Nec or Monk
Markrids
I can't decide which I would rather play Factions with. Im aware that there both good at farming so any suggestions would be appreciated.
scars of insanity
there exact oposites. but if you just want to farm you can make a 55 monk but you have to find a -50hp focus. Necros can MM in the missions and SS/SV to farm in ToA. monks are known for healing/proting so dont expect to go in a pug smiting when there is only 2 monks.
ange1
i say monk, everyone should start with a monk, then u know how to play other classes 
Hella Good
It's so easy to beat the game with MM or SS and you don't just sit in the back and do nothing but heal. But then it's sooo freaking easy to hench with Monk (not missions but like quests/caps/etc.). I did my Necro 1st, now I'm doing my Monk (after the Ritualist).
greaterlych
If you are interested in farming, check out this guide.
Necromancers and Monks may seem like they have very different roles, but in reality they often play the same role. 95% of monks play a support role and heal their team. Many necromancers play as minion masters and heal their minions. A lot of the time, you just have to pick who you would like to heal. Of course there are SS necros and Blood Spikers, but these seem to be dying down and most necros are MM's. Necromancers also sometimes play a support role for monks. Battery necros power the monks and help them heal better. It's sad to say, but when you're playing a monk or a necro a lot of your build decisions rely on who's bitch you want to be.
Necromancers and Monks may seem like they have very different roles, but in reality they often play the same role. 95% of monks play a support role and heal their team. Many necromancers play as minion masters and heal their minions. A lot of the time, you just have to pick who you would like to heal. Of course there are SS necros and Blood Spikers, but these seem to be dying down and most necros are MM's. Necromancers also sometimes play a support role for monks. Battery necros power the monks and help them heal better. It's sad to say, but when you're playing a monk or a necro a lot of your build decisions rely on who's bitch you want to be.
holden
Quote:
Originally Posted by greaterlych
Battery necros power the monks and help them heal better. It's sad to say, but when you're playing a monk or a necro a lot of your build decisions rely on who's bitch you want to be.
imo, if the monk is counting on your necro to be a battery then you dont want him anywhere near your team. it's helpful and i dig it when the necro helps me out but the monk, more than anyone else on the team, needs to have his shit together.
the MM has enough goin on that he shouldn't have to worry about a monk with bad energy management.
SS does seem to be less wanted these days and i'm not sure why. many mobs have two rangers, warriors and assassins at least. even the freaking Rits keep on attacking through it. it's an easy way to a lot of aoe damage in a short amount of time for minimal energy. and no monsters scatter.
the MM has enough goin on that he shouldn't have to worry about a monk with bad energy management.
SS does seem to be less wanted these days and i'm not sure why. many mobs have two rangers, warriors and assassins at least. even the freaking Rits keep on attacking through it. it's an easy way to a lot of aoe damage in a short amount of time for minimal energy. and no monsters scatter.
Cirian
Quote:
Originally Posted by greaterlych
when you're playing a monk or a necro a lot of your build decisions rely on who's bitch you want to be.
Or not, if you can't be arsed to be someone's bitch 
I carry Well of Blood and Flesh of My Flesh for support, and the rest of my bar tends to be a mixture of damage and counter-magic. I might take Blood Ritual if I'm with humans... I might even take Well of Power too, but I'd rather carry Soul Leech or Wail of Doom as my elite, because I like counter-magic a lot If I bump into another necro, they tend to be a Minion Master who may or may not be any good, or a Spiteful Spirit chap with God-knows-what-else on their bar... the key thing for me I guess is to not clash with their abilities so that we both bring things to the table. What I like most about Blood, is that I'm in control and it's very adaptable.
I'm sure you could do an okay smiting monk with a 16 Smite / 9-11 Divine / 11-9 Healing Prayers split and amuse yourself like that I've not played a monk in such a long time, but it's certainly possible to play 'aggressive support' with Smite Hex, Balthazar's Aura and such.
