NEWS FLASH! Monks on strike at Thunderhead Keep

Sagius, you just gave me the funniest idea for a healing monk ever. Hehehe I can't wait to try it out.

BiP for Energy management, Firestorm to help attack, Healing spells and Light of Dwayna for res

QFT/

Sorry but I've been playing this game since it more or less came out and have only been witness to 3 abused monks. Who we're, I might add, quickly defended by the rest of the team.
I have obviously not been in every party but you get what I'm saying.

Oh and btw, Frenzy is cool for dmg, but I stopped using it after Pre-searing for a reason. Double dmg is nasty whatever way you look at it. I've had Glad's armour with the dolyak + watch yourself and still recieved high dmg from things like Chain lightning and earth spells. God forbid the dmg I would have 'felt' in Frenzy mode .

On a side note, I do often use flurry for the attack speed. Ok I deal 25% less dmg per attack but over time, it adds up to more. Plus with a 3-1 vampiric sword and both live vicariously and vigorous, you can keep yourself healed and dish out good dmg. Never mind building adrenaline for the Galrath>Final thrust combo.

Anyway it's all fun ang games right?

Using Frenzy and Healing Signet causes a large increase in the damage the warrior in question will take during the "casting" of the Signet. This damage may be more than the current Health of said warrior, therefore causing him to die. If it does not result in death, then it is highly probable that said warrior will be very low on health; the health recovered by the Healing Signet may or may not be enough to cover the amount of damage the warrior took while casting, and it is extremely improbable that there will be a positive result in health.

Healing Signet is, in my own opinion, made to be used when a quick heal is needed after several enemies have been defeated and still more are on the way, when the enemies being faced are not powerful enough to take full advantage of the decreased AL and therefore it may be safely used during combat, or as a last-ditch effort to survive a battle (among other similar circumstances).

While I do not agree that Frenzy should never be used, I do believe that it should be used with caution and in moderation. For example, using Frenzy while bashing on a Ether Seal is a very bad idea. However, using Frenzy on an enemy such as a Charr Chaot is sometimes a very useful and wise tactic (depending on surrounding environment and current circumstances).

Anyway, I digress from the topic of this thread.

Monks deserve respect, but only if they are actually Monks and not complete moronic idiots with a staff and tattoo set.

isnt that the truth. if it wasnt for my guild mates i would of never gotten my Mesmer to the ring of fire. as a Mesmer i started having trouble getting into groups around the jungle missions. i also have a monk and see the shortage of monks because i cant go into any mission town and in less then 2 minutes i usually get a few invites.

This entire sordid affair brings back bad flashbacks involving monks for me. Mainly:

"Kick the mesmer, or I won't heal anyone."
"Mesmers are useless, so you can just RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOing die."
"Delete your mesmer and make a real character, noob."

Et cetera.

I've met some very fine and nice monks, certainly, but those encounters have assured I will always look out for my own skin in PUGs.

Just going to repeat myself, because people insist on saying the same thing the other person said.

It was a joke.

It is a joke.

And no monk is demanding a silver platter.

Any monk who does is an asshat.

Every class has their bad apples.

Every class has their person unfamiliar with their skills.

But not everyone knew this, which makes the strike a perfect coverup for all the trolls to come out of hiding :P

Then you missed the part where we were doing it to be light-hearted and/or blow off steam. It may be a sad fact, but if it had been any other profession, no one would have noticed or cared.

As a sometimes-battery, I'll give rangers an enery boost if they're trapping, running pre-battle preparations or calling for it, if I can. But there's a hierarchy to this (Monks, Mesmers, Eles, Necros, Rangers -- the only ones I intentionally neglect are Warriors, unless I see that they're effectively using energy for a purpose). Blood is Power sacrifices 1/3 of your max health, so it's not something you can do constantly without recovery, or on a whim (usually BiP means supporting only about 3 in the party consistently, or 2 plus whoever's in most need). Ritual's sacrifice is lighter, but requires you to touch the person, so if you're standing in battle and the monks are further back, I might change my mind (another reason why warriors miss out -- they're usually necessarily right at the center of the melee).

