Why is smiting hated so much?

bungusmaximus

bungusmaximus

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

Guild Of Handicrafted Products [MaSS]

W/Mo

The elites suck imo. They have been nerfed because of PvP too in the past if I'm right.

KalleDamos

KalleDamos

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2007

Honestly, why is smiting hate dso much. there are a few missions and one dungeon where it is realy useful. But it has potentail. It had great potential before the massive anit-bot farming nerfs. But why is it so hated. Why not take a smiting monk in your group instead of a second or even third warrior? With eye of the north there are some new skills that give smiters a sort of prot like build, but yet it is still impossible to get into groups! Why not take a smiter? Give some reasons for hating or loving smiting in both PvE and PvP.

DvM

DvM

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2005

Vlaardingen, The Netherlands

Survivor Squad[SS]

expensive skills mediocre damage no pressure.

*except for AoE with Zealots ofcourse.

Div

Div

I like yumy food!

Join Date: Jan 2006

Where I can eat yumy food

Dead Alley [dR]

Mo/R

Because Anet wants people to heal or prot when they play monk?

boarderx

boarderx

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2007

[PIG]

the only time i smite is vs undead and only if we have plenty of monking alrdy or if im questing around with h/h on my monk, being an attacker on my monk helps so my h/h at least target the right stuff. But yeah smite, i dont use it much at all, there are better sources for dmg imo

Roshi_ikkyu

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

Mo/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by holymasamune
Because Anet wants people to heal or prot when they play monk? WRONG!


Monks and smite were once powerful, almost to the level of insane. They kicked ass in PvE and were useful in PvP.

but like all awesome overpowered classes they were nerfed, now people only want monks to heal. It was never Anet.

And Monks and smite are only really hated by fools and Newbs who don't know how they can fit into a decent group.

Hvaing said that, there still best to only heal in PvP and use smite for defense. Its just about the way PvP is, and should be played.

Winterclaw

Winterclaw

Wark!!!

Join Date: May 2005

Florida

W/

Smiting is still good against undead. *remembers shards of Orr.* However yes, it was nerfed to the point it really because useless, largely because it became too popular.

Take banish, it's like something like lightning strike, but it has double the recharge. Spear of Light can do more conditionally, but has even more recharge. Word of Censure is cost expensive and has a long recharge if your foe is under 33%.

Basically a smite monk is an el without the recharge, energy, or damage. It's only use is against undead or armor ignoring damage.

Melody Cross

Melody Cross

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2006

Alliance of Anguish [aOa]

Mo/

The armor ignoring aspect of their offensive spells have made smite a little scary for balance. It becomes very easy to spike when your damage ignores armor, and pressure becomes very dangerous when you cant buff against it effectively. For this reason, smiting was nerfed and remains nerfed today imo.

There have been many incarnations of smite builds in the past. Smite Boon healing monks are fun and a little popular in RA right now (or they were for the weekend). They can output respectable healing, some measure of defense against conditions and hexes and they add a little pressure. A WoR rit still blows them out of the water on overall utility+offense, but Smite hex and skills like CoP can shift that balance back into the smite boon's favor...marginally.

Mostly, smite is not appreciated because the elites are trash and the "gud" skills are farm friendly, not play effective. Maintained enchantments--passive prot--is easily stripped and hard to reapply in the midst of a fight. Long uptimes mean mobs will die if they wail on you, and only you, for a long time. It is not conductive to a build that should be helping your team survive for a PvP match or extended PvE play. A lot of the holy damage that can make smite skills powerful is conditional on other things happening first or happening at the time of strike (not cast) and the signets slow cast times do not allow for the knee jerk reactiveness their effects require (ex: bane sig and cautery).

Take Holy Strike. Capable of dealing 40+ dmg every 8 seconds is not very powerful (an ele with Flare will output more DPS than you can), but dealing 80 is a whiff of a spike. But the skill requires you (a 60AL caster) to be in touch range to use it, AND it requires your target to be KDed first (btw, all damage is insta critical to KDed targets anyway, so the damage increase for smite is not that stellar, just the AL ignoring aspect of it).

Slow recycles make overall pressure low, but spike is still theoretically possible...if you find 3-7 other people who want to run a monk smite build. Its not easy to find 7 people who want to run monks of any type on at the same time, even offensively.