For farming mode though, necro's can do the 55 route similar to a monk, except that it's done with Spiteful Spirit instead of Shield of Judgement. Or you can do the solo Minion Master as a necro, or make your own specialist builds... both have pro's and con's
I carry Well of Blood and Flesh of My Flesh for support, and the rest of my bar tends to be a mixture of damage and counter-magic. I might take Blood Ritual if I'm with humans... I might even take Well of Power too, but I'd rather carry Soul Leech or Wail of Doom as my elite, because I like counter-magic a lot If I bump into another necro, they tend to be a Minion Master who may or may not be any good, or a Spiteful Spirit chap with God-knows-what-else on their bar... the key thing for me I guess is to not clash with their abilities so that we both bring things to the table. What I like most about Blood, is that I'm in control and it's very adaptable.I'm sure you could do an okay smiting monk with a 16 Smite / 9-11 Divine / 11-9 Healing Prayers split and amuse yourself like that
I've not played a monk in such a long time, but it's certainly possible to play 'aggressive support' with Smite Hex, Balthazar's Aura and such.For farming mode though, necro's can do the 55 route similar to a monk, except that it's done with Spiteful Spirit instead of Shield of Judgement. Or you can do the solo Minion Master as a necro, or make your own specialist builds... both have pro's and con's
greaterlych
Alright, time to repair the damage my poor communication skills have caused.
When I was talking about the battery necros, I meant they were a completely different build. I wouldn't want a MM running around wasting energy and HP on the monk either.
As for my 95% heal monk statistic, I didn't mean because they're the only good monk. They've really revamped the smiting skills in factions and I've been considering making one. The problem is that most players are conservative about the way they play and non-cookie cutter builds scare them in a way only a Bush supporter can understand.
When I was talking about the battery necros, I meant they were a completely different build. I wouldn't want a MM running around wasting energy and HP on the monk either.
As for my 95% heal monk statistic, I didn't mean because they're the only good monk. They've really revamped the smiting skills in factions and I've been considering making one. The problem is that most players are conservative about the way they play and non-cookie cutter builds scare them in a way only a Bush supporter can understand.
xenoranger
Having been a long time fan of necromancers, let me say this....
You need to first decide your purpose in the game.
Necros are all status effects, degens, and spites. Minions is important, but I find that's the lesser power of necros (and I know some will dispute that).
Monks are 100% health maintainence. You have several tools as a monk to heal and maintain your party. Smites are important, but a lesser extent of the Monk's power.
Although you can get what some believe to be the best of both worlds by playing a N/Mo or Mo/N, the truth is that your primary is always going to determin your main purpose. As a necro, you will be charged wtih softenning up enemies and making htem easy to kill. Necros do very little in direct damage. As a monk, you're going to have peopel counting on you to keep them healthy. If you can't keep the party healthy, you will get flamed and cursed (I've seen it happen to other monks).
BTW... although necros can heal, they lack divine favor, so you don't get any healing bonuses. As such, a N/Mo isn't a good idea if your primary focus is healing. As for Mo/N, you don't have the soul reaping bonus which REALLY helps to keep enemies dying faster.
I hope that's not too confusing. But when my guildies decide to build a new character, I have them consider what their purpose is before they start.
You need to first decide your purpose in the game.
Necros are all status effects, degens, and spites. Minions is important, but I find that's the lesser power of necros (and I know some will dispute that).
Monks are 100% health maintainence. You have several tools as a monk to heal and maintain your party. Smites are important, but a lesser extent of the Monk's power.
Although you can get what some believe to be the best of both worlds by playing a N/Mo or Mo/N, the truth is that your primary is always going to determin your main purpose. As a necro, you will be charged wtih softenning up enemies and making htem easy to kill. Necros do very little in direct damage. As a monk, you're going to have peopel counting on you to keep them healthy. If you can't keep the party healthy, you will get flamed and cursed (I've seen it happen to other monks).
BTW... although necros can heal, they lack divine favor, so you don't get any healing bonuses. As such, a N/Mo isn't a good idea if your primary focus is healing. As for Mo/N, you don't have the soul reaping bonus which REALLY helps to keep enemies dying faster.
I hope that's not too confusing. But when my guildies decide to build a new character, I have them consider what their purpose is before they start.