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ScottG · 07-19-2003, 09:02 PM

Target - what do you want your monk to do and when (in the game)?

"The theme goes like this: "Hybrid class [x] sucks because it isn't as good as non-hybrid class [y] at doing [z].""

Your getting AN end result - but your completely missing the theme itself. The theme is: What does this character need to do in the "party matrix" and when does it need to do it? This has been and always will be the starting point of ANY optimal party. ONLY then do you set about selecting class/race combinations, ALWAYS aware of exactly how and when to develop the character. What most people seem to be doing (on the surface at least) is trying create the ultimate class and shoe-horn that character into the party. Sure it can work, but rarely will it be optimum for any given point in the game (let alone for most of the game).

With this basis we can say: Fighter or Rouge sucks at magic? Who cares. What tasks are they charged with...Magic? NO! Mage or Psionic sucks at melee? Who cares. What tasks are they charged with...Melee? NO! The real determining factor here isn't the class of the character, its the simple fact that the particular character in question can only perform one type of action a round, (its a basic concept but it has profound implications for this game). For instance a Hybrid will generally be either perfoming physical combat (((((OR))))) performing magic - NOT BOTH.

For the most part Hybrids (regardless of which class) really don't suck at anything - neither are they particularly good at anything for most of the game. This isn't to suggest that hybrids can't be appropriate for a given situation. In an all hybrid party (or almost all hyrbid party) they can work well and in some instances even optimally (not unlike your Ranger party).

All that said...my post really wasn't a rant on Hybrids at all (try rereading it with out looking for an alterior motive). It was why Monks are the worst class available through-out much of the game and how a monk might be better developed for a particular function within a party. (Nor was it a jab at your method of development, I actually think its a good idea for character development, but I do recognize that it has limitations for character development and more importantly for party development.)

As for the "skater" sybolism.....it doesn't matter how good a skater you are if your asked to sky-dive.

07-19-2003, 09:02 PM	#8
ScottG Drow Warrior Join Date: June 13, 2003 Location: Never Never Land Age: 55 Posts: 267	Target - what do you want your monk to do and when (in the game)? "The theme goes like this: "Hybrid class [x] sucks because it isn't as good as non-hybrid class [y] at doing [z]."" Your getting AN end result - but your completely missing the theme itself. The theme is: What does this character need to do in the "party matrix" and when does it need to do it? This has been and always will be the starting point of ANY optimal party. ONLY then do you set about selecting class/race combinations, ALWAYS aware of exactly how and when to develop the character. What most people seem to be doing (on the surface at least) is trying create the ultimate class and shoe-horn that character into the party. Sure it can work, but rarely will it be optimum for any given point in the game (let alone for most of the game). With this basis we can say: Fighter or Rouge sucks at magic? Who cares. What tasks are they charged with...Magic? NO! Mage or Psionic sucks at melee? Who cares. What tasks are they charged with...Melee? NO! The real determining factor here isn't the class of the character, its the simple fact that the particular character in question can only perform one type of action a round, (its a basic concept but it has profound implications for this game). For instance a Hybrid will generally be either perfoming physical combat (((((OR))))) performing magic - NOT BOTH. For the most part Hybrids (regardless of which class) really don't suck at anything - neither are they particularly good at anything for most of the game. This isn't to suggest that hybrids can't be appropriate for a given situation. In an all hybrid party (or almost all hyrbid party) they can work well and in some instances even optimally (not unlike your Ranger party). All that said...my post really wasn't a rant on Hybrids at all (try rereading it with out looking for an alterior motive). It was why Monks are the worst class available through-out much of the game and how a monk might be better developed for a particular function within a party. (Nor was it a jab at your method of development, I actually think its a good idea for character development, but I do recognize that it has limitations for character development and more importantly for party development.) As for the "skater" sybolism.....it doesn't matter how good a skater you are if your asked to sky-dive.