A New Perspective on Bonding: Lend your view...

Hi all,

I thought I would introduce what I thought was a new and possibly
better build for a bonding monk. I'm always looking for new and better
ways to play the game so I'd appreciate any experienced monk's
constructive advice! :]

Because most people just look for the build, here it is, with
explaination below.

Life bond
Life barrier
Blessed Signet
Signet of Devotion
Mantra of Inscriptions
Balthazar's Spirit
Divine Spirit
Reversal of Fortune

div @ 15 (11 + 1 + 3)
heal @ 0
prot @ 14 (11 + 3)
smite @ 0
insp @ 11

Scars and Yakslapper for 52 energy and 4 pips of regen

[ Energy Basics ]
One pip of energy means 1/3 energy loss/gain per second. Your base
regen is 4/3 per second.

The Goal
To maintain as many enchantments as possible. Blessed signet is our key
to holding more than what would normally be possible (that is, 4).
Under normal circumstances you gain 3 energy per 12 (2 cast + 10
recharge) seconds. Assuming you are maintaining 8 or more enchantments
you yeild the max gain of what is essentially 3/12 or 1/4 energy gain
per second, per enchantment.

A 1/4 energy gain per second, per enchantment, is a net loss when
combined with the enchantments 1/3 energy loss per second, per
enchantment.

Mantra of Insciptions at rank 11 yields a 44% improved recharge time.
This changes our 3/12 (or more explicitly 3/(2 + 10)) energy gain to a
3/(2 + (10*0.56)): just over 1/3. (0.56 = 1 - 0.44)

With Divine Favor at 15, we can gain up to 24 energy total. This
equates to being able to maintain 24/3 or 8 enchantments with no net
loss. Include the original 4 pips of regen from monk armor and we are
at 12 maintained enchantments using just blessed signet and mantra of
inscriptions.

With Balthazar's Spirit on yourself, during a battle you should be
able to maintain a few more.

[ Other Skills: Why ]

Divine spirit, Reversal of Fortune
Allows you to more quickly setup your bonds in the beginning. In mid
battle, you can also put this up and spam reversal of fortune for
free, protecting, and healing for 45 (15 divine favor * 3). This can
help the alleviate some of the healing being done by your other monk.
Also if for some reason you loose your bonds at an inopportune time,
you can get them back up more quickly with this.

Signet of Devotion
Has good synergy with the mantra. And its a free heal while you are
waiting for blessed signet to recharg (and/or while your waiting for
divine spirit to recharge).

The addition of these three skills allow you to always contribute to
the battle rather than just being idle and maintaining your bonds.

[ What to Cast ]
In the beginning, set up 11 bonds: 7 life bonds on all other party
members, spirit on yourself, and life barrier on the two weakest
casters (monk + another probably). Make sure to cast divine spirit
before you start and things will go quicker.

After the battle starts, put barrier up on everyone else including
yourself. Then make yourself useful with Divine spirit + reversal and
signet of devotion. Of course, keep up the mantra and always spam
blessed signet whenever ready.


[ Conclusion ]
This was just the build that came to me when I learned about a
"bonding monk". Please feel free to constructively and politely
criticize below! Thank you all and I hope this contributes to your GW
experience!

Isaac Ixbane
Ishmael Ixbane

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