E/Mo or Mo/E?

Aradia Ashkal

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

20 Jun 2005 at 19:53 - 1
I had already deceided to make my next character a monk even if thy do sometimes get mistreated if you believe what you read. I just don't think the game has enough monks and you can't really do alot of missions especially later on without em! I had also deceided to do Ele as a secondary so I could take two AOE spells with as they surely come in handy (btw what is everyones opinion on the best AOE dmg spell?)
Anyways,
I've been trying to research how to build the best monk but last nite i came across a E/Mo who siad she could heal well if not better because of her high energy storage and this got me thinking. Could I be a primary healer like i intended as a E/Mo and be able to get more out of my AOEs as well as still be a good healer. I would still only take 2 or so Ele Spells depending and concentrate of monk skills primary being Healing. I know I would lose Divine Favor so one of my questions is is how important is divine favor to a monk and wuld a much larger energy bar make up for it? What would really be the difference in energy between a monk energy and a Ele energy especially since i could have a sup energy storage. Also would Glyph of lesser energy work on monk spells? And what would be the difference in carrying a Monk wand/staff compared to Ele wand/staff...Do you really get better healing out of a weapon with a monk req then one with an Ele req as long as you meet either req?

I think thats all! I hope someone can help me work this one out!

Aalric

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

W/N

20 Jun 2005 at 20:02 - 2
I have never played a Monk, and therefore do not know how useful Divine Favor is. But I am an eley, so this is what I will tell you. For Energy Storage to really be worth it, you have to only have two attributes. In fact, my advice is to only take Healing and Energy Storage. That might make it worth it. As I have never played a monk, I cannot be certain.

Aalric

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

W/N

20 Jun 2005 at 20:04 - 3
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aradia Ashkal
Also would Glyph of lesser energy work on monk spells? And what would be the difference in carrying a Monk wand/staff compared to Ele wand/staff...Do you really get better healing out of a weapon with a monk req then one with an Ele req as long as you meet either req?
As to these parts, I do not see how either should make any difference. Staffs have a max damage for all classes, Glyph of Lesser Energy says spells, not eley spells.

Aradia Ashkal

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

20 Jun 2005 at 20:05 - 4
so ure saying that u must put alot of points into energy storage before it is worth anything correct? If so i believe it will be the same with Divine favor as it is with Expertise in rangers which i currently play. I guess i need to find to find out which is more worth it! Btw this is for PVE mostly

I plan on spliting my attribute between Fire, Healing and Energy Storage/Divine Favor which ever route i choose to go.

Aalric-
As an Ele what do you think are the best AOE spells?

theclam

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

20 Jun 2005 at 20:07 - 5
Divine Favor is extremely important for a Monk. At all times I use 15-16 DF. However, energy is also extremely important. Elementalists will have about 30-45 more energy than a Monk will (3 for each point of Energy Storage), which will almost double your mana pool. An elementalist will be a good primary healer, just by virtue of the number of heals that you can crank out. However, you will miss out on a few things:

Monks have these in their favor:
-Monk Runes.
-Monk Hat.
-Monk Armor (Tattoos are probably better than elementalist armor).
-Divine Favor bonus. This is very important, because with it, all your Monk spells, even your non-direct heals, will act like heals. Healing Breeze is much better for Monks because it will instantly heal someone, in addition to healing over time. Protection Monks are much better than Protection Elementalists because Protection Monks will heal someone every time that they cast a Protection spell on them.
-Much better Divine Favor skills, including some very important ones like Divine Boon and Signet of Devotion.
-Free choice for secondary class (although if you're definitely taking Elementalist, this isn't that important for you).

Elementalists have these in their favor:
-Much more energy.
-Much better Energy Storage skills.

In the end, I don't think that E/Mos can heal as well as Mo/Xs. Then again, my E/Mo is only lvl8, so I don't have much experience in the harder areas.

Aradia Ashkal

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

20 Jun 2005 at 20:16 - 6
Thank you theclan as that does tell me alot. For some reason the fact i coulnt use monk runes escaped me and will make my decison a harder one now but never the less a smarter one. In the end even if an E/Mo cant heal AS WELL as a Primary Monk, can they still heal effectivly to be consider a healer? Has anyone had in experince playing either in high lvls?

I will have to research the armor end of the two.

Acan Vishnu

Acan Vishnu

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Mo/N

20 Jun 2005 at 20:19 - 7
(Edited and reposted from another thread)

Creating an El/Mo with the express purpose of playing like a Monk isn't really the most efficient way to heal (or protect, smiting is debatable) I've seen alot of people pointing out that an El/Mo's heals only lack the DF bonus, and that by simply outlasting a primary monk they can pull ahead in the overall healing output. But one of the things that view is forgetting is that an El/Mo does not have access to runes to enhance their healing potential. At 16 healing prayers and 12 divine favor the majority of healing spells from a Monk heal double that of an El/Mo with just 12 healing prayers. There are some spells that the difference is smaller than that, but playing a class combo that already has predefined limitations leeches away your adaptability, something you will miss greatly.

And now, just to cover my butt, let me say this... I fully believe that an El/Mo can and should play the role of healer as needed. Due to the fact that some monks don't know what the hell their doing, or are utter jerks, or just aren't available there are times when I've asked an El/Mo to heal instead, or to cover healing as a secondary, it is a 100% perfectly viable way to play. Do I think that its the best way to do it? No, not really, but its been said before... That is one of the beauties of this game, it doesn't matter what I think, it matters what I enjoy. Have fun. Enjoy the game.