Quitters come in all professions and unless the circumstances were extreme, I don't respect any of them (although I was driven to it once, and at least a couple of teammates supported me on it afterward). I wouldn't have supported the strike at all if there had been any indication that this was what was being championed. It wasn't, it was just in fun.

I've complimented some excellent Warriors that I've teamed with, and received many a positive comment when I've played my warrior (I can't think of any time I got flamed). Mesmers get no respect, you're right there. Mine nearly finished the game, but almost entirely with henchies. But I never hesitate to compliment a Mesmer for taking out the enemy monks or shutting down the hydrae Meteor Shower, if only because no one else in the party will have noticed otherwise.

My own warrior is a W/Mo too, for the smiting capabilities (which someone pointed out are great for close combat). Doesn't mean that I can't have fun heckling them. We aren't taking this too seriously.

They just show their support by aggroing everything in all the missions they're taken into. Yeah, that's it.

Is that why they do it?

Less aggro, more recharge! Vive la revolution!

Uh-huh. If there was a point to the protest, it had to do with this kind of ignorance. I've had mostly excellent response from people I've played with, but still had the occasional time where someone aggros everything, especially mesmers, then drops them on all on me while they run off to fight a boss or something out of range. And then they get huffy when they die because I'm too busy trying to stay alive and get my energy back up past 0. But I suppose a good monk should be able to weather this with no problem. Good luck finding your "good monk" then.

Frenzy + Healing Sig = "you attack faster but take double damage" + "you take double damage while using this skill." Or damage x 4. Face it: how many times do you do this and it works, vs. how many times do you do this and end up pinging yourself as dead and asking "where's the heals?"

Hm. Let's see. BiP requires sacrificing 1/3 of your max health. And you can't use it on yourself. Firestorm will keep you occupied for 5 seconds casting, and by the time you get into your healing skills and finish healing yourself, it'll be time to use that Light of Dwayna. Could work.

THK was one of the missions i had the most fun with being a warrior. i got to do damage getting up to the keep then once inside i grabbed the torch, got near the beacon in the center, as the groups came in i would just move side to side to get agro, stand there and take damage while my trusty monks kept me alive and the other 5 on the team killed everything. even just standing there taking the damage while holding the torch i still got to return some damage.

got to laugh at the 'i'll let you die' monks, newsflash guys, you let your tank die, the rest will follow, you need your warrior as much as he needs you. lose the superiority complex and then look back and ask yourself how many times you complimented a warrior on a good tank. never i bet, just took it all for granted. ring a bell??

Healing signet is -40 armor. And if anyone is still unclear on this, as Savio was saying, Frenzy isn't half armor, its double damage. (IE, if you took 1 base damage from an attack, you would take 2 total damage, not 10 or whatever)

The full picture is this: if you activate Frenzy, and then use your Healing Signet you do not gain the speed bonus from Frenzy (becuase you are using a skill, not attacking). All you manage to achieve is reducing your armor by -40 with 2x damage.

So, don't use Frenzy if you are about to use Healing Signet. Healing signet, heal, then frenzy. I'm sure some don't realise, though, that when a warrior is fighting a PvE mob and turns on his frenzy, hes probably only taking 8-12 damage per hit, unless hes not tanking at all.

Maybe I tend to get in a better class of PuG then, because I see it happen. Just a couple of days ago, I was in a group in the Ring of Fire mission where a ranger rushed in, aggroed 3 mobs, drew them onto the monks and then quit. Right after that, the monks went down and then the rest of us, leaving one warrior. With well-timed stances and smites and better-timed Healing Sig, he dealt with 3 remaining floating squid, one of which was an Ele boss and one of which was a Mesmer boss. We were all cheering him on and having a great time watching, monks included.

(That is, until we found out he didn't have a rez, but we wiped, stayed together, got an ele and finished the mission next time out)

Dur. Double post. Read my next one on the next page. Sorry.

This whole thing is still hilarious... especially that "nerf Gaile" bit.

I think there are 2 main recognition/realization gaps here:

1) Warriors do in fact need to realize that they need to let energy regen, and to control agro.

