Anybody HAPPY with their Monk?

[hammong]

<DIV>I see a lot of gripes about the lack of damage mitigation and tanking ability of Monks, and I haven't seen too many positively reinforcing comments regarding the monk.    Is anybody here really happy with their Monk?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm currently a level 16 half-elf brawler on Mistmoore.   So far, when put into the tank role at my level, I do a very fine job tanking white and below mobs.  When I face yellow or orange con mobs, it's clear that my avoidance/deflection skills aren't up to the task of preventing the blows, and I take a lot of damage.    But, I also noticed the same thing with my 15 Ogre Crusader -- tanking white or less mobs is a piece of cake, tanking yellow+ group mobs is a real exercise for the healers to maintain my health. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I suppose I wanna see some comments from those players that have both a 20+ Monk and a 20+ Plate class tank, with some general comparison of just how happy they are with their Monk. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So far, I'm having a blast with the brawler! </DIV>

[Blaze]

Brawlers dont tank too bad actually. But from all accounts the higher you get in levels the worse your tanking gets. I cant really see how anyone can be happy with a tank class that cant tank.

[Velor]

<DIV>I am a level 25 Monk and I am thoroughly enjoying the game and my class thus far.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Do I have a few gripes about the game? Yes.</DIV> <DIV>Do I think Monks are perfect? No.</DIV> <DIV>Do I think they're fairly well balanced relative to other classes at this point in the game? Yes.</DIV> <DIV>Do I think some people on these forums suffer too much from class envy? Absolutely.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Cyngii]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Velorek wrote:<BR> <DIV>I am a level 25 Monk and I am thoroughly enjoying the game and my class thus far.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Do I have a few gripes about the game? Yes.</DIV> <DIV>Do I think Monks are perfect? No.</DIV> <DIV>Do I think they're fairly well balanced relative to other classes at this point in the game? Yes.</DIV> <DIV>Do I think some people on these forums suffer too much from class envy? Absolutely.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> I'm pretty much in the exact same boat.  I enjoy my character, but wish monks/bruisers had a more defined roll.  There is nothing better than being in group where they say "We'll start as soon as we find a tank".  Having played EQ1 for 4+ years i expected things to change/evolve a lot in EQ2 after release and changes/fixes/nerfs/balances are slowly happening as I expected.  I think that a big deal right now is their are so many bugs to work out that class balancing might take a little while.  I just wish they would post what's being taken care of in their phantom patches (since i've seen a lot people griping about stuff that had alreay been fixed in a phantom patch)... and would give more info on what they were currently working for their next patch.  I'm not going to reroll because I think SOE will eventually make Monks a viable option to a group. 

[kazla_pe]

Enjoying my monk to the extreme. At lvl 34 I totally OWN and i love the class.

[Blaze]

It has nothing to do with class envy, it has to do with class desirability.As many have said, its a crappy feeling to be in a group that says, "ok now we just need a tank". And its not just a few people that think this. Pretty much everyone in the entire EQ2 world belives monks can not tank. And monks in the 25+ game have pretty much said they are right.Kazla, Could you please give us some more info. I would love to belive that monks were a good class 30+, but not many others seem to agree. Are you usually MT for your groups? Do you feel that you tank close enough to plate classes to be viable? What role do you fill in a group?<p>Message Edited by Blaze79 on <span class=date_text>12-02-2004</span> <span class=time_text>12:15 PM</span>

[Jolcon Zand]

<DIV>Want to have fun with Monk? Get a group of 4 monks and 2 clerics together! Non-Stop action!</DIV>

[Velor]

<DIV>Why should tanking be the defining role for a Monk? </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm level 25 and having alot of fun. Very rarely am I LFG for more than 10 mins in TS. Granted, most aren't recruiting me to be the MT but rather as a secondary tank and DPS. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Go figure.</DIV>

[Blaze]

Tanking is supposed to be the defining role of a monk becuase they are in the fighter archtype. If they want monks to be a DPS class they should put us with the scouts.Also do you realize that berserkers do almost as much damage as monks and are awesome tanks.