Volarian

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Texas

NOT-Nomads Of Turmoil

20 Jun 2005 at 20:27 - 8
I have a LvL 20 E/Mo, and athough I haven't played the Monk part hardly at all I do think having access to DF would be of benefit as described by THECLAM. However take this into consideration:

10 energy storage (70+ energy depending on your weap/staff bonus)
??Healing...lets say its 12
9-10 Protection
This would allow you to put some enchantments on party members that increase their dmg, health, health regen before getting into a fight so as to allow you the full energy bar to use for healing during battle. You could even bring along an Ele elite (Mist Form) so if you get targeted during combat...and depending on how many pts you have to spare for Water Magic (+1 Eye)....you can sit there and cast spells but take no dmg from melee. Or if you know you're going into mobs who cast spells, there are Ele spells that prevent you being targeted by those.
I love my E/Mo build and I've yet to fully get into the Monk side, but I can get out in some areas solo'ing without too much worry....as long as there are no enchantment breakers :-)

Eos

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

E/Mo

21 Jun 2005 at 05:10 - 9
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aradia Ashkal
Thank you theclan as that does tell me alot. For some reason the fact i coulnt use monk runes escaped me and will make my decison a harder one now but never the less a smarter one. In the end even if an E/Mo cant heal AS WELL as a Primary Monk, can they still heal effectivly to be consider a healer? Has anyone had in experince playing either in high lvls?

I will have to research the armor end of the two. I play an e/mo earth and healing as one of my RP chars, with which I have beaten the game.

Earth Magic: 11 + 1 + 2
Energy Storage: 10 + 1
Healing Prayers: 10

Skillbar for PVE:
Earth Attunement
Armor of Earth
Ward Against Melee
Ward Against Elements
Restore Life / Rebirth
Word of Healing
Heal Other
Healing Breeze

Here's what I do: As soon as I see the monsters approaching Earth att. goes up. If I become a target (rarely) Armor goes up next. I spot heal the spike damage (if any) with Heal other. After the battle settles in, I place wards in the most appropriate place I can reach and renew them if the battle goes on for more than 20 seconds. I can keep the wards going indefinately, and over the course of 60 seconds earth att. saves me ~50 energy, which i use to heal my teammates between renewing wards. A nice thing is, if i do become a target for a modest number of mobs, armor of earth gives me +60 al, so i dont need to run and stop healing my teammates, instead I will tank them for a short while letting my teammates finish up whatever they were doing. I use whatever elemental armor is most appropriate to the area. My PUGs seem to fly through missions, and I've had a few comment on how easy the mission seemed, I like to think I was at least partly responsible.

Skillbar for PVP:
Earth Attunement
Armor of Earth
Kinetic Armor
Obsidian Flesh
Rez Signet
Dwayna's Kiss / Heal Party / Healing Seed, whatever I feel like
Heal Other
Healing Breeze

I dont PVP too much, and I only do arenas with this character, but its usually alot of fun when I do. Most of the time I'm the primary target in the random arena, so the Earth att. goes up when enemy warriors close in on me, closely followed by kinetic armor, Armor of earth, and Obs. Flesh, in that order. This gives me 20 seconds of 180 total AL, and immunity to all spells. During this time I use heal spells, on myself or teammates, to keep kinetic armor up. Warriors have trouble breaking double digits when hitting me. I'm vulnerable to enchantment stripping in the 10 second window of obs. flesh's recharge, but it hasnt happened yet. I basically buy enough time for my team to kill the soft targets, and when only those who are attacking me are left, i wait till my enchants wear off and run like the wind. If there is a real monk present, and they are the primary target i will follow and repeatedly heal them until I am targeted, and then throw up protection. I've also found that ward against ele. is really useful in PVP just because people seem to like using weapons with elemental damage for no reason.

As for Ele vs. Monk armor, its the same baseline AL, 60, but some monk sets grant a little extra en at the expense of AL, or AL at the expense of energy. Ele armor adds the very tangible benefit of elemental protection of your choice. Sorry for the really long post, i was bored.

Red Locust

Red Locust

Site Contributor

Join Date: May 2005

21 Jun 2005 at 06:59 - 10
The thing is, when you're low on energy (and as long as mesmers and long battles are around, you will always be low on energy), energy storage makes absolutely no difference and you will be sorely missing the +36 health per heal. Makes a huge difference if your 5 energy orison heals for 100 instead of 60.

Mercury Angel

Mercury Angel

Avatar of Gwen

Join Date: Apr 2005

Wandering my own road.

21 Jun 2005 at 09:30 - 11
Ether Renewal would have to be one of the most awesome skills in the elementalist aresenal though. By being an e/mo, you can afford to spam heals, and restore yourself fully every 30 seconds. If you're worried about spike healing as well as a monk, grab Infuse Health and Heal Area. Infuse Health has no recharge and casts in 1/4th second, so you can actually spam it during ether renewal, which will heal yourself and give you energy. Make sure to pack at least 3 other enchantments though to cast on yourself. Healing Breeze, Vigorous Spirit, and Aura of Restoration probably.

Is relying your entire healing prowess on a single skill a good idea? Most likely not :P

Just pointing out it is possible to heal just as well as a monk without overt reprecussions. And you have ~80+ energy to use up over the 18-20 seconds while ether renewal is recharging.

In the end, it all depends on your creativity as to what you can achieve with a given class combo.

Aalric

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

W/N

21 Jun 2005 at 11:03 - 12
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aradia Ashkal
Aalric-
As an Ele what do you think are the best AOE spells? Meteor Shower, Firestorm, Rodgort's Invocation.

These are the only ones that can be targted and can also do a lot of damage.

Mark of Rodgort is very powerful too.

However, I will say that if you are playing the ele/mo for the monk part, you do not want to bother with any of this. You will find that you will be more of an eley than a monk if you do. Just focus on healing spells.