so pretty much the age of the monk is over...

i was looking at the ritualist and wow. its healing pretty much pwns the monks, i didnt look that thouroghly so iono if they have a heal party kind of skill. But if u think about it, Rit/Ranger pretty much pwns a monk w/ healing. if a team has lets say 2 or even 3 Rit/Rangers, it seems to me theyd be unstoppable

A) This is the first of probably several preview events. This is a test to look at the way the new classes are used and how they effect the game when a large number of people outside the test arena start using skills in unpredictable ways.

B) This appears to be only a PVP event and not one that include PVE Content, nor a wide variety of skills and skill sets. This means that what appears to be on the surface may not be at a later date. This is just a taste of whats to come in the next chapter. I wouldn't jump to any large conclusions by a long shot at this point.

yes RT can heal and i think its good idea because there are not many monks in the game since u need 2 - 3 monks of 8 ppl team

but what will happent if a team of 2 trappers 4 RT/me and 2 monks/ele play as 1 team?

mo/ele can use wards and trapper do traps...RT can summons and destroy them too thats mean much dmg to IWAY team

IMO, the monk will never be replaced. A Ritualist healer is so-so, but they will never be able to match the monk's individual healing power.

I'm glad they did it, now maybe I'll see more monks use that smiting attribute. I always enjoyed it but everyone wants a monk to heal and what not, kinda pissed me off how monks had no freedom as to how they play. With another class out capable of healing this should even out their freedom a bit me thinks.

One of my teams was 2 rt/ran, my w/a an another a/w and we faced a team of 3 rt's of various secondaries and 1 ran/something. At any rate our team defeated theres, so rt's heals aren't that great, especially when I'm smacking them with wild blow every 5 seconds and then the assassin strikes as well. Monks will still always rule in overall healing ability especially a boon monk.

Can't their spirits be killed?

Forgot about this, but yeah its easy enough to kill a spirit. In fact, if you compare it to a monks enchants and disrupting monk spells its about 200 times easier -- to disrupt you need specific skills and usually you dont disrupt, to remove enchants you need a specific skill usually midrange in the cost area, and by the time you remove it its usually almost over anyways. To kill a spirit, you just, well, kill it!

1.Ritualists healing depend on spirits.Usually the Rituaslist will set up all the spirits at once.Which can then be taken down extremely fast with a spell like Flameburst.

2.Rits heal but cant protect.Some groups will need protection monks which will never be replaced.

3.If you remember,I beleive 300 new skills is coming out with Factions.I think we should wait until then and see what new skills Monks get before thinking their dead.Also remember there be larger battles so effective use of *every* class will be important.

1) Spirits can be killed. It's one good way to turn the tide of a pvp battle, although overwhelming their healing works too.

2) Monks will still have their place compared to ritualists. Their major healing and protection spells will still be very useful. Ritualists are like druids, in one form or another.

3) Maybe we'll see 10 v 10 battles, or 12 v 12 battles in high-end Factions battles, or a major battle royale in HoH.

Agreed. However, a few of the new assassin skills will make life harder for monks. Rits will stay to a support class for a while, I don't see them taking a monk's spot in PvP any time soon. The importance of a good monk will probably increase, given all of the new skills-some very anti caster-being introduced.

You shouldnt Judge the healing abilitis of the Ritualist just by what youve seen in pvp tho. Remember that most of the ppl playing them arent that experienced at playing the Ritualist and arent that familiar with the skills.
The same goes for the assasin.

The Ritualist is not stritcly better than the monk, at least for healing. That said, it will have its place. Which is what's best for the game really.

Pros:
Preservation is pretty cool. Big healing every 4 seconds is rather helpful.
Mend Body and Soul is a decent Orison. It cures conditions too! It definiately has its use.
Spirit Transfer might have the same anti-spike use as Infuse Health
All of the Rit. healing spells can be applied to the caster.
More armor.

Cons. (This is just comparing to a heal monk)
NO DIVINE FAVOR. This is big.
No WoH.
Is very energy hungry, because you need to go to 10E spells to keep up with damage. Energy is a real problem here.

There probably is a great Rit. healer build, probably using a couple of spirits and only a few spells. I think you probably will see more spirit spam...I observed a Ra/Rt build running Oath Shot, Union and Shelter, that was soaking up a ton of damage.

Monks will alway be able to out heal the Ritualists as thier primary attribute being Devine Favor.I have been playing the Ritualist and it still doesn't have the healing like a Monks does even with the skill we have now Orisons does a great jop.The Rit is not meant to replace the Monk in anyway.It is thier to aid them.

I dont think Monks will be replaced as primary healers. Period.

Not by a long shot. As the game progesses, Ritualists will probably fall into a DPS role with some support skills. They simply cannot compare to the amount of healing a monk can put out.

Edit: Woot, Professor!

i agree. Healing is for MONKS!!!!! Rituals are for.................Ritualists.