And likely more importantly:

2) Monks and Ele's need to realize that there is a legitimate need for moving along as fast as possible. Necros with minions and warriors with adrenaline skills are hinderred in their contributions to the party when they are made to wait. The shorter the minions are just standing around and dying, the better. Similarly, if a warrior can make it to the next group of enemies and already have adrenal skills charged, he/she can be that much more effective killing, KD ing, tanking, or whatever.

So, if we can all open our eyes, respect these needs of other classes, and try to move on as quickly as possible (but not too quickly), problem solved.

hehe... "nerf Gaile"... still laughing at that one

So yeah. Last night, I noticed the monk strike... and completed THK with my mesmer. And henchmen. Never needed a single res.

Seriously, just don't bring Cynn. Bring all the other henchmen, and sit near the king. VOILA! Mission completed.

So for any other mesmers complaining about not getting into groups... HENCHMENHENCHMENHENCHMENHENCHMEN. With henchies, not once have I seen any of the following happen:
-Hitting Frenzy then using Heal sig.
-Reckless burning through energy.
-Random aggroing of enemies.
-Random going AFK.
-Insults or other childish activity.
-Refusing to attack called targets.
-Insubordination of any kind.

My only complaints about henchmen are the following: No condition/hex removal (oh well, I can do that), Cynn's lack of knowledge about AoEs (stupid Fire Storm), and the general lack of AI to get out of AoE spells. Those are all. And sadly, that's doing better than most human players.

I find this post funny, if the warriors where really smart, they would go figure out a few solo builds as i did, then go tank everything at the end of the mission and do it with henchies, worked so much easier for me, just hit balenced stance every now and then, sheilds up, mark of protection, bla h blah blah, let the henchies do the rest of the work, it wasn't hard at all, but as for the monk thing, i find it funny, as i never rely on a monk, unless its my friend, i always have healing breeze on me and mending, no matter where i go.. well have fun with this guys :P

Castor Grim,

I'll repeat myself again.

The strike was a joke. The strike is a joke. The majority of monks involved were having a laugh.

Anyone who believes monks are seriously demanding the removal of henchies, 50 gold per heal and 1 plat per res, and a union, you need to take a break and enjoy the fresh air for awhile, not because you're crazy or anything, but instead simply to relax and gain a new perspective of things.

Because this is funny. And no one should be working up a huff over this, let alone drawing up a list of people who--because they're having fun--need to be blacklisted.

No one who's at THK would actually be running the mission anyway. No one is seriously on strike. It's simply a fresh (and a social!) alternative to, say, farming griffons. I've met some nice people. We're doing some synch dancing.

Just relax, mate.

Incidentally, your list neglects--if you wish to remain so hardcore--the original perpetrators.

I only have 4 hats to tip atm, but agree wholeheartedly

Thanks Grim, I nearly spit my coffee I laughed so hard at your post.

Let's blacklist these greedy monks, hehe.

/sigh missed getting my t-shirt ..going after one now

yah grim at least get the darn names right!! obviously you came late to the party!! and caught the after math of the actual STIKE!!! LOL!!!!

We had 6 monks from are guild there sync dancing, i never seen so many monks in one place it was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

Go gogo gogogogo MONKSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!


Oh Gaile Grey!! THats Gaile GRey?????? She for the MOnks!!!! Nice!!!

All you have to do is avoid D1, maybe D2 to see normal people btw.

I think everybody could stand to understand everyone else's class function a lot better. It would make this game so much more fun to play.

Edited the list to point out you blist Arena.net Relations manager

And you missed my character "Tempest of Ascalon", I was having fun with the player driven "event" by that list I know you were in TK1 - I was there too

The missions are incredibly easy with Mes + hench, up to Abaddon's Mouth. Just deal with the monks and block big-damage spells and they're more than capable of the rest.

Are you kidding? That's what they do best!

Well, Eve always runs up to me and stabs me in the back. At least, that's what the condition icon in the upper corner looks like. But whenever it happens, I realize I've got enough energy to get back into battle, and there's no time to think about it.