[Cyngii]

<DIV>I don't mind being an off-tank, it's getting in the group thats the hard part.  I think the beef is that SOE billed all fighters as tanks... "All fighters are tanks, and a monk is a fighter" straight from Moorgard.  If I knew back on day 1 what i know now, I don't know if I would have gone monk.  I was torn between monk/berserker and it sounds like they have things a lot better.  But as i said above... I'm happy with my guy and I think there is a lot of potential as long as they address some issues fairly quickly.</DIV>

[Velor]

<DIV>I won't argue about Berserkers. A primary reason why they are great tanks is because their high DPS allows them to hold aggro very well. Add on top of that the lower disparity in damage taken (ie, better mitigation) and Berserkers are probably the best overall tank in the game.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So what? I say good for Berserkers. But just because they seem to be the best tanks in the game at this level does not necessarily mean there is no place or role for Monks. I can say without reservation that my DPS is better than any other fighter type. Couple that with my abilities as a secondary tank, offensive buffer and utility member and I bring quite a bit of value to groups outside of being the coveted main tank role.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I definitely believe our avoidance needs to be looked at as I am convinced our deflection bonus is still an issue. But this is the 25 game out of 50 levels. Things can change. In fact, they already have. Monks in their 30s are reporting that the future doesn't seem as bleak as some want to make it out to be.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm looking forward to the journey.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Nask]

<DIV>I am enjoying my class.  Part of me wishes I was a scout, only because there is an extreme lack of scouts (especially in our guild) at our level.  Basically my role is utility in groups... if we are deep in and dying, I will FD and revive the group.  I do quite a bit of DPS, probably not as much as a scout (which is the reason I wish I was one), but still decent DPS.  I don't tank, mainly because out of the 6 others that I mainly group with, 2 are warrior types (1 guardian and 1 berserker).  But I do like playing my class.</DIV>

[Craaq]

<DIV>I'm enjoying the class so far. Coming from playing a EQ1 monk, I had no expectations of being a tank or MA (even though it was advertised as such) and also had no expectations of being the highest DPS class either. Only thing I was disappointed in is pulling is non-existant now, where it was a defining role in EQ1 and feign death is nearly useless (expect to rez cleric during wipe).</DIV>

[Cyngii]

<DIV>I think you missed my point about the berserker... prior to the game being released I was torn between the 2 and that's it.  I could really care less about berserkers, guardians, or any other class for that matter at this point as I've already chosen and really enjoy my monk.  Way back when I decided to follow the path of the monk based on what we were told they would be capable of, and as it stands now, we're lacking.  Whether or not we actually are lacking doesn't matter... the widespread thought about monks in game does.  So obviously something isn't right.  It's as if we are thought of as a hybrid where we're more or less thought of as half fast tanks (well for those that actually consider monks as tanks) and/or half fast dps.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So yes i am happy with my character, but our reputation is pretty weak.  There are certain classes that get gobbled up as soon as they announce they are LFG... we are not one of them.  This might not be as big of a deal for people in guilds, but for moderate casual gamers with only a couple hours a night to play it's kinda rough.  I'm not discouraged as we're by no means useless and it wouldn't take much to make us sought after by groups.</DIV>

[Blaze]

You hit the nail on the head. The monk is a hybrid almost exactly. Half tank, half DPS and great at neither.Thats a pretty bad thing to be in a min/max game like EQ.

