Soon the monks will be standing around LFG!! LFG!!!

So, in short, you were talking about other monk being bad, not you being good Should've said it in the beginning. And 50-50 isn't really true because of duplicating heals. Sure you can divide responsibilities - "I heal top 4, you bottom 4", but if half of "other" group would be near death, I'd heal anyway.
Also, it depends what you consider a hybrid. I sometimes take Diversion/Drain Enchantment/Inspired Hex, which would make me half mesmer, yet healing is my main job all the time. Not all hybrids are equal and make it 25/75.

Man I love playing as my monk...

thing is in PvE i hate to screw up. Its not like i feel the whole thing depends on me, its just the fear of people blaming me for it.

that happened once to me in PvP. We had a necro that just went guns-a-blazing into the other team then blamed me for his death. That kind of thing stays with you.

But man playing as a monk is both challenging and fun. You have to make sure everyone is alright, your energy is fine, and stay alive.

Recently I made a necro. And while a necro is pretty fun, the monk side of me can't help worring about the whole party, and who needs healing. And who's gonna throw out a protection spell for us all. Guess i just like helping people out deep inside me.

But to the original post. I make new characters on a regualr basis. Mostly just to try new things, seeing what i like. And I always see tons of monks in pre-searing.

Its nothing new really. But yeah there is just about as many bad monks as is there is everything else. It all comes down to the players.

"Recently I made a necro. And while a necro is pretty fun, the monk side of me can't help worring about the whole party, and who needs healing. And who's gonna throw out a protection spell for us all. Guess i just like helping people out deep inside me"

Yeah, I know that feeling It is... strange to be the one who has to depend on others for healing, when you see your hitpoints rapidly droping and you can't do anything about, other than wait and hope monk heals you. It's hard to change to change the way monk thinks

Heh not true at all. So many times I've grabbed a monk real quick and jumped into the FoW or gone off to do a quest or mission and after five minutes of other players yelling at the monk "WHY AREN'T YOU HEALING ME?!?!" only to hear "I smite. I dont' heal." And then I cry as a tengu runs me through.

I think everyone should have 1 monk. I don't see why you wouldn't it's always nice to have a back up in case someone in your guild (say a monk) has to log off, so you can log on.

I personally don't understand why monks pre-ascending are anything but healers. Sure there are plenty of perks in smite and protect, but why go though the hassle of finding another monk?

As far as monks being idiots? No I'd say most the time the warriors are the idiots and monks get bad names because warriors run around saying monks suck. It's not the warrior's fault however. Warriors are born that way because most of the people who play them for the first time thinks it's just hack and slash. But of course it's not. That's just my opinion though. I think all warriors are born idiots and have a chance of becoming better

And why always pick on monks in pve? How about picking on rangers for a change...those guys don't do crap...ever. I played a ranger and I felt useless. Maybe it's different now that people know where all the good skills are. But I've never seen a ranger affect the output of any fight in PVE.

Anyway, the truth of the matter is...Monks kick ass and they know it. Not all of them are going to be modest about it. Sooooooo I guess just deal with it or something

Not all warriors are born idiots. I know how to pull aggro properly. I just prefer getting right into the thick of things as it were. For me it's a rush to be in a crowd of 10 or more mobs and whack away at them (and them do the same to me) so that my TEAMMATES can do what they need to do to win the fight. I am also one of those people who could give a rat's ass if I have a monk in my group. I'd prefer having Mesmers, Necros and Rangers in my group over Monks anyday.

I've recently started a Me/Ne. I like it alot more than my Wa/Mo. Much more fun learning how certain spell combos work to really blast your opponent to bits.

On another note...

What really irks me, is the spellcasters that target melee mobs instead of the enemy spellcasters. It's like HELLO!!!??? I mean really, the rangers and the warriors can handle the melee mobs easily. Spellcasters should be worried about shutting down the enemy spellcasters. What good is a Smiter or Pyromancer that only targets the melee mobs right in front of them (the same ones the warriors and rangers are already beating down) and ignores the spellcasters killing everyone else on the team. This is especially true during boss battles...the same aforementioned nimrods attack the boss before getting rid of the boss's minions first, who pose far more danger since there is more of them...

Sorry, just needed to rant about that after witnessing some very horrible PUGs recently (Namely most of the PUGs in SF).

I think you misunderstood me. Warrior is a hard job, everyone starts crappy at it because the amount of research it takes to become good at your job (I mean good, not just you think you're good) doesn't happen in one month. So they assume everyone else isn't doing their job.

You're right though, monk isn't necesary. Nothing is. But I'm not going to turn a monk down to prove a point. Although I tend not to invite rangers unless I'm in pvp

I managed to play with some really good playing warriors in a few groups last night. So good warriors actually do exist ;-)

LOL, the monk pulling comment hit a soft spot. I was in fow the other day and the healer monk in our group insisted on pulling every single time, even after we repeatedly asked him to stop, it was pretty annoying to say the least.

I'm new to this game and trying to learn how to play well.

My 1st and only character is now a Level 11 monk/mesmer. I play him as a smiting monk.

When I'm looking to join a group, I announce that I'm a smiting monk looking for a group for whatever quest(s) I'm interested in.

If I'm asked to join a group, I reply that I'm a smiting monk, not a healer, and do they still want me. Once I'm in the group, I repeat to the whole team that I'm a smiting monk, not a healer.

When we battle, I've been trying to find enemy spellcasters to target them. I have 2 healing spells, only, in my skill bar that I can always use for myself or a teammate in a jam. But my real focus is on inflicting damage.

I haven't played, yet, with anybody's group where they had a true leader who called specific enemy targets, or anything like that. But I look forward to it.

So, am I playing my monk reasonably? I think I am. But I'm still trying to learn how to do so and I'm still trying to figure it all out.

It sure is frustrating, though, when other players, either new or experienced, run off and start new battles before I have my energy back or start battles with multiple enemy groups. And it's especially frustrating when the tank(s) lets the enemies reach the other spellcasters and me. I'm prepared for this, but still, they didn't play their role well....

Overall, though, it sure is fun playing this game and developing my smiting monk.

If you want to successfully play a smiting role in a group, then I suggest backing up your warriors. Usually your warriors will consistantly tank mobs in a good or bad way. Either way you win.

Do you suggest I do that before or after I attempt to take out enemy spellcasters? I've been going after spellcasters, first. Perhaps I shouldn't?

Indeed, or AFK monks or monks with group of henchies... laughing and saying.

"Monk for hire, 2k-3k per mission"

Jesus, I got my own monk to help low lvls when they ask me... i do it.

Don't focus on the enemy. Focus on your warriors and what they are doing. Cast smiting skills on your warriors to cause aoe damage to the enemies they are attacking. Back those up with a few low cost protection skills. It's very effective.

After 2 months of monk you get a bit sick of it.

Ya, monk really isn't that hard, just have to know how to do 3 things: 1.) lose aggro, 2.) Know your skills, 3.) Know how to point and click...

Still working on that last part, its a toughie

Seriously, what does that look like? I'm a W/Mo and mostly I just try to stick the front, target enemy healers/casters, block and soak up as much punishment as I can stand. Sometimes, I'll try to run Mend on our party healer. Not much more complicated than that. In PvE, what does a "Good" tank do? Is it different than the above? (and be assured I hope to have an answer that helps me help my team.)