SoI builds without EotN?

So I finally made it to Gate of Pain in nightfall, and I immediately decided to get out there and cap SoI for myself, having heard such great things about it (gimmicky or not :P). Previously I was running a build comprising of AP as the elite, and the usual Cry of Pain, Empathy, Backfire and the other stuff you would usually have from the domination line.
My friend and I have been playing through with 3 heroes each this far, and we were suddenly stopped in our tracks by this point - all the mobs are such high levels, aggroing more than 2 can kill us (Im Me/, hes D/, heroes are 4 Mo/ healers and then depends on situation).
I was hoping that I would be able to come up with a more powerful damage dealing build based on SoI, but so far I've looked through a lot of the Me/E line (and almost ran out of money for skills) and had a lot of problems combining E-management with the spells. Can anyone point out to me what I might be doing wrong? Any help is appreciated (even if its a completely different build based around completely different skills :P - I was planning to take this guy through all 3 campaigns and I'm still struggling with the first ^^).

Use Inspiration Line. Attributes should be : Illisuion : 12+1+1 ( If using Sup Vigor, Superior Rune could be used but will have less HP and less radiants ) , FC 12+1 ... Generally, SoI use's EotN spells. Since you don't have them, using an Me/E with mixed spells.. E.G Fire Nukes + Water Snares + Armor Of Earth.. Also, Changing 1 monk to prot in high-end area's is extremely useful. PS Ftw. Just Remember, Always keep SoI Up.

The problem with SoI builds is you have to constantly bring up SoI every 3 spells. If you don't, your spells are crap, and it takes some time to cast SoI.

The good is that it lets you spec in 4, 5, or 6 lines with no issues.

If you're going SoI, you want Illusion headgear, and a Sup rune of illusions to get the full R16 effect. Survivor/Vitea runes and insignia are generaly better than Attunement/Radiant ones in general anyway, and are more important at that point.

Notes to remember, 20/+1 Illusion items don't help the spells you cast using SoI. Nor do things that modify those particular attributes normaly (The Elemental Power Glyph for example).

If you go /E, take Glyph of Lesser Energy, you'll need it.

Well here's a fun little RA build I run sometimes Me/Rt, I always run SOI at 16 Illusion, 13 fast cast. Might as well get the most of out it.

[skill]Signet of Illusions[/skill][skill]Diversion[/skill][skill]Shame[/skill][skill]Weapon of Warding[/skill][skill]Spirit Light[/skill][skill]Anguished was lingwah[/skill][skill]Auspicious Incantation[/skill][skill]Flesh of my flesh[/skill]

Toss Diversion and Shame on enemy monks to keep them busy, heal your team as you can. AwL provides you with a max level Pain spirit that also meets the spirit light requirement. Could also swap in mend body and soul for either flesh of my flesh, or weapon of warding and get the condition removal.

It's a little tricky to run but you can get some great results, especially if you have a primary healer and your just assisting while shutting down.

SoI lets you run anything you need in that specific place. Unlike some other guys stated you should never put any points into anything but fast casting and illusion line, depending on the skills you're combining with SoI, you should see whether you need the superior rune or not.

I've ran so far all kind of things, Rit spells like Ancestors Rage and Splinter Weapon are extremely strong offensively, even more when combined with Dervish!

Fire Nuking is very efficient with SoI+Fast Casting as well, some bar I've lately ran for example:

Immolate (Optional)
Incendiary Bonds
Fireball
Rodgorts Invocation
Glyph of Lesser Energy
Fire Attunement
SoI
Res Sig (Optional)

You could also bring any kind of defensive stuff , fe. Ward against Melee works wonders against Melee mobs.

With SoJ you could run anything you want, and it's very easy to keep up at all times (fast casting effects signets as well!)

As for end NF area, I'd definately recommend you putting more effort in Protection Line than Healing Line. Healers Booner alone can take care of the healing part by ease and rest of your guys should be more of protective classes!

Shutdown (blind, hexes, even dazed will work)
Interrupts (very good option when facing those nasty water eles @ end NF)
Wards
Rit spirits
Protection Line - Protective Spirit, Spirit Bond, Shield of Absorption, Guardian etc.

And bringing 4 monks will most likely get your team killed - simply because you're not offensive enough. Just take 2 monks and spread some defense for midliners. (Para, Ele, Rit etc can do the job very effectively)

Good luck.

Quote: Originally Posted by deya

Quote: Originally Posted by cgruber

sol is fun with arcane minicry and arcane echo, and then a build of other weird skills

Quote: Originally Posted by mwaddoups (Im Me/, hes D/, heroes are 4 Mo/ healers and then depends on situation). In my humble opinion your problem is that your team's damage output is too low to get you anywhere.

Take only two good hybrid monks bars, and add damage dealers to the sauce.

If you play with a melee dervich, you can try a bar with [skill]hex eater vortex[/skill][skill]shatter hex[/skill] + disruption


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Quote:

Originally Posted by mwaddoups and had a lot of problems combining E-management with the spells. You shouldn't have any problem with e-management with SoI. Just run [skill]auspicious incantation[/skill] and a high energy spell such as [skill]rodgort's invocation[/skill]. If possible take a high energy weapon set and swap on it when you cast the two spells under SoI to get a huge energy gain.