Should I Make a Monk Just For Farming?

Nowadays, half of the HM scene, half the farming scene, half of everything, focuses on 55 monks. I have played GW since December 2005, and have continually thought of the 55 monk concept as cheap, for people not smart enough to come up with better builds.

But I'm starting to realize that almost everyone who has some nice armor/weapons has a 55 monk. Most farming builds involve the 55 monk. Guess who's always clearing the UW? Well, SS necros, but also, 55 monks!

I'm starting to realize this takeover is inevitable. Do you think it's worth it if I just make a monk for the sake of 55 farming?

i say go for it what do ya have to lose?

Not if you find it boring, don't want to waste the spot, can do E/A or A/E, etc. BTW, it costs a bit of plat to make a 55 monk so if you don't have the money don't bother right now.

If you're serious about farming, then make a monk - 55hp, smiter, 600 spirit bonder... Key roles for solo and small-group farming.

Also, learn the basics of monking, and you'll be able to play as a bonder or HB healer or whatever lame templates scrub groups need for Tank n' Spank or Ursanway, for beating elite missions.

However, if serious hardcore farming isn't your thing, then most classes (asides from Ranger and Para, which have very limited options) have a fair number of solo builds for various areas - just pick up a spare armour set and the skills needed, and one of your chars you play normally can double as a small-time farmer - ele, necro and rit all have some very good HardMode options (terratanking, 55 SS/SV, VwK respectively).

I rarely needed to farm to get what I needed - my Dervish's 15k Primeval was acquired naturally playing through NF, my Ranger got some Deldrimor armor by playing through NF also (he's a Tyrian char).

The only thing I farmed for was my first 15k set, which was for Ettins when they were profitable.

I generally do UW/FoW runs once in a while, only when I feel like it, for some quick cash.

But I'm starting to feel the need to do more hard core farming, I will give 55 monking a shot - I have had experience with general monking before, by the way. I had a Prophecies monk who was deleted and in my old guild I sometimes had to use my W/Mo's monk secondary and manage when we were limited on monks. >_<

Make one because you like to stare at the cute female monks all day. Not for farming.

Quote: Originally Posted by holymasamune

If anything, the monks have to be one of the less-pleasant classes to look at, TBH.

Anyway, do you think the same could be said about SS necros? Should I make one just for farming? I had one up to the Crystal Desert and then gave him the axe when I ran out of ideas on what to do with his life.

i wouldn't make a char just for farming.

i made my monk once for the deep, just to get fast in a group and get easy to the last point...
in the end i didn't played much inside the deep, but enjoyed the monk class just for the heck off it... became my main char in short time and still is my main char after 20 months.

and i say also;

Quote: Originally Posted by holymasamune

If farming floats your boat go ahead. Personally I scrapped my 55 Monk Armor over a year ago it was boring as hell, oh and yeah if you want to use Bots to auto farm go ahead..... just don't go complaining to Arena.net if all the sudden you get banned.

Ha, this is EXACTLY! what i did. I made a monk for farming, but now i use it for normal purposes too

i would say its not worth it anymore but thats cause it just dull for me. My monk was made for that purpose only and i deleted him in favor of a mes...this was befoer cof runs.

Quote: Originally Posted by holymasamune

Quote: Originally Posted by Yichi

Quote: Originally Posted by Ensign

Quote: Originally Posted by Yichi

When I want to look at pixels, I either break out Livia or make a PvP character.

I would say yeah make a monk b/c they are great fun to play and every pug needs them but they are also good for farming if you need to. Personally I kind of like solo 55 monking from time to time I find it gratifying. It's nice to take some of the loot I get from it and go give away stom bows or something to new players!

Monking is really fun to me outside farming but its also my main farming character. I rarely 55, maybe HM imp runs but that's about it. I 600/smite all the time for money because its really fast and 600'ing is a loooooot less boring than 55. Also monks, imo, are the most fun to pimp out ( shortest monk w/ colossal blade ftw?). Dont spend your time making a character for soley farming. I actually made my monk back in the day to 55 for some warriors armor and by the time I had gotten all the money, I thought, my monk really deserves this money more (hehe). 2 years later monk is my main and I cant play any other class without trying to find a way to fill the role a monk plays as good as a monk.

I got into monking just six months ago for supporting guild mates and now it’s all I want to play. However, I now want to get some nice items for my monk and feel the need to farm. I have a few of questions.

1. Can a 600 smiter farm all the places a 55 monk can?
2. Is the 600 smiter cheaper to build?
3. Which version has a steeper learning curve (if any)?