I'm getting worried

[Deaudlus]

<div></div><div></div>First let me say that I love my monk.  I only started playing about a month ago but so far I am loving the monk class and the game.  However I'm kind of starting to worry a bit.  I love the fact how at lvl 33 I can be an effective tank or support style DPS.  But I also understand that in MMO's that 1-lvl cap is only really 1/2 the game.  I know that when it comes to end game my DPS really wont be good and my tanking will diminish alot.  I don't consider my self a "hardcore player" nor do I plan on joining a "hardcore" type raiding guild though I do want to be able to raid occasionally.  Are you still happy with the playstyle of your monk end game?  Do you feel like your contributing or just taking up a raid slot?  I would hate to lvl a character all the way through to 70 and love it and then find that the play style completly changes.  Anyone that played a pally in WoW probably knows exactly what I mean.  I loved my pally 1-60.  Endgame though was like playing a completly differnt character class.  I guess what I mean is I dont want to get to 70 and be the pity invite.  <div></div><p>Message Edited by Rollotamasi on <span class="date_text">12-19-2006</span> <span class="time_text">07:54 AM</span></p><p>Message Edited by Rollotamasi on <span class=date_text>12-19-2006</span> <span class=time_text>07:54 AM</span>

[Morrolan V]

<DIV>The short answer is that I don't think you have anything to worry about.  Check out this thread: <A href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=6&message.id=38979" target=_blank>http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=6&message.id=38979</A>.</DIV>

[Madchat18]

Well, I am currently a 55th level Monk on the Kithicor server and I can not put my LFG tag up for more than 5 minutes without being invited to a Klak, COI, Mines or any other numerous groups. I have built up a pretty good rep as being a good tank and also being really good dps.  All Monks are NOT created equal although we have all the same abilities. What I would suggest to you is play your Monk, be friendly, help out guildies (mentor everything from Blackburrow on up which just so happens to give loads of AA's) and build up a really good rep with your fellow server-mates. I would rather have a competent, friendly player playing a maybe less than ideal class for a raid, then taking MEPWNJOO the level 70 Guardian who doesn't know what a group taunt or body pulling is.With that being said, EQ2 =/= WOW. I played a Druid in WOW, was a wonderful tank and then got designated heal-bot for raids much like WOW's Paladins. Also, don't fall too in love with FD like I did and Tsunami saves lives!<div></div>

[fre'do]

you wont get a pity invite...as a high lvl monk i still play her the most of my characters and she is the one most of my guildmates and friends relie on.  as the tank, or off tank, or dps, or trouble finder, or scout.  i dont raid much only because i get head aches raiding.  i do agree if u are a good tank or just friendly and meet people it wont be hard finding groups.   we add a certain twist to groups.

[DynamicPerforman]

<DIV>The monk is what you make of it.  We're more of a hybrid, so its hard to do any one thing well (tanking vs dps).  But with the right choices and hard work you can do it as well as any other class.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Imagine your sitting on the middle of a small island. There are fish to your right, and water to your left.  You can walk either way easily, and even turn around and go the other way. But its slow, because you are tired and dehydrated.  Thats the monk. A guardian is sitting right next to the water, but he has no legs.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Yeah ok, my metaphors suck  :smileyvery-happy:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Quind]

So eventually the guardian gets spammed with "You are hungry!  You are out of food!" until he breaks down and walks on his hands to go to the broker?Suddenly I realise why I see so many people running around without food and drink.  Walking on your hands is a real pita.<div></div>Just to toss out another bit of reassurance though...it's a fun class, and very flexible.  You've got a lot of options, and you can tailor your monk to fit your playstyle pretty nicely through AAs and gear.  Enjoy the ride, and don't worry about being a pity invite.  Build a rep and you'll have no problem finding groups or whatever.

[ayronyn]

<P>There is no need to worry about a monk class at the end game.  As some others have said here, build a good reputation for yourself.  The best way is to master the ability to switch from DPS to Defense on the fly.  I too used to have problems LFG and being used as a raid tank.  But what I found is that how you react when the MT goes down or is going down will change everyone's perception of a monk as a true tank.  Interceed, Rescue + Tsunami, and Heal (Better than Pally Lay hands with monk AA lines) are the key.  I am not  the greatest monk in the game by far but raid buffed I can reach 13,500 HPs, 60% Mitigation, 77% avoidance and that is not considering your big Mitigations stances.<BR></P> <P>The only real difficulty I have is keeping aggro off the brigands in my guild.  Most of them hover around 2k DPS.   The good thing is they can take a beating when they get and tank for long enough for you to get aggro back.  If your raiding a lot a Monk Tsunami pulling then tanking the trash themselves can shave hours off most raid zones.  A monk who knows how to change from offense to defense on the fly can significantly benefit a raid force for a lot more than FD pulling.</P> <P>I have played an equally geared Guardian and would far rather play a monk in all raid situations becuase we can do a whole lot more for the raid.  As for DPS, well I can do pretty consistent 1K DPS.  I can destroy that on non-aoe encounters if I intercept on the pull and reduce my Health to below 30%.  I have the brawler intelligence line maxed so with the right healers in my group I can have them keep me at 30% and get a 1400 Mitigation buff and nearly 100% chance to crit.   </P> <P>I would say the second most important way to be an effective monk is to surround yourself with healers who are willing to lean how to keep an avoidance tank alive.  I am blessed with a guild of great healers who know how to keep me up.  And when I get the big spikes I augment that with my heal, mitigation stances and Tsunami.  If you study the Monk AA lines and the new changes you can find ways to be absolutely unstoppable against some mobs.  Another thing is get your plate tanks interceeding on you when you spike.  If these guys are trained to interceed a lot on any MT then you can be even more effective.</P> <P>So look past all the complainers.  Dig deep into your AA lines and be able to react fast.  You will love your end game monk if you do.</P> <P>-Ayronyn</P> <P>Zealus - Crushbone</P> <P> </P>