[Velor]

<DIV>That's just it. EQ1 was a min/max game. EQ2 most definitely has levels in between.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Monks aren't optimal for DPS where DPs is all that matters. By the same token, we aren't optimal where all that matters is tanking.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The problem with that is you are NEVER in a situation where this is true. On some occassions, you will need to have high DPS to win an encounter. DoTs, splash damage, AEs, etc are all reasons for this. Conversely, there are times when you will need another group member to step up and play tank. It is quite obvious that Sony designed this game so that one person cannot control or tank every mob of an encounter by himself. And even if he does, there are still times when he goes down and when he does, what is that Assassin going to do for the group then? I'll tell you. He'll be doing the same thing everyone else will be doing. Running.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>A Monk at least gives you the happy medium. Maybe that isn't the role you would like it to be but if that's the case, perhaps a Warrior class is more to your liking since tanking is pretty much all some seem to care about.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm not spitting out theory. I'm stating my opinion based on what I do and how I play in the groups I join on a daily basis. All I know is it's working for me. I'm only 25 so perhaps it could change. And I'm certainly not stating that some things don't ned improvements. But overall, I just think some aren't thinking outside the box.</DIV>

[Cyngii]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Velorek wrote:<BR> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It is quite obvious that Sony designed this game so that one person cannot control or tank every mob of an encounter by himself. And even if he does, there are still times when he goes down and when he does, what is that Assassin going to do for the group then? I'll tell you. He'll be doing the same thing everyone else will be doing. Running.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>I'm just wondering if you read the posts that Monks aren't tanking those mobs either?  Not saying that it can't be done, but it sounds like it's an adventure at the moment where you can survive one encounter and die the next on the same type of MOB depending on your defense rolls.</DIV>

[Ashk]

<P>Level 21 and not really. I will copy what I posted in another thread -</P> <P> </P> <P>I have my Monk up to level 21 (almost 22) with 3 of the Armor Quest items and I'm really starting to dislike my character. I was under the impression that the need for the Monks to use light armor would be offset by their parry/deflection abilities, which definitely has not been the case. It seems like anything even con or higher always hits me, even if I running Staggering Stance or Martial Focus (which seems to do nothing when I have Brawlers Stance up) and both of those powers are Adept 1. Every time I join a group, people expect me to tank and I have to show them what will happen if I do - i.e hit Feign Death. They think its funny but I think its sad. </FONT></P> <P>So if I can't tank worth a darn, I should be able to do some damage, right? Well no. I have 2-3 powers that can do some damage right now - Rapid Swings (misses alot, 30s recast), Bruising Strike (misses a lot, 30s recast and damages me....ok?) and Thrust Kick/Flying Kick which both will net me around 65-85 damage against a blue con also with a 10-15s recast. All of my attacks are either Adept 1 or App 3 (which are all but impossible to find outside of a broker who is charging 4gp for them).</FONT></P> <P><BR>Lets take a look at my other bunk powers.</P> <P>Toughness - already gray and raises my AC by like 15 points or something so that doesnt help.<BR>Call to Arms - I really haven't noticed much of a boost with this active but it makes me feel like I'm doing something if I pop it.<BR>Martial Focus - Doesn't seem to stack with Brawlers Stance so pretty useless since I'd rather have BS going than keep popping MF every 30 seconds.<BR>Indomitable Will - Haven't found a use for this at all.<BR>Shoulder Charge - Never stuns anything and does like no damage.<BR>Thundering Fists - Never ever stuns anything.<BR>Mend - Doesn't seem to work on me and only does an 80 point heal every 5 minutes. Thats not even marginally useful.</P> <P>And on top of that, it keeps saying I'm raising by ability in Deflection/Parry but it never shows up in actual gameplay. I get hit just as much which is much too frequent. Without a heal or a ward, I can't even be hit by 2 even level cons without my HP sinking very quickly. </P> <P>So in short, I don't like my Monk at all, but since I'm at the same level as all of my friends, I can't really start over with a new char, so I'm kinda just stuck with him. Either make Deflection/Parry worth something against white/yellow enemies or increase our DPS, otherwise this class is just not very fun.</P>

