Need tips for using "combination"

[Galldora]

<p>To use "combination," you must have recently used a jab, kick and punch.   How do you tell which is a jab and which is a punch, though?  I don't see this information on the examine, although on some of the combat arts I do see a second graphic, in silver, which shows a sword, a foot, a fist etc.</p><p>I've been using striking cobra, rising dragon and waking dragon, because someone gave that advice in a thread here, but I imagine there are other combos that work, too.  Any tips for making the best use of this combat art will be appreciated. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></p>

[Exordus]

<p><cite>Galldora wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p> I do see a second graphic, in silver, which shows a sword, a foot, a fist etc. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>You just answered it.  One of each, sword, foot & fist.  Any combination of combat arts will do, as long as you use one of each.  You can just make a macro that uses all of the above to make it easy.</p>

[MadBarman]

<p>Which CA is a kick, punch or jab is shown on your monk AA tree with each vertical line (kicks on the left, jabs in the middle, punches on the right)</p><p>Oh and my tip for combination is don't use it <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Maybe it was just me but getting all 3 off in 2 seconds while trying not to interrupt autoattack for quite low damage just didn't seem worth the hassle. I would say it's not worth the AA point but we run out of good things to get quite quickly.</p>

[Galldora]

<p><cite>Exordus wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Galldora wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p> I do see a second graphic, in silver, which shows a sword, a foot, a fist etc. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>You just answered it.  One of each, sword, foot & fist.  Any combination of combat arts will do, as long as you use one of each.  You can just make a macro that uses all of the above to make it easy.</p></blockquote><p>That does seem obvious, except that right now I am using striking cobra, rising dragon and waking dragon.  This sets off combination, and yet all three of these have the sword symbol.  Obviously, rising dragon is the kick (its description says so) but striking cobra and waking dragon are both simply described as melee attacks, with no indication as to which is the punch and which is the jab.</p><p>Now, the AA tree -- DUH!!  <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" />  I hadn't noticed how nicely the information I need is laid out there, despite having looked at the tree many times.  Thanks, Madbarman, just what I was looking for but not seeing. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /></p><p>As for not using the attack, hmmm, I kinda thought I liked combination, but you're right that it's not a very powerful hit.  I'll have to take another look at what I'm getting out of it.  This is one more example of my general confusion about the best uses for my AA points.  I'm not having any trouble getting the attack to work with the above combo, though.</p>

[BChizzle]

<p>I have a hot bar set up like this</p><p><img src="http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o176/mallent/combobar.jpg" width="78" height="89" /></p><p>Kicks one column, jabs then punches, its missing the punches cresent strike and charging tiger but w/e if I need to do combo I can look at this bar and hit 1 from each column then combo.  I also have my 5 rings ca macroed to cast combo on my regular hotbar since the way I open it will trigger every time I use that first 5 rings so for the most part I just worry about that first combo then ignore it later into the fight.</p>

[Galldora]

<p><cite>BChizzle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I have a hot bar set up like this</p><p><img src="http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o176/mallent/combobar.jpg" width="78" height="89" /></p><p>Kicks one column, jabs then punches, its missing the punches cresent strike and charging tiger but w/e if I need to do combo I can look at this bar and hit 1 from each column then combo.  I also have my 5 rings ca macroed to cast combo on my regular hotbar since the way I open it will trigger every time I use that first 5 rings so for the most part I just worry about that first combo then ignore it later into the fight.</p></blockquote><p>Nice set-up, thanks for sharing it.  I was thinking of doing something similar -- think I'll just borrow yours. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /></p>

[Galldora]

