Monks are Great!

[Ponos]

<DIV>For the past week I have been rolling different toons and trying them out in the starter zones: Queen's Colony and Isle of the Overlord (or whatever it's called), and I must say that I am happiest with the monk class.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As a monk, I was able to solo every quest with relative ease even with my combat XP turned off (only gaining levels through quest advancement) -- even the Source of Evil questline and the Blademaster!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>With no other toon was I able to do this.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>And with the exception of The Guurok, I was able to kill every named mob while they still conned white or blue to me.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I also really like their fight animations and the look of the gi.  My tune is bald and that really helps complete the look.  I like that they have ranged attacks and free fall and can dual wield.  I'm just really happy all around with the monk class.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Three cheers for us! </DIV>

[selch]

Enjoy while you can.

[Ponos]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> selch wrote:<BR>Enjoy while you can.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>What do you mean?  Character revamps are through.  The Nerf Bat has been retired, right?  Right?

[KazzySoJaz]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Phylicus wrote:<BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> selch wrote:<BR>Enjoy while you can.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>What do you mean?  Character revamps are through.  The Nerf Bat has been retired, right?  Right?<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>We take the nerf bats like men, that is why you have not really seen it in action but it is still there, and still active.  Recently most of our nerfs have come via our AA lines.  Mostly dealing with double attack.  There was also a stealth (unmentioned in notes) nerf to excarnate rickshaw and some other items.  Nothing too major but still we do not gain things like say a wizzy and still complain, that is what I love most about being part of the monk community.

[tass]

lol I think if anyone is gonna get the bat next its gonna be a scout class. My money is on assasins or brigs, with a side swipe at the rangers for being agrivating.<div></div>

[Timaarit]

<blockquote><hr>Phylicus wrote:<div></div> <blockquote> <hr> selch wrote:Enjoy while you can. <hr> </blockquote>What do you mean?  Character revamps are through.  The Nerf Bat has been retired, right?  Right?<hr></blockquote>It means that while you are still low level. Here is the deal: on your way to 70, monks are at least one of the best, if not even the best class to solo. This does not mean we can kill the toughest mobs while soloing but it means monks can do things easier when soloing. For example at lvl 60, my monk died once when doing the Peacock quest series in Living Tombs. My fellow wizard, who could solo orange con ^^^ at lvl 60, died tens of times. In the end, I did the series faster than he did even though he was able to kill any one single mob a lot faster than me. At lvl 70, I am able to go to the forge in Sanctum of Scaleborn at ease. Now he can kill his way in no problem but I dont even have to. It takes about 10 mins for me to go down, craft and run back up. But. In group setting, I am the last to be picked as a tank. Also even though I have nice DPS, it loses to all the real DPS classes. So I am the worst tank of fighters and the worst DPS from DPS classes. Zerkers for example are higher DPS and far better tanks. But they do lack the soloability. On my way to 70, I enjoyed being a monk. Now at 70, I have real issues since all I needed for is DPS and I am not that great at it when compared to DPS classes. I have no real utility, the group speed buff is nice but not really necessary. However I can tank if needed and even have picked up tanking when MT has died. I have also successfully tanked all the DoF and KoS group instances. Haven't tried Nek3 nor Nizara yet as people always want my templar there.<div></div>

[Keshaan]