[Velor]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Cyngii wrote:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Velorek wrote:<BR> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It is quite obvious that Sony designed this game so that one person cannot control or tank every mob of an encounter by himself. And even if he does, there are still times when he goes down and when he does, what is that Assassin going to do for the group then? I'll tell you. He'll be doing the same thing everyone else will be doing. Running.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>I'm just wondering if you read the posts that Monks aren't tanking those mobs either?  Not saying that it can't be done, but it sounds like it's an adventure at the moment where you can survive one encounter and die the next on the same type of MOB depending on your defense rolls.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <P>They aren't? I can only speak from my experience at 25 tanking Firerocks and dancer gnolls beyond those but I've had to step up on many occassions to finish off those mobs when the main tank went down or off-tank when we got an add. This is what leads me to believe that things aren't as grim as some are making it out to be. </P> <P>I know what Sony said before and it sounds like what they said in promoting this game about Monks and what is reality may be different. The bottom line is simple though. If you are expecting Monks to be every bit as good as a Warrior class at tanking and be completely interchangeable with them, you're going to be disappointed. Maybe I didn't buy into that pre-game hype, I don't know. All I know is that I picked a Monk because they brought good DPS, the option to tank if needed even if it isn't ideal and good utility and I am, for the most part, pleased with the class and with my choice.</P>

[xtacti]

<DIV>Hmm personally I feel the Monk is playing out exactly as I had forseen. If you honestly wanted a fighter (Tank) you should of picked the Guardian/Berserker. I'm sure you know from eq1 that SoE rarely keeps to the exact word on anything. Nonetheless the Monk in my opinion is owning the zone, I have little trouble tanking (not perfect) but it's doable, and my DPS is roughly what I assumed it to be. So all in all I'm happy with the class I just can't wait to see the Monk class at 50....</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>tactix</DIV>

[Pallaton]

<DIV>I'm happy with my monk! Well, for the most part. Wish I could've gotten a cat or a nice horsey instead of that monk emote thing, but eh.... not much you can do about that <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> lol</DIV>

[Jedd]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Cyngii wrote:<BR><BR> <P>I'm pretty much in the exact same boat.  I enjoy my character, but wish monks/bruisers had a more defined roll.  There is nothing better than being in group where they say "We'll start as soon as we find a tank".  Having played EQ1 for 4+ years i expected things to change/evolve a lot in EQ2 after release and changes/fixes/nerfs/balances are slowly happening as I expected.  I think that a big deal right now is their are so many bugs to work out that class balancing might take a little while.  I just wish they would post what's being taken care of in their phantom patches (since i've seen a lot people griping about stuff that had alreay been fixed in a phantom patch)... and would give more info on what they were currently working for their next patch.  I'm not going to reroll because I think SOE will eventually make Monks a viable option to a group. <BR> <HR> </P> <P>I am pretty sure they lessed loot drops on the dec 1 patch speaking of stealth changes which is bad considering so many mobs loot drops already were non-existant. As far as the monk I hope after a couple years we still have an in between class without a rigid group role. We have enough of that already in eq2.</P></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Denset]