Oh, and Little Thom always yawns when I try to lecture him.

I don't know if you're kidding or not (silly enough to try to sneak Gaile in there), but naming names is a TOS violation.

"Life is a tale told by an idiot -- full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."
And this isn't even life, it's a computer game. Something to pass the time and give enjoyment. This was the first time I have actually seen anbody roleplaying in this game. It was great to see everyone banded together in THK. As is usual there are those that think this was a cataclysmic event that will result in the ruination of our beloved game.

That is absolute crap. This game isn't going anywhere. Do you know what a real "strike" would have been? Absolutely no monks in THK. Gosh then you, Castor Grim, would not have been able to post anyone's name. "Gee Castor where are all the Monks?" "Iono, but if they're not here lets ban them."

Let's face it if you have a clue about how to play this game you can do almost ever mission with henchies. My ranger finished THK with them and I'm old enough to be your Grandfather. In Ice Caves you're crazy not to use henchies. The thing is, everybody knows that a good group is more fun than running around with some AI. It gives a lot more satifaction to work well with other people.

Why don't some of you direct your anger at one of this game's real problems, the constant use of racial slurs. I have both Black and Asian relatives and the use of these perjoratives really sucks. I used to screen shot and report people that used them, but its gotten hard to keep up since so many kids like to pretend they're "gangstas".

Chill out, the monks had some fun and maybe the Wammos will be a little more aggro aware.

Strike? I see no strike. I see some monks practicing their squats, and some cooky ranger playing the flute, nothing more!

Here it is, folks!

I "infiltrated" a "strike" group--and here's what I found.



Screen caps and discussions about beta! The travesty!

Only moments before, they were discussing the problems of IWAY.

Truly, they are bringing Guild Wars down from the inside.

BLACKLIST THEM ALL.

- edit -

I almost met my long-lost sister!





This "strike" is even bringing people together. :_)

^^^ My hats off to you as well, Fibber. Well said! It was FUN, people, lighthearted and yes a bit of roleplay *gasp*. Imagine, people actually having FUN instead of ripping each others throats out..the HORROR, THE SHAME..hide!!!

Again joke or not, and I still don't think it started as a joke I still think someone got his little feelings hurt and decided to go all Spartacus, the fact remains that this incident predictably devolved into a name calling fest.
Call me pessimistic but a tour in the Marines and just general life experience has taught me that the average person doesn't know how to behave unless there is some major penalty involved in the prospect of misbehaving. Now you take all these average people and put them in a crowd and it just gets worse and worse. Mob mentality is an ugly ugly thing.

Check the GuildWars Game Update:

Fixed an exploit allowing Monks to strike in Thunderhead Keep! LMAO!

It's.. not.. mob mentality.

People aren't misbehaving.

Everyone's having a good ole time, even with name-calling (to a degree), save for a few select people who INSIST, DESPITE EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY, that this is serious business.

I see so Arena net just bans people for the heck of it then right? Because as I understand it once it did degenerate into a name calling fest Arena net had to step in and start laying penalties down. So either Arena net didn't find it very amusing or there was in fact a problem and it was serious enough to mandate punishment to some parties. So if you want to live in your little fantasy land where it's all sunshine and giggles go right ahead. I'd love to have whatever drug your on that renders you so delusional.

Yeah, you're upping your DPS by a whopping 33%. BUT you're DOUBLING the damage you recieve - doesn't matter what armor you're wearing. If you were to take a hit that normally does 40 damage, with Frenzy you're taking 80.

One of the most important aspects, although seriously overlooked, of dealing damage is being alive to do it! There's a little thing called self-preservation that people fail to exercise: "I don't need to worry about keeping myself alive, that's the Monk's job." That's the kind of mentality that's caused a whole bunch of bad blood between Monks and Warriors.

Warriors want to up your DPS? Get Gladiator's Defense - availiable in a desert mission near you. (There's just something about an enemy hurting themselves that appeals to me! )

Thanks for the personal attacks. Guess I'll make one of my own now.