So people hate smite because it was imba, nerfed, and never raised to an effective--serious PvE and PvP--level of play. Its like eles were for the longest time. You might see a smite skill every now and again. You might see some builds run it exclusively in low level PvP play or in areas where the double damage to undead makes it HUGE, but by and large, there are better things to bring.

...And if the monk's not goanna heal me, why did we invite him in the first place

GGs

Ensign

Ensign

Just Plain Fluffy

Join Date: Dec 2004

Berkeley, CA

Idiot Savants

The easiest way to put it, is that the best smiters buff and clean physicals. The PUG community, in general, dislikes physicals.

'Grab 8 and go' PUGs that take anything are usually short on Monks; they rarely have a luxury where the 3rd can go smiting.

Pliskin MacReady

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2006

New York City, New York

The Neo Unholy Trio

W/

I like the idea behind smiting, at least way back when in Prophecies, when I first played with it. Healing restored health to allies, Protection prevented damage to allies, and Smiting punished an enemy for hurting an ally.

I think ANet needs to recapture that in GW2. Since they're starting with a new base (and a promise for fewer and effective skills), that Smiting will get some loving. I think Smiting can become more than just the farming line.

Sir Pandra Pierva

Sir Pandra Pierva

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2007

Sardelec yelling at Tenshi

Angels Of Strife

E/

I use smiting in pvp but in pve since it has been nerfed so much it's not worth much anymore

artay

artay

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2006

Australia

The Agony Scene

E/

I've found some of the more protective yet damaging smiting skills, such as reversal of damage quite useful. Especially when combined with smiters boon. I've taken a number of people out because of these skills, being offensive to be defensive perhaps.

arsie

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2007

N/

I think Smiting as a line is not cohesive enough. It is basically a mixture of damage capable spells for the Monk.

You're half being an inverse Curse Necro (casting stuff on your own party instead of the other), and half being a Nuker Ele (and failing).

I think it lost its Exorcist style to the Ritualists when that came out. And its Holy Warrior style to the Paragon (or was it Dervish).

Maybe it would have been nicer if conceived as a fantasy Shaolin Kung Fu style combat line, to befit the Monk name. Every attack is a Touch, with good dodging and running skills. (Touch Ranger?!?!)

bungusmaximus

bungusmaximus

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

Guild Of Handicrafted Products [MaSS]

W/Mo

Yeah just compare balthazar's aura to warmonger's weapon and you kinda know where smiting is at.

moko

moko

??uo??o??

Join Date: May 2006

smiting requires a dedicated gimmick or certain mobs in pve to be useful.

the new smite healer is a little funny bonus that was added for fun, but it's by far not as reliable as a normal hybrid monk.

Monk of Myrodin

Monk of Myrodin

Academy Page

Join Date: Jun 2007

Mo/

I don't run smiting often, but one fun one to run is Signet of Judgement + Mantra of Signets and Bane Signet. I always found it funny to watch a melee class come running up then get knocked down 3 times while my teamates came in and finished him off.

glountz

glountz

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Nov 2005

W/Mo

I dunno, we fall against smiting-buffed Melandrus from time to time on Lava Maps in GvG.
Smite is not widely used, but not complete utter trash also.

Dr Strangelove

Dr Strangelove

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Dec 2005

Wasting away again in Margaritaville

[HOTR]

Quote:
Originally Posted by bungusmaximus
Yeah just compare balthazar's aura to warmonger's weapon and you kinda know where smiting is at. Thankfully, rits make really good smiters.

Ensign

Ensign

Just Plain Fluffy

Join Date: Dec 2004

Berkeley, CA

Idiot Savants

Quote:
Originally Posted by bungusmaximus
The elites suck.
Yep.


Quote:
Originally Posted by bungusmaximus
They have been nerfed because of PvP too in the past if I'm right. Nope.

Winterclaw

Winterclaw

Wark!!!

Join Date: May 2005

Florida

W/

The only smiting skill that was nerfed because of PvP (partly) that I can think of was balth's aura, a non-elite.

BohemianKeith

Academy Page

Join Date: Jan 2006

Smiting sucks because people use it as a their main offense. Smiting has become a very good secondary line, with its condition and hex removal. Smite Condition,Smite Hex, Judge's Intervention,Reversal of Damage,Scourge Enchantment, Scourge Healing are all good secondary passive skills. So yeah smiting sucks because people just load up on lame dmg skills and fail to match other classes. I think smiting makes a great secondary for ele's and other casters. Oh and yes a few smiting skills were badly nerfed because of dual smiters using balth aura, zealot fire builds, bah google it someone posted it.

