Mo/E, thoughts?

Although this is true, it still doesn't explain why GoLE is overrated? I think it is overrated because monks consider it a must if they have skills like [skill]protective spirit[/skill] and [skill]aegis[/skill] on their bar.

Wouldn't make it overrated tbh.

Check any of the skill usage charts for any top GvG monthly game you'll find GoLE there. So its not only for low skilled players ^_^ This, imo, is why its overrated in PvE. A skill or set of skills that work well in a PvP environment may not work as well (I say as well) in a PvE one. What you need to take to counter RL players and what AI will let you get away with are worlds apart. Therefor, your builds can be much more flexible.

GoLE is not a bad skill by any means, and monks should use it if it fits their bar (in the OPs case, it fits alright). But its way too easy to fall into the "its meta" trap and end up copying builds skill for skill from obs...which means you run something thats not comfortable for your playstyle, or effective in your area. Or (much worse, imho) you run something without understanding why its on your bar in the first place. There are several reasons why goLE sees play in GvG. Acting as an energy manager is only one of them.

I may get flamed for saying this but...GvG is not PvE. Not everything that is godly there, is godly here.

For the OP: ZB is...not the best choice unless you're solo backline with a small group. Its great in RA/TA/AB/4-man/6-man because you have general control over which way the red bars are falling. But if you have another monk (even a hero monk) I usually recommend WoH for healing and hybrid healing builds. If your other monk is a hero, I suggest giving them the WoH and you can handle SoD (they like to make red bars go up; you'll be better suited keeping them from going down). If running with friends, hybrid WoH is a solid choice for most pressure situations. If one of you takes PS and the other takes SB, you can handle just about all the pressure that gets past your tank.

Veil is also not my first choice for PvE. Remove Hex has better recycle, so I tend to bring that. If running an energy manager, I do tend to use Divine Spirit, so that I can fuel Deny Hexes. Last is Cure Hex for Hybrid healing builds, since I tend to have a 40/40 set lying around and it gets the proc. Pre-Veiling is the last thing I usually consider for PvE. The double cast time is very nice when the tank can use it well, but enchant strips are everywhere, cheap, and regularly used (HM particularly).

Backlines should have 1 hard rez for missions, and that rez should be Rebirth. But only one--one!--hard rez. The other monk, probably a hybrid WoH hero if you take my suggestions, can roll a full 8-skill bar and feel comfortable knowing that if things go to pot, you can get out of trouble through heavy self prots and get the team back up. On a forum, 2-monk backlines can handle everything thats thrown at them and laugh in the face of every mob/player/boss. In game, I tend to find most players like seeing Rebirth (aka "plan B") on the monk. I'm not saying that some people here have a tendency to exaggerate their skill level...I'm not saying that at all

A nice trick to use with GoLE and Rebirth is to swap to a low energy set, cast GoLE and spam off two Rebirths quick as you can. Thats two corpsepulls back to back. With proper energy spacment throughout your sets (wand/offhand; staff; emergency) you can get most of your team up and regenerating in a little over 30 seconds. Now, remind me here: how long is the recycle on GoLE?

Also: I have become less and less a fan of Dismiss. Sure its a good skill, but Mend Condition in a 2-monk backline is better, imo. It does what you need it to and heals when you need it to. Dismiss is a self heal that removes conditions. Its good at that, but its not so hot when keeping up against poison/blind/weakness spam or trying to clear off burning when faced with a couple of SF eles (when was the last time you saw one of those in serious PvP?). Take Dismiss when you split, for all--what--five missions/quests in the game where you might need to.

Lastly: I don't diss Superiors in PvE and kinda LoL at the players that do. I'm old school enough to remember one thing that was uber-pwnage that every other player seem to forget:ARMOR CAN BE SWAPPED So its fine to run a Superior rune, but I recommend you keep it on your head and keep a minor rune on a backup headpiece. You never know when you'll want that extra 75 HP, but its nice to know you can have your cake and eat it too, neh?

GGs

I believe there truly isn't a need for GoLE. Every skill on your bar should provide an active function (by this I simply mean, have an actual effect on a player character prot/heal/remove hex). If used properly you should have no energy problems. I'll come to your defense and agree with you here.
I'm not a fan of GoLE in PvE; it's just a dead slot on your bar that doesn't add any functionability, and on top of that it's clunky as hell.

If you're high set isn't enough energy for you in a PvE fight, then you and/or your party is probably doing something wrong.
I will never understand why people take GoLE over something like Aegis in PvE. Aegis not only save lives, but will probably save you more energy than GoLE will anyway, as it's just about the most efficient use of 10e imaginable against melee heavy mobs.

My advice to the OP: drop GoLE and add Shield of Absorption .

I'll come to your defense and agree with you here.
I'm not a fan of GoLE in PvE; it's just a dead slot on your bar that doesn't add any functionability, and on top of that it's clunky as hell.

If you're high set isn't enough energy for you in a PvE fight, then you and/or your party is probably doing something wrong.
I will never understand why people take GoLE over something like Aegis in PvE. Aegis not only save lives, but will probably save you more energy than GoLE will anyway, as it's just about the most efficient use of 10e imaginable against melee heavy mobs.

