Monk Primary

[Goober1337]

Here's my delema:

I really want to play a monk primary (Healing and Protection Style Play): This is the first game that makes a healer not just essential but engaging and awfuly entertaining. However, Everytime I try make a Monk Primary, I have a hard time justifying taking "Divine Favor" over one of the other casters' more potent class-spesific skills (like Fast Casting or Energy Storage)

Now, Should i just abandon The idea of having a monk primary, or is there something i am overlooking?

Also, I found myself being singled out in the beta PvP for my avatar being a healer. What's a good secondary to slow down those sprinting tanks from making me healer goo?

Thanks

[Goober1337]

No one? am i just that nubly?

[asdar]

Monk primary is what I play but I'm not sure I understand your dilemma.

EDIT:Ahh, now I understand, my bad.

If you want to try a monk then you gotta do it.

Divine is what makes Monks special. It gives us a BIG boost in how much our healing spells do. zero divine compared to fully invested is probably half again the amount of HP healed. Now that sounds good for efficiency of course but the big thing as you get higher in level in PvE is that you really don't want to get close to the enemy much. Scoot in and get your heals off and get out of the damage area. A bigger heal lets you do that fewer times in a fight.

I love monk primary, I'd go Mo/Mes but it's up to you. If I were going Mo/Ele, i'd go Ele/Mo because of the storage. Most people don't like Ele/Mo's for main healer because without the divine points they can't heal for as much per cast. I personally think they are awesome back up healer, the perfect compliment to a Mo/?? in places like Lornars. Lots of damage but right there with the heals as well.

There's nothing wrong with an Ele/Mo's healing, IF they focus on healing. If they focus on dmg then they'll most likely suck at healing. There's a balance for sure but it's a solid choice if you ask me.

[Goober1337]

Thanks: I really didnt get a feel in the beta for how good divine favor's heal buff was, but i'll do the math again...

Whee.

[pcxgamexman]

I play a level 13 Mo/E and I love it. The secondary profession you play really doesn't matter much because your primary job is as a healer. If you worry too much about putting skill points in the secondary class stats, you're just going to make yourself less of a healer. I went Elementalist as a secondary profession for when I want to solo a bit because it gives me a good choice of area of effect fire attack skills to help break down those larger groups of enemies or a few good low energy cost attacks. For the most part though, even when I'm not grouped with other players, I'm grouped with a few henchman. So, whatever secondary class you choose probably doesn't matter much and if I had it to do again, I would have probably picked ranger for the additional damage the pet does--I got caught in a situation where my entire party died and I was left to take on two enemies, one being a Shaman and it took forever to kill them both, almost being at a stalemate for 3 or 4 minutes because the Shaman kept casting Heal Area. I finally timed my area of effect and single attack (the only two attack skills I had loaded, both monk smiting attacks btw) just right to kill the non-Shaman and then finally wore the Shaman down the same way a little later on. Plus, the pet can be sacrificed to give you time to escape if you have to. I usually don't even have any secondary profession skills loaded at this level so choose whatever you think will work the best for you. :happy53:

[jlowry]

At first, I had no idea which secondary to choose since I'm focused on being a dedicated monk more than anything else. Eventually, I decided on a Mesmer secondary in the assumption that I'd use inspiration skills. I may use them more later, but for now the secondary is ALMOST unused. I have enjoyed Physical Resistence, though, for the armor boost while smiting!

(Primarily a smiter, although I conceed to being a healer/protector in missions)

Eventually I'll likely respec the build for more healing/protection/domination (or inspiration) in PvP. Regardless, I'm having fun whichever role I play (even through all the flak monks get). I just wish I had a better speed boost available to run away (Illusion of Haste just doesn't cut it for me)!

[Mcdeath]

Hmmm.

I'd suggest looking at a Necro/Monk as a possible choice as well. You get Soul Reaping, which generally ends your energy issues. You also get a number of excellent healing spells to compliment the monk ones. You get Well of Blood and possibly Well of Power. You get Putrid Explosion.

I haven't pvp'd at all in GW yet so I don't know if this is true or not but I've been told that Necros are generally the last to die becaus everyone is hammering on the Monk primary.