<p>After using BChizzle's set-up for several days (posted above), I had to come back and say, anyone having trouble using the combination attack really ought to give this a try.  I set up my combo-bar just slightly differently than BChizzle's, and I imagine there are any number of ways you could do this, but the idea is the same. </p><p>Here's my arrangement:</p><p><img src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e294/Draeknar/eq2_vol5/combination_hotbar.jpg" width="180" height="131" /></p><p>I used the arrangement of kick/jab/punch from the monk achievement tree and then put the combo punch at the end of each series.  Redundant, yes, but for me having the 3 combo buttons in a row makes it easer to hit combo quickly.  And, having all the combinations of k/j/p laid out like this allows me to see instantly which are available. </p><p>Now I find that using the combination attack is no problem at all, and it's really a pretty good hit considering it has no power cost, can't miss and strikes up to 3 times. Thanks again for taking the time to post your hotbar solution to the combination challenge, BChizzle! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></p>

[lavrence]

<p><cite>Galldora wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>After using BChizzle's set-up for several days (posted above), I had to come back and say, anyone having trouble using the combination attack really ought to give this a try.  I set up my combo-bar just slightly differently than BChizzle's, and I imagine there are any number of ways you could do this, but the idea is the same. </p><p>Here's my arrangement:</p><p><img src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e294/Draeknar/eq2_vol5/combination_hotbar.jpg" width="180" height="131" /></p><p>I used the arrangement of kick/jab/punch from the monk achievement tree and then put the combo punch at the end of each series.  Redundant, yes, but for me having the 3 combo buttons in a row makes it easer to hit combo quickly.  And, having all the combinations of k/j/p laid out like this allows me to see instantly which are available. </p><p>Now I find that using the combination attack is no problem at all, and it's really a pretty good hit considering it has no power cost, can't miss and strikes up to 3 times. Thanks again for taking the time to post your hotbar solution to the combination challenge, BChizzle! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>instead of doing this another option would be to macro in combo with the 3 at the ends saves a bit of time and combo doesnt have a cast timne so it really doesnt effect your Auto Attack timing.</p>

[BChizzle]

<p><cite>lavrence wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Galldora wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>After using BChizzle's set-up for several days (posted above), I had to come back and say, anyone having trouble using the combination attack really ought to give this a try.  I set up my combo-bar just slightly differently than BChizzle's, and I imagine there are any number of ways you could do this, but the idea is the same. </p><p>Here's my arrangement:</p><p><img src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e294/Draeknar/eq2_vol5/combination_hotbar.jpg" width="180" height="131" /></p><p>I used the arrangement of kick/jab/punch from the monk achievement tree and then put the combo punch at the end of each series.  Redundant, yes, but for me having the 3 combo buttons in a row makes it easer to hit combo quickly.  And, having all the combinations of k/j/p laid out like this allows me to see instantly which are available. </p><p>Now I find that using the combination attack is no problem at all, and it's really a pretty good hit considering it has no power cost, can't miss and strikes up to 3 times. Thanks again for taking the time to post your hotbar solution to the combination challenge, BChizzle! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>instead of doing this another option would be to macro in combo with the 3 at the ends saves a bit of time and combo doesnt have a cast timne so it really doesnt effect your Auto Attack timing.</p></blockquote><p>I actually have it macroed on a different hotbar for my opening attacks but only there because I had some issues with ca's not queuing if I hit it a split second before it refreshed when they are macroed to combo.</p>

[Queen Alexandria]

<p>Combo should automatically go off when the three hits are made, without needing a macro or having to push it in time. Honestly... most of the times it does not stay lit long enough for me to click it on time and I end up missing very often.</p><p>Why not make it a buff that you can toggle on and off and it procs when the three conditions are met?  Sounds simple enough to me since I don't know how to design and implement it but it would be nice if it worked that way.</p>

[Errolflynn]

<p><cite>Zenaide@Mistmoore wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Combo should automatically go off when the three hits are made, without needing a macro or having to push it in time. Honestly... most of the times it does not stay lit long enough for me to click it on time and I end up missing very often.</p><p>Why not make it a buff that you can toggle on and off and it procs when the three conditions are met?  Sounds simple enough to me since I don't know how to design and implement it but it would be nice if it worked that way.</p></blockquote><p>Agreed. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" /></p>