<BR> <DIV>Honestly, there is one huge problem with the Monk class - people just cannot leave EQ1 behind.  At all.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>People PLAYING Monks want to be EQ1 Monks.  They want to be high DPS and nothing else.  Or if they want to be something else, they want to be pullers.  I'm sorry, but pulling is done.  Over.  Behind us.  Get over it.  Honestly, I never liked that my only role in EQ1 was to be the puller.  That's not a concrete role.  If you were grinding in an XP group in a zone where you pull wandering mobs to a camp, being a puller was useless.  The only thing having a Monk as a puller would do in such situations, is allowing us to FD to cancel a pull when we got an add.  Things like that.  I'm glad such such a meaningless job is gone.  In EQ1 we had to MAKE our niche in that area.  The game mechanics of EQ2 are different, and that niche has been filled by the game itself, as it always should hve been.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>People GROUPING with Monks think they are EQ1 Monks.  High DPS and nothing else.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>And here lies the problem.  Both of these types of people are wrong.  BARDS outdamage Monks.  Everything in EQ2 is based upon Archetype, not class or subclass.  Priests are healers.  Mages are DPS and utility.  Scouts are high DPS.  Fighters are Tanks.  Monk are Fighters, so it's time to give up wanting to have a ton of DPS, and focus on what our archetype's role is:  Tanking.  There are a few obvious problems with Monks currently.  A huge thing being that the Deflection bonus gained at level 20 doesn't scale up with level.  This cannot be intentional.  Why give us something just to take it away later?  Monks are Fighters, and Fighters are tanks.  So I want to be a tank.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>That being said, I tank extremely well when given the chance.  Unfortunately, this brings us back to my second point.  People would rather see a Warrior or Crusader tanking, than a Monk, just because of their AC values.  I can bring my AC to within 150-250 of most heavy armor classes I group with.  Add to that my avoidance, and I make a good tank.  I frequently use the Intervene strategy when I tank, because I'm usually grouped with a Berserker.  Unfortunately, the problem is that I generally NEED one of those heavy armor tanks to Intervene me for me to tank reliably at all.  They don't need a Monk to Staggering Stance them so they can tank.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Overall, I'm happy with the role the Monk class has been given, I just want SOE to bring us up to snuff in balance with how well the other classes fill that role, and then I want people to stop thinking we are EQ1 Monks.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> </FONT>Ashkie wrote:<BR> <P>Level 21 and not really. I will copy what I posted in another thread -</P> <P> </P> <P>I have my Monk up to level 21 (almost 22) with 3 of the Armor Quest items and I'm really starting to dislike my character. I was under the impression that the need for the Monks to use light armor would be offset by their parry/deflection abilities, which definitely has not been the case. It seems like anything even con or higher always hits me, even if I running Staggering Stance or Martial Focus (which seems to do nothing when I have Brawlers Stance up) and both of those powers are Adept 1. Every time I join a group, people expect me to tank and I have to show them what will happen if I do - i.e hit Feign Death. They think its funny but I think its sad. </FONT></P> <P>So if I can't tank worth a darn, I should be able to do some damage, right? Well no. I have 2-3 powers that can do some damage right now - Rapid Swings (misses alot, 30s recast), Bruising Strike (misses a lot, 30s recast and damages me....ok?) and Thrust Kick/Flying Kick which both will net me around 65-85 damage against a blue con also with a 10-15s recast. All of my attacks are either Adept 1 or App 3 (which are all but impossible to find outside of a broker who is charging 4gp for them).</FONT></P> <P><BR>Lets take a look at my other bunk powers.</P> <P>Toughness - already gray and raises my AC by like 15 points or something so that doesnt help.<BR>Call to Arms - I really haven't noticed much of a boost with this active but it makes me feel like I'm doing something if I pop it.<BR>Martial Focus - Doesn't seem to stack with Brawlers Stance so pretty useless since I'd rather have BS going than keep popping MF every 30 seconds.<BR>Indomitable Will - Haven't found a use for this at all.<BR>Shoulder Charge - Never stuns anything and does like no damage.<BR>Thundering Fists - Never ever stuns anything.<BR>Mend - Doesn't seem to work on me and only does an 80 point heal every 5 minutes. Thats not even marginally useful.</P> <P>And on top of that, it keeps saying I'm raising by ability in Deflection/Parry but it never shows up in actual gameplay. I get hit just as much which is much too frequent. Without a heal or a ward, I can't even be hit by 2 even level cons without my HP sinking very quickly. </P> <P>So in short, I don't like my Monk at all, but since I'm at the same level as all of my friends, I can't really start over with a new char, so I'm kinda just stuck with him. Either make Deflection/Parry worth something against white/yellow enemies or increase our DPS, otherwise this class is just not very fun.</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P></FONT>If you cannot tank, it is because you do not know how.  You're one of the people who still want to be an EQ1 Monk.  We are not DPS.  That's what Scouts are for.  But let's address your problems with our abilities.</P> <P> </P> <P>Staggering Stance?  This is a great ability.  Did you miss the part where having it on someone else raises our agility.  This usually gives me a bump from 150-200AC.  Indispensible both when tanking, and when not tanking.  It also wards whomever you place it on.  If I'm not the MT, I usually keep it on the MT.  He lasts longer when I do.</P> <P>Martial Focus is not cancelled out by Brawler's Stance.  The bonus it does give, however, are marginal.  I still hit it and Toughness when I'm about to tank a named creature.  Seems to help in the long run.</P> <P>Toughness is grey because you've mastered it.  Combat Arts and spells aren't like weapons and equipment.  Just because it is grey does not mean it is useless.  You noticed when you level up that some of your attacks will do a few more points of damage?  All that the con color means with Arts and Spells is how long until you reach the peak potential.  Once it becomes grey, you can consider it mastered.  That doesn't mean you can toss it away, though.</P> <P>Call to Arms offsets the penalty in crushing, slashing, and piercing that you sustain from Brawler's Stance.  It pretty much makes it so you are basically getting a free defensive boost from Brawler's Stance.  Useless?  I think not.  Wait until you get Wisdom of Zephyl.  That's some nice crack, there.</P> <P>Indomitalbe Will...I agree.  I've found no use for this yet.  Maybe because it's still Adept 2 for me, but the only time I've ever had a chance to use it, are when treasure chests give off the mezz trap.  Then I get one chance to use it, and it never works.  By the time it recycles, the mezz has worn off.  I'd honestly rather have an ability that removes Physical effects from me.  Poison sucks.</P> <P>Shoulder Charge, not worth using really.  It rarely stuns, and does minimal damage.  I don't even have it on my hotbars.  Likewise with Grappling Bear later on.  Oh well.</P> <P>Thundering Fists proc quite often for me.  Not often enough to offset the defensive boost from Brawler's Stance, but I use Thundering Fists when I'm not tanking.</P> <P>Mend, you have to TARGET YOURSELF to use it on yourself.  Unfortunately, this generally means you're not targetting the enemy anymore, and thus not attacking.  The healing has saved me several times, though.  I think this ability needs to be changed back to how it worked in EQ1.  Or at least close to it.  This is probably the only thing from EQ1 that I wish was the same.  Mend should be insta-cast for one thing.  Another, if you have an enemy targetted, then you should not have to target yourself to use it.  I like that I can use it on someone else, but I don't like it so much that I want to sacrifice an insta-cast, or defaulting the target to myself.</P> <P>Oh, and as for your comments about cons, have I mentioned that I have frequently, and successfully tanked named yellows?  The fights generally get closer than I would like, but it CAN be done.</P>