My advice to the OP: drop GoLE and add Shield of Absorption . I have to agree aswell. With proper energy management you won't run into energy problems. (First character was a mesmer so I learned how to manage my energy.)

I do realise this contradicts my earlier post. But upon inspection of my own builds I find that none of them actually use GoLE. Of course that is due to the skills I use mainly being 5 energy skills and the odd signet making GoLE useless to me.

Thanks for all the input everyone.

So is it safe to say I should be a hybrid monk instead of a solely protection monk? That, again, depends on what you're running with. in my expierience, AI does not handle hybrid very well. They tend to waste prots spamming them like heals and run out of energy fast. Because of this, I tend to let them run healing monks and I take the prot slot. Old school heal/prot 2-monk backline. This gives me the best use of the AI, which lets me do my job better and--equally important--set prots where they're actually needed instead of wastefully spamming them.

In a human player 2-monk backline, on the other hand, hybrid is more efficient. Hybrid builds have a tendency to be more efficient in the hands of things with a brain. You know when to use your heal, when to use your prot. AI doesn't.

So to answer your question with a question: what do you usually backline with? If AI: run the tried and true pure heal/pure prot monk. If you play with lots of people: hybrid tends to be best suited for general situations.

Last but not least (by any means): where are you playing? tweeking your build for the areas you play in is just as important for monks (if not moreso) than for any other class. You don't want your necro rolling an MM build in a corpsless area; or a sword warrior relying on sever artery in an area with non-fleshy critters either. You probably don't want your prot monk rolling SoD in a hex-spam fest.

Use Guildwiki to find the answer to these questions if you want one that is accurate to your situation. look at the monsters in that area/mission/quest. Plan accordingly and your build will always be "the right one".

GGs

That, again, depends on what you're running with. in my expierience, AI does not handle hybrid very well. They tend to waste prots spamming them like heals and run out of energy fast. Because of this, I tend to let them run healing monks and I take the prot slot. Old school heal/prot 2-monk backline. This gives me the best use of the AI, which lets me do my job better and--equally important--set prots where they're actually needed instead of wastefully spamming them.

In a human player 2-monk backline, on the other hand, hybrid is more efficient. Hybrid builds have a tendency to be more efficient in the hands of things with a brain. You know when to use your heal, when to use your prot. AI doesn't.

So to answer your question with a question: what do you usually backline with? If AI: run the tried and true pure heal/pure prot monk. If you play with lots of people: hybrid tends to be best suited for general situations.

Last but not least (by any means): where are you playing? tweeking your build for the areas you play in is just as important for monks (if not moreso) than for any other class. You don't want your necro rolling an MM build in a corpsless area; or a sword warrior relying on sever artery in an area with non-fleshy critters either. You probably don't want your prot monk rolling SoD in a hex-spam fest.

Use Guildwiki to find the answer to these questions if you want one that is accurate to your situation. look at the monsters in that area/mission/quest. Plan accordingly and your build will always be "the right one".

GGs Throughout most of the game, I go with heroes and henchmen. Occasionally I party with humans, especially on hard missions, but that's about it

My favorite and most used build has been:

[card]Word of Healing[/card][card]Dwayna's Kiss[/card][card]Reversal of Fortune[/card][card]Glyph of Lesser Energy[/card][card]Protective Spirit[/card][card]Aegis[/card][card]Dismiss Condition[/card][card]Cure Hex[/card]

But lately I've found that I wasn't using GoLE all that much anymore, except in really tight situations, so I've started replacing it with either a rez on maps without shrines, or SoA. Still experimenting to see what skill works best for me in that slot.

So my opinion on GoLE: Its nice for a monk starting out, but once you get used to managing your energy properly, it becomes unnecessary. Yeah nice bar and if you really want you could put maybe infuse instead of GoLE or have remove hex along with holy veil.

Yeah nice bar and if you really want you could put maybe infuse instead of GoLE or have remove hex along with holy veil. you dont need infuse on that bar, and why would you ever take remove hex over cure hex?

you dont need infuse on that bar, and why would you ever take remove hex over cure hex? If I had infuse, I could've saved you from the wardenspike though!

Actually, no I couldn't have, because I'm bad at the game :P

If I had infuse, I could've saved you from the wardenspike though!

Actually, no I couldn't have, because I'm bad at the game :P hey that ele boss hit with an ob flame for 540hp wth why didnt u pre-prot spirit me. u owe me a cookie.

you dont need infuse on that bar, and why would you ever take remove hex over cure hex? I would probably use a stance but you are right although might be of use just in case.I said remove in case anyone doesn't have EoTN.What would you replace GoLE with if you don't need it and with Aegis you never really needed it?I have never had energy problem on my my Mo/W running Aegis even at 15e with some other 10e protects.

GoLE is overrated. Nevertheless for a novice monk it can be a godsend. Or even for pro monks.

Throughout most of the game, I go with heroes and henchmen. Occasionally I party with humans, especially on hard missions, but that's about it I am starting to use smiting more with my heros and hench only.It is the best way to call target.