Monk Fighting Style

[Sorena]

Hi all,I've recetnly started the game and decided on a Monk for my main char, (trying to avoid having alts, so want to stick with one). Im enjoying my choice so far, but one thing is worrying me slightly. I play on a pvp server and any fights that Ive been in (that dont consit of a group or higher level freep jumping me <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> ) usually consist of me hitting my damage abilities, waiting for them to refresh then hitting them again. Basically I dont get the feeling that I need to think in combat. Now Im only level 18, so this might change, but Im a tad worried that even at later levels combat will involve little tactics. I know we get stuns/stifles, but against a melee enemy (which all my fights have been so far) I just seem to stand/chase them smashing whatever button that happens to be up.Im only level 18 atm. I would appreciate any advice on tactics etc. and also advice on if this will change at all in later levels? I mostly solo so far. With other classes (maybe most apart from fighters) there seems to be some form of "thinking" involved, be it using stuns to get in positionals, deciding when to root/heal/ restealthing to use certain abilities etc.This is not a whine at all, I am enjoying my Monk, but do feel that tactics are missing at the moment. Hopefully it'll change later but I might consider making a different character for a more option based combat style.Thankies!<div></div>

[IrulanDunedanc]

<DIV>Not too familiar with the PvP aspect, but there is some strategy involved.  Knowing which CA's to use and what order to use them in a given fight to get the best results (hitting your short-duration stun while your long-duration stun is still in effect usually isn't the best idea unless you get the timing perfect), spacing your CA's out enough to get the most benefit from your haste buffs (which only apply to autoattack swings), and using your HO's (heroic opportunity, if you were wondering)... the strategy isn't as obvious for a monk as it is for a scout, but it's definitely there.</DIV>

[Sorena]

Many thanks for the reply. Ive been experiementing with the auto-attack/CA mixture (have to admit up to now I didnt pay much attention to timing anything other than stuns) and am a bit confused as to how the mechanics actually work. I know theres some form of timer, but when I experimented on mobs just using auto-attack, sometimes I would hit for 5 strikes and then pause for a while, other times Id have 8/9 hits in a row before a pause. Ive looked for some guides but havent come across a good explanation yet. You dont happen to know of  a good explanation of auto-attack mechanics/mixing CA's with auto for best benefit?cheers<div></div>

[HydroTsuna]

<div></div>lol jk there is a big wide market for this game.. don't forget how many kids play it too.. This game is pretty dumbed down no offense to anyone.<div></div><p>Message Edited by HydroTsunami on <span class=date_text>08-18-2006</span> <span class=time_text>12:06 PM</span>

[Sorena]

I've played WoW, Im used to dumbed down games <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />I know one doesnt need a PhD in Advanced Combat Tactics to play, but I want to know more about the underlying algorithm/mechanics on auto-attack for the very reason that I want to minimise the dumbdowness of my play. I dont want to just be a button smasher, I want to think about how to best utilise the abilities I have. I just want combat to be more than mash mash mash, hell I dont care if it increases my dps by whatever, just trying to squeese out every bit of "thinking" I can<div></div>

[IrulanDunedanc]

<DIV>Let me 'splain... no, there is too much, let me sum up.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Your autoattack rate is (weapon delay)/1+(haste % expressed as a decimal)... so, if you have a 2.0-second delay weapon, and 60% haste, your autoattack rate is 2/1.6=1.25 seconds between swings. (This assumes that haste in EQ2 works more or less like haste in EQ1; if anyone knows better, please feel free to correct me.)  This timer goes off whether you're in the middle of casting or not, so if it's been 1.25 seconds and you're in the middle of using, say, Thrust Kick, you won't swing, but the timer will still reset.  This sorta makes high-delay weapons and/or 2h weapons fairly popular, because there are fewer missed autoattack swings.  (Once again, if this info is out of date or flat out wrong, please feel free to correct me).</DIV>

[Bladewind]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> IrulanDunedancer wrote:<BR> <DIV>Let me 'splain... no, there is too much, let me sum up.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>You just wiggled a finger!  That's wonderful!

[IrulanDunedanc]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Bladewind wrote:<BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> IrulanDunedancer wrote:<BR> <DIV>Let me 'splain... no, there is too much, let me sum up.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>You just wiggled a finger!  That's wonderful!<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I've always been a fast healer.

[selch]

In many other MMO's I've played (and I assume in this one) as well, not just delay but "min-max" values of weapon effects to-hit.Which I mean, if there is a large-gap between minimum and maximum values of weapon than another weapon, this would also mean it may "miss" less due to to-hit conversations. I may be also wrong in that, however, from what I see, it is fairly wrong to say a 2H miss lesser because of delay, but because of large gap between min & max values. And this gap is high at many (almost all) 2H weapons compared to Dual Wields.So to give as an example:35-40 damage, 2.5 seconds delay 2H weapon misses as much as 15-20 damage Dual Wield with 1.6 seconds.35-40 damage 2.5 seconds delay 2H weapon misses "more" than 10-20 damage Dual Wield with 1.6 seconds.However, due to itemization, we won't be seeing high gap values in Dual Wields than 2H's, because in generally or to some item creation formulas, high gap increases delay, which makes different damage weapons having around same Damage Rating such as Fist of Bashing having 2.5 seconds with large gap in values than other Dual Wields with low delays.<p>Message Edited by selch on <span class=date_text>08-21-2006</span> <span class=time_text>07:42 AM</span>