run glimmer in HA or GvG. It's an elite orison with no benefit. I don't see why it would be used.

Of course it has no benefit. 1/4 casting and healing for more is no benefit at all. Nope. And it is seeing use in HA/top ten GvG.

Blame the Monks · Dec 10, 2006, 03:22 PM // 15:22

There are more elites, but the same ~8 or so nonelite skills are the only ones ever used. I don't see any more variety than when we had two very different to play types (boon vs blight) vs. a handful of monks with cloned bars and specialized elites. All monks play the same now, and imo there is less monking diversity than we have seen in a while since the eman nerf.

just rude · Dec 11, 2006, 03:42 AM // 03:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by romO

Monk casts Divert Hexes on hexed ally. Takes 240 damage. Whoops! A new way to utilize Scourge Healing. Divert can take the hexes off, but the hexes still deliver damage.

Then ANET needs to change the skill decript to match its behavior or vica versa.

JR · Dec 11, 2006, 10:25 AM // 10:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blame the Monks

There are more elites, but the same ~8 or so nonelite skills are the only ones ever used. I don't see any more variety than when we had two very different to play types (boon vs blight) vs. a handful of monks with cloned bars and specialized elites. All monks play the same now, and imo there is less monking diversity than we have seen in a while since the eman nerf.

Take out Gift of Health, and I think Monk bars would see a whole lot more diversity. That skill is just too nuts, and is the basis for just about every Monk bar at the moment. This is the thing I found when developing play-off Monk bars. You really have to use some seemingly wacky stuff to make up for not having Gift.

The Silver Star · Dec 11, 2006, 10:39 AM // 10:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR-

Take out Gift of Health, and I think Monk bars would see a whole lot more diversity. That skill is just too nuts, and is the basis for just about every Monk bar at the moment. This is the thing I found when developing play-off Monk bars. You really have to use some seemingly wacky stuff to make up for not having Gift.

This is true however i used GoH yesterday in a gvg twice againt an adrenaline spike... and you know what that means.... INFUSE WAS DISABLED DAMMIT!!

However to be honest if it were to be nerfed it would be completely useless so it should just be removed completely and ZB should be a healing skill as it heals and gives no protection benefit from using it.

urania · Dec 11, 2006, 10:49 AM // 10:49

the current mo/w build i'm trying out doesn't use gof and works just fine without it too...

but then again, i only play in TA, so can't really say much for gvg monk buids.

JR · Dec 11, 2006, 11:54 AM // 11:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Silver Star

However to be honest if it were to be nerfed it would be completely useless so it should just be removed completely and ZB should be a healing skill as it heals and gives no protection benefit from using it.

If ZB was in the Healing line it would be pretty much worthless.