<blockquote><hr>Timaarit wrote:<blockquote><hr>Phylicus wrote:<div></div> <blockquote> <hr> selch wrote:Enjoy while you can. <hr> </blockquote>What do you mean?  Character revamps are through.  The Nerf Bat has been retired, right?  Right?<hr></blockquote>It means that while you are still low level. Here is the deal: on your way to 70, monks are at least one of the best, if not even the best class to solo. This does not mean we can kill the toughest mobs while soloing but it means monks can do things easier when soloing. For example at lvl 60, my monk died once when doing the Peacock quest series in Living Tombs. My fellow wizard, who could solo orange con ^^^ at lvl 60, died tens of times. In the end, I did the series faster than he did even though he was able to kill any one single mob a lot faster than me. At lvl 70, I am able to go to the forge in Sanctum of Scaleborn at ease. Now he can kill his way in no problem but I dont even have to. It takes about 10 mins for me to go down, craft and run back up. But. In group setting, I am the last to be picked as a tank. Also even though I have nice DPS, it loses to all the real DPS classes. So I am the worst tank of fighters and the worst DPS from DPS classes. Zerkers for example are higher DPS and far better tanks. But they do lack the soloability. On my way to 70, I enjoyed being a monk. Now at 70, I have real issues since all I needed for is DPS and I am not that great at it when compared to DPS classes. I have no real utility, the group speed buff is nice but not really necessary. However I can tank if needed and even have picked up tanking when MT has died. I have also successfully tanked all the DoF and KoS group instances. Haven't tried Nek3 nor Nizara yet as people always want my templar there.<div></div><hr></blockquote>I completely agree with what you said because that is also how I experience being a monk.Imo the things that makes monks special are selfhaste, FD, heal and the unique t6 skills we got from DoF (ward, tsunami and group FD). The sad thing is that with the current implementation alot of the other aspects of being a monk is pretty substandard compared to any other class. I like playing a monk because of the lighttank-idea but right now it's those features I mentioned that makes me keep playing because in every other respect I can think of we are a bit borked up.<div></div>

[Chay]

I play a monk and a brigand that are about the same level.  My brigand has a much easier time at things than the monk. Though for a while my monk seemed unbeatable. I think certain classes do better during certain ranges of level. I've place Illusionist (hate that name), Warden (hate that name as well), Bezerker (if only she were really a Bezerker), Brigand, and Monk. Every few levels I seem to hit slow/harder patches and every once in a while I breeze through stuff without a problem. So  that probably means either the levels aren't balanced or the classes aren't. Go figure!I would not say the classes are completely set. Lots of stuff is broke in lots of classes... And a few things look to be about the be nerfed. Enjoy it if its easy, complain if its not! LOL!<div></div>

[Tamo]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Timaarit wrote:<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> </BLOCKQUOTE>It means that while you are still low level.<BR><BR>Here is the deal: on your way to 70, monks are at least one of the best, if not even the best class to solo. This does not mean we can kill the toughest mobs while soloing but it means monks can do things easier when soloing. For example at lvl 60, my monk died once when doing the Peacock quest series in Living Tombs. My fellow wizard, who could solo orange con ^^^ at lvl 60, died tens of times. In the end, I did the series faster than he did even though he was able to kill any one single mob a lot faster than me. At lvl 70, I am able to go to the forge in Sanctum of Scaleborn at ease. Now he can kill his way in no problem but I dont even have to. It takes about 10 mins for me to go down, craft and run back up.<BR><BR>But. In group setting, I am the last to be picked as a tank. Also even though I have nice DPS, it loses to all the real DPS classes. So I am the worst tank of fighters and the worst DPS from DPS classes. Zerkers for example are higher DPS and far better tanks. But they do lack the soloability.<BR><BR>On my way to 70, I enjoyed being a monk. Now at 70, I have real issues since all I needed for is DPS and I am not that great at it when compared to DPS classes. I have no real utility, the group speed buff is nice but not really necessary. However I can tank if needed and even have picked up tanking when MT has died. I have also successfully tanked all the DoF and KoS group instances. Haven't tried Nek3 nor Nizara yet as people always want my templar there.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Thats pretty much how I experienced playing my monk except I started making my own groups and tanking for those. I'm usually 3rd/4th for tanks.... in raids that is</BLOCKQUOTE>

[Jaggid]

Monks are nice but they aren't that great.  You can solo newb island with other offensive classes, not sure about the utility/healing classes, never played them in this game.

[JudyJudy]

<P><EM>To help encourage the OP's name for this thread...</EM></P> <P><EM>Yes...  We are great.</EM></P>

[Rrawl]

<P>A true student of the Way, does not concern themselves with what others can do. They do the best they can and make the most of what they have. </P> <P>Monk for Life,</P>

[Kinless]

Kinz is a monk and always will be a monk. I know some didnt play EQ1 but I will pass on to you what I learned in the years that I played there .. <font size="5">CHANGE IS CONSTANT <font size="2"> <font size="3">All classes will be changed for the worse and better all the time. It was a constant there and has been about the same here. Enjoy your class, play it to the fullest or make another. In every class you will have high times and low, but take the changes good and bad as a challenge to make it work in ways that make people boggle or hang your head and say " I cant " and join the rest of the cows in the slaughter line. Sick and tired of the sheep in monks clothing. Kinz 70 Monk LDL </font></font></font><div></div>

