Are we the rangers of eq1? No offence to rangers!

[Game]

<DIV>I  hear people monks can tank and we sure can BUT our tanking ability compared to a guardian is next to none.</DIV> <DIV>I am a lvl 21 monk and I have noticed that since about lvl 18 my tanking ability took a dive. I can tank fantastic any even con may it be a group of mobs or single mobs with 2 ^^ BUT tanking mobs that are yellow or orange cons with2 ^^ started to become incretibly tough. Only way for me to tank a yellow or orange mobs with 2 ^^ is to have 2 healers because one wont be able to keep me alive. </DIV> <DIV>My armor is pretty decent for my lvl I have no problem keeping agro and i do quite a bit of parry, riposte and blocking. I also tank in brawlers stance for extra deflection skills. Seems tho that those tough cons hit me in spurts , i could block/parry/riposte 10 rounds of combat in arow but then they will sneak in 4 heavy hits in arow and my HP bar drops down to none in an instant.</DIV> <DIV>I have been talking to a few people and they say that gaurians/crusaiders require just 1 healer to tank this kind of mobs with agroup yet for me 2 healers are needed.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So far avoidance tanking doesnt turn out to be any good for ahigher coning encounters. Seems we get taunt abilities yet our tanking ability is weak at best, FD isnt usefull for anything really  and we dont have really any buffs for the group using intervene on other tanks as a monk is also not a good idea....so what are we here for?. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Are we the rangers of eq1 they got taunt but using it was the worse idea ever? </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If our our job isnt tanking, then i dont know what our job is. Our dps is one of a fighter , our tanking is very weak  and we dont do anything for the group that someone else does many times better.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What I am wondering is what is the purpose of a monk in a group outside of having really sweet looking attacks and adding medicore dps?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Im really interseted in your opinions and experiences , not interested in stupid comments altho Im sure quite a few of them will find their way here.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thx.</DIV>

[Velor]

<DIV>A Monks role in EQ2 is also that of a support or secondary tank. In addition to offering the best DPS of any Fighter type, it's also your job to make the main tank in your group better or to help save the healers when aggro goes awry. That's why you are given abilities for these jobs with each new level aside from upgraded attacks.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you could tank as well as a Guardian or even close to it, you would be marginalizing the abilities of that class, making Guardians unattractive to groups. And if you think this makes you less desirable for groups, perhaps it's wise to revisit the guide page laid out for Brawlers / Monks.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Personally, I am loving my Monk. It took them about 5 years to get it right but better late than never. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </DIV>

[Lebr]

<DIV>Also would like to add Fd saves alot of time when your deep in places like Stormhold and you can save everyone from having to revive. Just get your healer to give you a feather or essnce. Im having a blast playing my monk.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>On a side note you really need good players, been in groups with 1 healer that did great then been in groups with 2 healers and couldnt tank anything player skill does matter so be wise in picking the groups you join.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV><p>Message Edited by Lebru1 on <span class=date_text>11-26-2004</span> <span class=time_text>09:31 AM</span>

[bonesbro]

If you're tanking, be sure to keep Martial Focus up and be in your defensive stance. When you make Monk you get a 39 point bonus to your deflection skill which is also a huge help. You can be a successful primary tank even with one healer in the group. Note that, against boss mobs, they hit extra hard and you don't have the HP or AC to take many hits like that. I've died a few times when I missed several blocks in a row against a boss using their special attacks and died almost instantly. But I had more fights where I blocked most of them. The real question is, will our deflection skills continue to scale up, or will we fall by the wayside as AC tanks take over? My guess is that we'll become very much second rate. For instance, that 39 point deflection bump at 20? I went from 139/100 deflection at 20 to 139/110 deflection at 22... And they'll always add newer and shiner phat loots, but whether we'll get skill raises to coincide is another question...

[Sant]

<DIV>Equipment is a big help using all of your skills is a big help and The right type of healer is a big help. Monks tank best when they have a shaman healer. The reason is that shamans have wards that absorb damage. They work great with avoidance tanks becuase they last longer since you arnt getting hit as often. Are we the best MT no but we are good MTs but we are one the best if not the best ST, 1/4 of our skills are designed to protect the weaker members of the group, 1/4 are for tanking, 1/4 are damage and 1/4 are utility, I.E. invis, Feign Death. </DIV><p>Message Edited by Santsu on <span class=date_text>11-26-2004</span> <span class=time_text>10:29 AM</span>

[ChrisRay]

<DIV>All I know is at level 20. My Ability to tank hit rock bottom. We I cant do it. And I'm even using the new tier 3 armor. ((I know its nothen special but its best you can buy at time)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I usually have some trouble with even cons with special abilities like bears. In order to take down enemies we have to basically flurry our offensive abilities onto them and hope they survive.  Thats solo. In groups. I wont even tank. Unless I'm helping the healers these days.</DIV>