[Denset]

<P>Double post, omg.</P><p>Message Edited by Densetsu on <span class=date_text>12-02-2004</span> <span class=time_text>07:49 PM</span>

[Sant]

<DIV>My problem with monk has to do with having people tell me that they tried to get the group to pick me up but some of the players dont think a monk can add enough to the group to make it worth will. I have had people I barely knew fight with the group over this saying  thats not true this guy knows how to play his character well. The usual response is something to the effect of "It doesnt matter how good they are the class just doesnt add enought to the group."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now I know not every one acts this way but its common enought to make me believe they have a certain point. Monks are second at just about everything and alot of people dont want second best.</DIV>

[Gaige]

<DIV>Y E S.</DIV>

[Cora]

<DIV>I rerolled defiler ~ let you know how that goes :p</DIV>

[i3ry]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> <BR>Mend, you have to TARGET YOURSELF to use it on yourself.  Unfortunately, this generally means you're not targetting the enemy anymore, and thus not attacking.  The healing has saved me several times, though.  I think this ability needs to be changed back to how it worked in EQ1.  Or at least close to it.  This is probably the only thing from EQ1 that I wish was the same.  Mend should be insta-cast for one thing.  Another, if you have an enemy targetted, then you should not have to target yourself to use it.  I like that I can use it on someone else, but I don't like it so much that I want to sacrifice an insta-cast, or defaulting the target to myself. <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>Actually you don't have to target the person you want to use it on as long as that person is your target's target.  For instance, you're fighting a gnoll that agro'd the healer and he's taking damage.  If you hit your mend key, it'll heal whoever has that blue arrow over their head and hopefully buy them some time for a real heal or a taunt.  Now, if they only increase the range of .0000000004 cm it might be useful.</DIV>