[Mala-Shea]

<P>Want the simple truth? It doesnt matter to most people who don't understand the class anyways. Here's how we are veiwed by the general population...sub par/desparation tank...or "There aren't any scout/mages...may as well invite the monk" sub-par/desparation dps. The end. </P> <P>Slapp is full fabled, 8734 hp self buffed, 71.6% avoid self buffed, over 3K mit in defensive. I have tanked lvl 75 epic X4's like cake when set up to do so...I won't even mention what I can do for raid dps. But, when I'm out LFG for an instance, heh...yeah...I still get "no..were looking for a tank...or no...we are looking for dps. I can be in a group with a plate tank in handcrafted [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] and apprentice one taunts and the group will be more comfortable with his dmg looking like an EKG of a heart attack victim than even considering letting a monk try...even though sometimes I can just auto attack and I'm tanking anyways. </P> <P>Why? Because the server/world's general population's view of monks are skewed through all of the perception of what mostly WE have created. I can't tank worth [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn]...waaaaah...I can't DPS worth [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn]......waaaaah.  I am not blaming anyone...I've partaken of the monk-bashing myself. Are we as good as plate in most situations? Not quite..but at least viable now. Are we tier one dps? No...but again...viable at least. However...we are not supposed to be the best tank in the game...nor the best dps. And now, at least the gear you have does make a difference now. </P> <P> But this last combat change, at least imo, has made a huge difference in where we sit. I do not feel like I am wasting a raid spot anymore. I mostly dps, and if your a scout/mage who's on top of their game I will prolly not beat you. But slack once..hehe..I will make you the butt of every slacking scout/mage's joke. </P> <P>We now have the tools to compete with both ends of the game. The PLAYER is now determines the ability of the monk...not the class.</P> <P> </P>

[DynamicPerforman]

<DIV> "Walking on your hands is a real pita."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I split my sides reading this ^_^ glad some people understand. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>" like an EKG of a heart attack victim " ^_^</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Hurrah. Fly my monkies FLY!  *evil cackle*</DIV>

[Shankonia]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Mala-Shea wrote:<BR> <P>Want the simple truth? It doesnt matter to most people who don't understand the class anyways. Here's how we are veiwed by the general population...sub par/desparation tank...or "There aren't any scout/mages...may as well invite the monk" sub-par/desparation dps. The end. </P> <P>Slapp is full fabled, 8734 hp self buffed, 71.6% avoid self buffed, over 3K mit in defensive. I have tanked lvl 75 epic X4's like cake when set up to do so...I won't even mention what I can do for raid dps. But, when I'm out LFG for an instance, heh...yeah...I still get "no..were looking for a tank...or no...we are looking for dps. I can be in a group with a plate tank in handcrafted [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] and apprentice one taunts and the group will be more comfortable with his dmg looking like an EKG of a heart attack victim than even considering letting a monk try...even though sometimes I can just auto attack and I'm tanking anyways. </P> <P>Why? Because the server/world's general population's view of monks are skewed through all of the perception of what mostly WE have created. I can't tank worth [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn]...waaaaah...I can't DPS worth [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn]......waaaaah.  I am not blaming anyone...I've partaken of the monk-bashing myself. Are we as good as plate in most situations? Not quite..but at least viable now. Are we tier one dps? No...but again...viable at least. However...we are not supposed to be the best tank in the game...nor the best dps. And now, at least the gear you have does make a difference now. </P> <P> But this last combat change, at least imo, has made a huge difference in where we sit. <FONT color=#66ff66><FONT size=5>I do not feel like I am wasting a raid spot anymore.</FONT> </FONT>I mostly dps, and if your a scout/mage who's on top of their game I will prolly not beat you. But slack once..hehe..I will make you the butt of every slacking scout/mage's joke. </P> <P>We now have the tools to compete with both ends of the game. The PLAYER is now determines the ability of the monk...not the class.</P> <P> </P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Thank you.  Nor do I.  I used to usually always end up bringing my Dirge to raid rather than my monk.</P> <P>Now I choose the monk.  Convincing everyone else to let me is an entirely different story.</P> <P> </P> <P>Shangortu</P> <P>Kithicor</P>