Sir Pandra Pierva

Sir Pandra Pierva

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2007

Sardelec yelling at Tenshi

Angels Of Strife

E/

Smite right now is only really used in Farming.

I miss Dual Smite

Coloneh

Coloneh

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Nov 2006

D/W

nothing wrong with dual smite. it jsut fell out of the meta. but im bringin it back with a few new builds! shh.... dont tell anyone

Thom Bangalter

Thom Bangalter

Grindin'

Join Date: Dec 2005

MO

E/Mo

Ensign, I'm pretty sure it's not a balance update if they don't nerf balthazar's aura.

Toutatis

Toutatis

Walking Wiki

Join Date: Nov 2006

Isle of Medication

Visitors from Aranna [VFA]

Me/E

My monk is a smiting monk, and I enjoy this particular support role. Smiting is a reasonable blend of offense and defence, though I feel that the smiting monk is more about pressure - adding pressure to the enemy while taking pressure off the team's backline.

A smiting monk will probably never take the role of a primary damage dealer (with the exceptions of areas infested with undead enemies), although not many other specialists can both help the team inflict a bit more damage and help keep the team standing.

Mr Pink57

Mr Pink57

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2007

a van down by the river

iBench

P/W

Shards of Orr... Divine Boon, Zealots, Smiters Boon, and Mark of Rodgart ele. Say goodbye dungeon.

pink

Mister Overhill

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Tampa, Florida

Sticks and Stones

R/Rt

I finally made a smiter for the hell of it after trying evrything else, and running a healer for the past two years. Even though Smite is part of the character's name, nearly everyone tries to get me to go healing and gets all pouty if I don't.

Running Mantra of Inscriptions helps to recharge the signets, and I had a lot of fun with that yesterday knocking Varesh on her ass, but yeah, smiters don't get much love.

Rice

Rice

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

WTB Any Req Bladed,Echovald,Ornate,Outcast Shield,Gothic Defender,Str Req Diamond Aegis, +HP/+10 VS

[TAM]/[ToA]

N/

Smites are really not hated, its just that everyone want monk to heal/prot the party since they are the only few class in guild wars that can do so.
Logically if you think about it, why do you want the monk to be offensive where every other class's purpose is being offensive.

Toutatis

Toutatis

Walking Wiki

Join Date: Nov 2006

Isle of Medication

Visitors from Aranna [VFA]

Me/E

Not every other class' purpose is to be offensive though. Each profession has a variety of different roles that they can play within a balanced party. Even the elementalist can be a party protector with their wards, snares and ability to blind and knock down. While each profession does have one or two roles that they excel at over the abilities of others, this doesn't mean that they should only be filling those roles.

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Toutatis
Not every other class' purpose is to be offensive though. Each profession has a variety of different roles that they can play within a balanced party. Even the elementalist can be a party protector with their wards, snares and ability to blind and knock down. While each profession does have one or two roles that they excel at over the abilities of others, this doesn't mean that they should only be filling those roles. Yup,lets not forget:dervs have wind prayers,rits have restoration magic,paras have motivation

Age

Age

Hall Hero

Join Date: Jul 2005

California Canada/BC

STG Administrator

Mo/

There are smiting skills that can negate damageas well and with smiters boon it will be that much better like say a heal/smite or protect/smite builds.

horseradish

horseradish

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2007

In a donut hole

Rt/A

i like the smiting line.

can it be improved? of course.

but i don't think the attribute line should have direct damage dealing spells. I would like it to focus more on protecting allies while punishing the foes who attack them. Skills like Balthazar's Aura (except for the 25e) and remove hex/condition really attracted me to the line. increasing the attack power of your allies while supporting them by removing inhibiting effects sounds pretty ing sweet to me. More skills like that i say. I would only use bane signet in pre...with no other skill....with no attribute investment unless i have a stray 1 or 2 points....and only for the knockdown....not damage.

Smiting isn't necessarily hated. it just needs a buff to make it more attractive.

It's funny, cuz if another profession brings smiting skills, then that's okay, but if a monk does " We need a healer. you be healer, monk. Monks are supposed to be healers."