[Denset]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> i3ry2k wrote:<BR><BR> <DIV>Actually you don't have to target the person you want to use it on as long as that person is your target's target.  For instance, you're fighting a gnoll that agro'd the healer and he's taking damage.  If you hit your mend key, it'll heal whoever has that blue arrow over their head and hopefully buy them some time for a real heal or a taunt.  Now, if they only increase the range of .0000000004 cm it might be useful.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>Yes, I know how auto-assist works.  That doesn't change the fact that Mend is completely [Removed for Content].  There are very few things about Monks that I wanted to be similar in EQ2 to their EQ1 counterparts.  Mend is one of those few things.</DIV>

[pachuco2k]

<DIV>In a word, YES!</DIV>

[Smaele]

<DIV>I'm not happy with my monk so far, I played monk in EQlive for 5 years and was looking forward to the avoidance "tanking", only to find out monks got the shaft YET AGAIN. </DIV> <DIV>No I don't, tank in groups anymore (I'm level 23) because other classes do that way better and I can't take 4 hits in a row.</DIV> <DIV>Got hit for 365, 456 and 298 when I pulled aggro of a cleric and was instantly a dead monk. Big fun? I think not. Did I "avoid" any attacks? No, those were 3 in a row (one was a barrage). Does that suck? Yes it does. Even in EQlive I was able to pull aggro of the "mob-on-me-help-me-getting-hit-screaming" cleric, now I don't do that anymore because I die instead of the cleric, when that happens I just hit intervene and hope someone notices my health dropping in a fraction of a second fast enough... I don't want to be the first member of my group to die everytime. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>And to those who say: "Hey, why are they talking about monk prejudice? I don't do that and have never noticed anyone on my server doing that!" </DIV> <DIV>Please shut up and go play a monk, I was running back and forth in TS and Nek all day with LFG on. When I noticed a group looking for more, I sent a tell. The rudest thing I had in reply was: "Go play a real class **mods 4 teh win!!1!**head!" </DIV> <DIV>But mainly I got: "Monk? No thanks."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Sony make the class I love to play desirable or loose a player. Thank you.</DIV> <DIV>*rant off*</DIV>

[Gaige]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Smaelens wrote:<BR> <DIV>I'm not happy with my monk so far, I played monk in EQlive for 5 years and was looking forward to the avoidance "tanking", only to find out monks got the shaft YET AGAIN. </DIV> <DIV>No I don't, tank in groups anymore (I'm level 23) because other classes do that way better and I can't take 4 hits in a row.</DIV> <DIV>Got hit for 365, 456 and 298 when I pulled aggro of a cleric and was instantly a dead monk. Big fun? I think not. Did I "avoid" any attacks? No, those were 3 in a row (one was a barrage). Does that suck? Yes it does. Even in EQlive I was able to pull aggro of the "mob-on-me-help-me-getting-hit-screaming" cleric, now I don't do that anymore because I die instead of the cleric, when that happens I just hit intervene and hope someone notices my health dropping in a fraction of a second fast enough... I don't want to be the first member of my group to die everytime. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>And to those who say: "Hey, why are they talking about monk prejudice? I don't do that and have never noticed anyone on my server doing that!" </DIV> <DIV>Please shut up and go play a monk, I was running back and forth in TS and Nek all day with LFG on. When I noticed a group looking for more, I sent a tell. The rudest thing I had in reply was: "Go play a real class **mods 4 teh win!!1!**head!" </DIV> <DIV>But mainly I got: "Monk? No thanks."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Sony make the class I love to play desirable or loose a player. Thank you.</DIV> <DIV>*rant off*</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>Funny, I'm lvl 31 and I'm grouped daily and constantly.  Monks can tank also <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><BR>