[Mronin]

I came back to this forum as I'm cleaning out my character list and deciding on one alt to keep. I'm leaning toward my monk so was going down the post list and came across this post and had to reply. All I can say is bravo Kinless. I've been trying to get this very idea across to my Ranger brothers and sisters now for a while but no one is listening. Look at the forums, every single one of the class forums has a group that think that the class is broken. You know what, every class is in reality or is perceived as "broken" in some way or another. The problem is that the perceived "problems" tend to be blown way out of proportion. Yes we are all seeking our places come raid time. But if you play your class to the fullest as best you can then you'll find your place. Believe me, having my main as a Ranger has quickly taught me to put into action those famous words "improvise, modify, adapt, and over come".This game and it's classes are fluid, they have and always will change. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worst, the only constant is the CHANGE itself. The best thing everyone can do is accept this as fact and learn to roll with it and adapt our play styles to it. Otherwise you'll be constantly rolling new toons to fit the flavor of the month.I'm looking forward to leveling my monk and seeing just how things are really shaking out these days. From what I've seen thus far by playing literally every class in the game, the reality of day to day play even in raid situations aren't quite the doom and gloom that is constantly presented in every class forum on these boards.

[selch]

<blockquote><hr>Kinless wrote:Kinz is a monk and always will be a monk. I know some didnt play EQ1but I will pass on to you what I learned in the years that I playedthere ..<font size="5">CHANGE IS CONSTANT<font size="2"><font size="3">All classes will be changed for the worse and better allthe time. It was a constant there and has been about the same here.Enjoy your class, play it to the fullest or make another. In everyclass you will have high times and low, but take the changes good andbad as a challenge to make it work in ways that make people boggle orhang your head and say " I cant " and join the rest of the cows in theslaughter line.Sick and tired of the sheep in monks clothing.Kinz70 MonkLDL</font></font></font><div></div><hr></blockquote>Yeah change is constant, all I can say "better" days awaits for us, because we can't be more worse than today, or can we?Yeah and I played EQ1 for long time as a monk. Monks & rangers were never classified there, was tough job to make them viable. Will they be tank? Will they be DPS? Not sure if they ever made mind here too.

[Keshaan]

For any experienced mmo-player the "change is constant-corollary" is rather trivial by now. The hard thing is to figure out what the devs have envisioned for our class, because we will always fluctuate around that (unless they suddenly change the vision which is seen before).I always try to determine the eqilibrium state of any class and then figure out if I like that. That is in fact why I have stayed with my monk so far and expect to keep doing that <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />The only thing that made me boggle a bit about Kinless' post was the reference to eq1 monks, as I dont think the vision is the same for those 2 classes. I am tempted to argue that kinz in eq2 is not that same character as he/she was in eq1.. but I guess alot can happen in 500 years <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Kinless]

Keshaan,                  Woah ! Slow down . I never said monks were the same in EQ1 as EQ2 . I was not a monk in EQ1. In EQ1 I was Kinless a Ranger on FV. Kinz was new to EQ2 and the name became Kinz because one of the other things I learned in EQ1 was shorter names are always easier to remember, type, and spell right.                   So, while I dont understand the plight of monks in EQ1, I do understand the constant change that happened to Rangers there. <div></div>

[Keshaan]

ah ok, np then <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />I just took the "and always has been" as implied in that sentence <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><div></div>

[TuinalOfTheNexus]

EQ2 vision for monks is a tank class that sacrifices mitigation and group taunting for more DPS, single-target taunting, and the ability to FD. This makes them extremely good solo and in exp groups at all levels. In high end raiding, however, there's less use for a monk, given that a DPS slot on a raid may as well be given to a wizard or assassin, and a guardian / berserker performs better in an MT role. This is the crux of much [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn]ing and whining, although it's more down to a flaw in the raid mechanic (comparatively few tanks needed for all encounters) than the monk class itself. However, many monks still feel because the advantages they have levelling 1-70 are of little or no use to them in high end raiding, the class needs improving.