As i've said in another thread, monks are in a Catch 22. they are wanted ALWAYS...as healers/protos ONLY. -__-x

Coloneh

Coloneh

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Nov 2006

D/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rice
Smites are really not hated this is untrue. i hate smiters.

Darkpower Alchemist

Darkpower Alchemist

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2006

NYC

The Circle Of Nine[NINE]

E/N

[skill=big]Signet of mystic Wrath[/skill]

Another nerfed smiting skill to be remembered. Still quite useful when applied in the right places, but not what it used to be. A team of monks with this skill can spike a target to death every 20 seconds, and no one could save him short of The Almighty himself. The power of well applied smiting is undeniable, yet when it is misused or poorly used, then it just looks bad.

The new smiter's boon/smite condition/smite hex combo works well with Protection bars in certain areas.

frojack

frojack

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

London, UK

Rite Of Passage [RP]

E/Mo

To run Smite on a monk is generally counter-intuitive. A class like the ritualist is somewhat designed to jump from enemy to ally in terms of targeting (regardless of how dubious this is) but the monk is too important for any of that. Everything is literally balanced on them. Start dicking around with their jobs, and things usually go horribly wrong. Smite rits exist but then ritualists are weirdos...

I don't think anyone hates 'smiting' as such, more people don't care for it as it's not (and can't be) that efficient.

Age

Age

Hall Hero

Join Date: Jul 2005

California Canada/BC

STG Administrator

Mo/

Then agian you would rather do the smiting being a E/Mo and when did Mystic Wrath get the nerf bat.

makosi

makosi

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

"Pre-nerf" is incorrect. It's pre-buff.

Requirement Begins With R [notQ]

Me/

I remember old school karate-chop Zealot's Fire monks. ZF used to trigger whenever you used a skill (IIRC) so the monk would go in amongst foes while enchanted with Zealot's and use a karate chop action on the number keys to tigger a load of stances at once. The AoE damage was extreme and needless to say, it was nerfed.

There was also an E/Mo Ether Renewal smiting craze at one point which was alos nerfed but I can't remember the details of that.

Then pet-smiting was discovered whereby Mo/R's with pets would use Balthazar's Aura on their doggies for nasty pressure. If I remember, there was a stacking bug which allowed multiple copies of Balthazar's Aura on a single pet which was corrected eventually.

Then dual-smite was invented and people abused Air of Enchantment for cheap smiting spam on a thumper or shock/axe warrior for tremendous AoE pressure. Also nerfed.


I don't even know why I just listed that timeline of the rise and fall and rise and fall of smiting because most people already know or even know more than I do about it. The moral of the story is that two and a half years of abuse lead to the death of smiting.

DokkyDok

DokkyDok

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2007

Interested in finding one.

Mo/

(I don't really hate it...It's...Uh...The Dr. Zoidberg of Guild Wars, you just don't care about it or acknowledge it's existance.)

Hmm...

1 - Low Damage. It may not have to worry about any armor, but outside of a spike, it will not be very useful.
2 - Recharges are too long to make up for the small amount of damage.
3 - The Double Damage against undead is very limited in it's use in both PvP & PvE.
4 - While some of the more defense-based smiting skills are useful, there's already healing & protection....
5 - Other classes are better on the offense. I'm not saying that they can't be useful on defense, though.
6 - A.Net has something against smiting. In the few times it has seen use, they've gone ahead and nerfed. They don't seem to care for professions that have healing & damage, including the ritualist.

Darkpower Alchemist

Darkpower Alchemist

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2006

NYC

The Circle Of Nine[NINE]

E/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by Age
Then agian you would rather do the smiting being a E/Mo and when did Mystic Wrath get the nerf bat. Mystic Wrath once did a max of 130 or so damage. This was abused by Mo/A who would shadow step to a target and simultaneously smite a target. 5 monks at 130hp each of armor ignoring damage against any group was overpowered. That meant instant death for even the most hardy 600hp player not mentioning elite skills. It needed that nerf to bring balance to the skill. Even in a TA scenario where 4 monks were used, the power of SoMW would overwhelm a single monk rather easily at 4x130hp(A.I. Dmg)=520hp in a single shot, usually with Balth aura and a snared target. It was the catalyst of a massive spike.

eloc_jcg

eloc_jcg

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Sep 2006

Canada

Guards Of The Citadel [GotC]

E/Rt

I believe it's hated because people expect all Monk's to either Heal or Protect.