[Velor]

<DIV>If you're tanking, then a Cleric class is not much of a healer for you since most of thier heals are Reactive based. A Shaman class is much better with their wards.</DIV>

[Smaele]

<DIV>As it stands for me MONKS 4 TEH SUXORZZZ</DIV>

[Smaele]

<DIV>And I do care to elaborate...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Just a minute ago we had an add and it aggroed me, took 7 hits not one blocked, parried or whatever. I hit the ground faster than your neighbourhood chanter. Yet more debt and more mender stuff. /cheers /chuckles</DIV>

[Kehlar]

<DIV>23 monk and loving it.</DIV>

[i3ry]

<DIV>You guys are making this out to be a lot worse than it actually is heh.... I agree, we need some kind of compensation to be a dependable tank class like we were promised, but we aren't completely useless.  I never have trouble finding groups and I never feel as if I'm dragging the group down.  I can offtank or backup tank just fine when I'm needed, I do decent DPS, my utilities seem to make a difference, and most importantly I'm having fun.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Some people are complaining about Mend being useless, but what do you expect... we're not healers. =P  I've actually had a lot of use out of it, those little wimpy 100 HP heals can save your group if you time them out right.</DIV>

[Goldxn]

I am super happy with being a Monk. It really does rake on my nerves when people say "now we need a tank"..but im still there. Monks find groups fast. Multiple monks are even better, more so than any other figher. 2 paladins in a group..way to many, 2 guardians in a group..have you ever seen it? Really we are the only fighter that people cant get enough of. And thats why i love being a monk, becuase i am able to multi task and do my part in a group. Just a thought..what was being a monk in early Everquest like? wasnt it really unfair then too?

[Malsar7]

I'm hooked too much on the EQ1 monk.I want to have the challenge of pulling. That's the number one reason I am not playing EQ2 anymore. : I love pulling, and I was disappointed to see how pulling was done. I dont care to tank or off tank.EQ2 monk is a good class. But, for people that played a monk in EQ1 for a long time, it might not be what they were expecting.Malsar

[Lord Hor]

For all those people who dont like their monks - dont play it. It's as simple as that.It's not a standard munchkin class who can tank big time or kill every mob in one hit. If you want that, go play Lineage II, there the tanks do damage that wont kill a fly, and DDs aren't good for anything but dealing damage.I like the monk for being not that way. I like the cool moves, I like the idea of having a flexible character who is useful in a group as well as able to kill something alone. If you dont find a group, make your own. Never had any problems with that, maybe it's just a question of the tone in which you ask.Just ask yourself if you wanna play for fun or level as fast (and boring) as possible.

[Ko]

<DIV>23 Barby monk here</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I love my toon...i believe they could look into avoidance a little more though...cause sometimes a fight issue looks likea lotery.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Sometimes i would have the group say "Wow man! you rock..these mobs almost never nailed you" but some times also "Man sorry i couldn't heal...you droped so fast <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>That's why i prefer to have a Shamy on my side than a cleric, regen is much more suitable to our way of tanking. (with a shamy and a drood i can tank allday)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The only thing that bugs me so far...is that our tanking based on luck, sometimes i would tank like a god...sometimes, in an incredibly moment of NO luck i would get smashed like a ragdoll.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Also, tanking in general, asks you to allways be on the top of your equipment.</DIV> <DIV>All of your main skills should be Adept I, armor at least white con..not under, same for   jewllery, many tanks seem to be happy with the top armor and weapons....but still wear **mods 4 teh win!!1!**ty grey or green jewllery from their noob life. This is not wiable.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>having a top set oj jewllery as well makes a huge difference.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>To finish with, if they would fix the avoidance thingy to make our tanking more previsible for healers, i would be the most happy monkey around Norrath.</DIV>

[Zadkiel3]

Loving my monk at 21, having a great time in EQ2.Zadkiel.