Noob Monk Pulling woes

EQBallzz · #1 02-01-2017, 01:26 PM

Looking to get some advice on pulling. I have been tasked with pulling on some Kael Arena raids but getting utterly clobbered on some pulls. Initially, I only had worthless NPC bought stars which meant I was having to body pull everything. That wasn't helping. I have since gotten Thurgadin bracers so have summoned stars with a longer range which helps. I have *some* javs but still don't have a consistent supply of those to the point that I can use them freely so trying to make due with my 100 range stars for now.

My biggest problem seems to be pulling the cleric house. Those casters just tear me to shreds and of course interrupt FD. I am able to pull/split them but take a lot of dmg in the process and die probably more than I should.

I know two potential weak points are my level (53) and my un-buffed MR (only 47). I am constantly dispelled so I typically have no buffs, get rooted, nuked etc..I'm just wondering if anyone has any insight into how I can take less dmg and what may help me to sustain these pulls better. Is my level just too low? Is my MR too low? Do I just need to use javs 100% of the time to keep my range at max?

In a related thread..what monk friendly items can I look for to boost my MR that are not expensive or hard to attain? For "resist" gear I have 3 pieces of Thurgadin armor (legs, bracers, arms) which all have some resists, earring of essence (10 MR) and I could wear a white gold necklace (7MR/CR/FR) but also want to make sure I keep my weight down.

Thanks for any input other than "you suck"!

GinnasP99 · #2 02-01-2017, 01:42 PM

You're starting to get to the point where it really pays to have holgresh elder beads. I know if you don't have beads that's probably not what you want to hear. There is the more inventory intensive player made stalking probe. While these are not as good as beads, they will let you get the initial split done so that you can have the spawns staggered from that point on. If you carry say, 6 stalking probes thats 30 charges of eye of zomm. Keep one in the bank for recharging. Good luck

rubicaant · #3 02-01-2017, 01:50 PM

Low level is definitely a factor, and for MR get the platinum jacinth wedding rings, blue diamond bracers, and the mr neck. The biggest help will definitely be beads though. You can lure out casters from our of line of sight, and tag them once they turn to go back. If that is completely out of your range of funds, I suggest getting to a higher level to survive some hits.

EQBallzz · #4 02-01-2017, 02:00 PM

Thanks for the responses. I am aware of the beads option but I'm more interested in pulling the old fashioned way (at least for now). Not saying I would never use them if I had them but I feel like having solid pulling skills without them first is more fun/important. It's one of the main reasons I picked monk. Using the inherent monk skills to split mobs is fun/challenging. I won't say beads are cheating but it looks to completely change the dynamic of what is possible with the monk's inherent skills. I have no plat so can't afford something like that even if I wanted it. [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I'm almost 54 so I guess I will see if another level helps. Will also work on more MR gear as I can afford it.

Caiu · #5 02-01-2017, 02:09 PM

Basic clickies like your epic and Bracer of the Hidden will help with the being buffless thing.

EQBallzz · #6 02-01-2017, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caiu [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Basic clickies like your epic and Bracer of the Hidden will help with the being buffless thing.

Yeah, sorta lacking in clickies also. Only have jboots so useless indoors. Guess I need to go farm Grachnist again. Curious, tho..what is the likelihood that dispel actually dispels starting from first slot? My understanding of how it works is that it normally dispels starting at first slot but can more rarely dispel farther down your buff list randomly. What I have observed seems much more random..especially with multi buff dispels.

So if it frequently skips your first slots it seems like clickies would be less useful? Not sure if what I'm seeing now is the same as what happened on live. I seem to remember it more frequently dispelled in order on live but my memory is fuzzy.

Raev · #7 02-01-2017, 03:08 PM

It's about to get harder too, when Sneak no longer clears FD memory.

Pulling with 47 MR is simply bad. Even at L60/200+ MR I regularly get rooted. Get levels, MR gear, clickies, flowers, etc.

Javs are totally worth it because it's much easier to get around the corner before you are cast on. Try putting spell casting to a separate window so you can see when you are clean to FD. Once you are around the corner and clean, FD, sneak, and stand when all but one have turned around. ezpz

EQBallzz · #8 02-01-2017, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raev [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

It's about to get harder too, when Sneak no longer clears FD memory.

Pulling with 47 MR is simply bad. Even at L60/200+ MR I regularly get rooted. Get levels, MR gear, clickies, flowers, etc.

Javs are totally worth it because it's much easier to get around the corner before you are cast on. Try putting spell casting to a separate window so you can see when you are clean to FD. Once you are around the corner and clean, FD, sneak, and stand when all but one have turned around. ezpz

Yeah, I kinda figured the low MR and level was my weakest point. I have limited funds and time so it's a bit painful improving both of those with any speed. I already have casting in a separate window and use corners/sneak etc..This is why I have usually deferred pulling to other monks with more levels/gear but when they leave I get thrown to the wolves!

Seems like I just need to get more levels and MR like I suspected. May have to start blacksmithing to feed my jav diet. More range might be a good stop gap measure to keep me alive in the meantime.

Thanks for the input all.

fiveeauxfour · #9 02-01-2017, 04:00 PM

Wurm scale coat is good for shoulder slot. Get together with a shaman for +6 neck from WW. Get MR jewelry from EC. Farm tranix for tcrown / circlet of the falinkin. Dragon hero bracer. Robe of the whistling fists

I make my own javs and it bascially only costs time to make, its definitely not as expensive as in EC. As said before, low MR coupled with your low level means spells stick basically every time, this means more roots and more dmg. Dispells will always land so keep that in mind moving forward about pulling with reduced buffs.

One thing that I have in my UI is a separate window for spell casts and other misc items. This allows me to monitor spell casts to time my FD's. Also, when a mob is casting on you, its not always the worst idea to FD as the other mobs will stop running at you. While the spell is being cast, your FD timer is ticking down. This can provide you a new window to FD into as it reduces the chance of persistent casting by multiple mobs.

During jav flight time, you can get LoS and prevent initial casting.

Hold your right mouse down and use A and W together to strafe run. Use jump too for additional movement increase.

As mentioned before, use the sneak memblur trick although devs said they were going to change this in the future. Who knows when this will occur and how this will effect monk population.

Stonestance is still amazing in this expansion for pulling. Use it often!

fiveeauxfour · #10 02-01-2017, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EQBallzz [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Guess I need to go farm Grachnist again.

Dont do this, as the click does not stack with epic. Go to LOIO and farm the sarnak fort. The lego's can drop the bracer of the hidden. Epic and BoH = 2 clickies and it's a very good start.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EQBallzz [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Curious, tho..what is the likelihood that dispel actually dispels starting from first slot? My understanding of how it works is that it normally dispels starting at first slot but can more rarely dispel farther down your buff list randomly. What I have observed seems much more random..especially with multi buff dispels.

So if it frequently skips your first slots it seems like clickies would be less useful? Not sure if what I'm seeing now is the same as what happened on live. I seem to remember it more frequently dispelled in order on live but my memory is fuzzy.

Usually it does dispell from the top, you should go into encounters with this framework. That being said, higher level dispells strip more buffs not always from the top slot. Sometimes it seems it can be the most recent clicky, the most recent buff, or the buff with the highest counter. Generally speaking, you will be alright with a couple junks at the top; it becomes high priority to rejunk when you get dispelled-- even during a pull!