I'm starting to wonder if you read my posts, or if you just make up more stuff for your conspiracy theory. :|

As I said, a few select people insisted on making this serious business. Those people were dealt with. However, as a whole, the "strike" remains a "good ole time" with what can be best described as "friendly competition."

The fact that a minimum of people are falling under the ban stick should not reflect upon the whole. There will always be bad apples. However, to argue that, simply because a few people--A FEW--couldn't control themselves, this whole event was some kind of horrible snafu.

That's faulty logic.

Why, I might as well argue that, because of one bad wa/mo who used frenzy + heal sig, that all wammos are idiots.

- EDIT -

Anyone here familiar with City of Heroes and how they have both tankers and scrappers?

And how tankers will actually go in and draw the aggro up for the protection of everyone else, while scrappers are designed simply to deal damage?

We made a good 250k + 9 ectos off of the "I Survived the Monk Strike 2006" T-shirts. Also, the keychains and magnets were a big success. Thank You stubborn monks for giving us that extra "oomph" we needed to get out of our business slump.

First off I never said anything about a conspiracy. A conspiracy requires thought and planning and this debacle obviously required none. In fact had it been thought out and planned it might not have become such a horrible snafu as you say. Furthermore it only takes one jerk with a rock in a crowd of otherwise peaceful folks to turn it into a riot. So yes a few bad apples can taint an entire event. Going back to the riot analogy, and yes this could be analogous to a riot despite arguments to the contrary since it was a gathering of people that turned destructive. The police do not arrest all the rioters. It's not possible and it's not practical. You bust who you can and hope the rest learn a lesson. Now is that to say that just because certain people weren't punished that they were innocent of any wrong doing? No it just means they didn't get caught that's all and to say," Oh well only a couple got punished" in no way mitigates the faults of those who didn't.

I'll admit I was out of line with the delusional crack and I apologize and retract that statement. Still I think the fundamental difference between you and I is that you seem to believe in the fundamental good of people in general while I do not. I think it is idealistic to think that people can behave without the threat of punishment. In fact I think Arena Net is entirely too lax with the population that they allow to play on their servers and I think a stricter code of conduct with more visible and consistent enforcement would benefit us all. Of course there would be the occasional group that equates order and rules with some sort of despotic "Nazi-like" agenda but I generally find that those types are just clinging to childish and immature notions of fighting against the powers that be. Again perhaps being an officer in the Marines has made me less tolerant of this sort of behavior and makes me look for order where there is none. I think I will just have to agree to disagree with pretty much everyone on this one. Once again I was out of line with the delusional crack and I do apologize and retract that statement. I've sent my letters about this issue ,and some of my other sticking points with their lack of action against the people who are actively unbalancing the economy, to Arena Net and I can only hope they actually listen and do something.

Got any Monk bobble-heads? There's a real money maker!

I think we should boycott THK - All that activity going on and the dwarves haven't even seen fit to bring in Porta-potties to meet the needs of all the people there!

u know what monks need , warrior that bring succor , i used to have a pve monk...untill somehow i deleted him when i was feeling very tired , but anyways yeah monks need respect!

Hm.. some warriors are damage dealers not tanks, so make sure before starting mission you know what they do. Btw, why didn't the prot. monk put prot. spirit on the war using frenzy, thus reducing all damage to no more than 10% of the wars life per hit?

I play a monk, but not often. I hate making random mistakes and hate being blamed for them even more, but occasionally, playing monk is fine. I play a tank (not a damage warrior) and it takes a lot to stop between battles and ask how the energy is going. I appreciate monks + casters pinging their energy, that way, I know when to slow down. And I bring healing sig with me as warrior, to me, it makes sense, between my lack of trust in monks and being in the frontline, sometimes just that little bit out of reach of the monks.

My favourite char though, is a mesmer. And that one.. I trust my monks to heal me completly, simply because I need 7 skills that are not to do with my health on my bar to be effective.

As for the strike, I took my monk there for the entertainment, then monked for a team who failed THK.. hate people who forget to communicate before/during missions, considering neither the mission nor the bonus is overly hard if team work exists.