Vanguard Monks

Currently, I am a level 13 Goblin Monk.  I have been enjoying the class for the most part, but I am feeling like there is something really wrong with the class, or maybe just my character.

I have been trying to work up my weapon skills, and they are capping out at 130 at the moment.  They are going up steadily, very slowly but steadily nonetheless.

The problem that I am having is that even while fighting blue mobs I am finding it hard to walk away from the fight a winner. I am not sure if I am in some sort of deadzone while I am waiting for level 14 to get some class defining skills, or if the monk is not that strong of a character.  I would prefer to just use my Unarmed skill, but I do not want my Martial and Fist weapons to fall far behind.

Is anyone else finding that their monk is performing at a subpar level in the early levels? Or is it just myself expecting too much from the class.  I am beginning to think that this class is one that comes in to its own in the later levels.

Thanks

After the last patch, monks were nerfed really bad.  They really hurt out crit chance, which is making it very difficult to solo mobs.  As of right now, at Lv 22 (with very good gear) I can barely solo a mob Lv20 2/3 Dot, without having to self heal.  This is all due to my lack of crits.  Do I want us to become Disciples which are over powered and can solo things 3 lvl's above them? No, I just want my crit chance back >_<;

Ive noticed the same thing and it was before the patch. I am at the point of re-creating to another char but hoping they will fix us somehow. I asked a bunch of monks their stats etc.. and think im on pair putitng a bunch in str/dex because i want to go dragon style. But why is it that if i group with my wife whose Disciple i ran rip through things but without her i can barely kill anything. Its frustrating as hell since we are supposed to be a dps class.

i am level 12 and i can solo a mob that is 14 with very little problems.  Again maybe your just not using things right.  I personally never use iron hands or the set your weapon on fire thing just ashen hand kick and boundless fist and whenever my finisher procs

One thing you also have to take into consideration as a monk, the light weapons (wraps, knuckles, claws) all use the hand to hand stat. These usually you will have maxed in much earlier then the rest so all you usually have to look at is the fact that the wraps, knuckles, or claws skill is maxed out.

On the other hand however, if you are using a martial sword, bladed staff, or martial staff, there are two stats that you need to make sure are maxed if you are having problems winning. One is a pretty obvious choice, the main skill. You will skill up on it fairly fast, which is martial sword, martial staff, and bladed staff. The other less obvious choice but in my opinion, more important choice, is the two hand piercing, two hand slashing skills. If these are low, you miss the mob much more often.

For example, my monk is maxed out on martial sword, which I decided to pick up as a dragon monk for tanking, it works very well in defensive stance. However, I dont do nearly as much damage, even in offensive stance. This is because my two hand slashing is about 1/3 of the way to being maxed out. Due to this, I miss the creatures quite a bit. Hope this helps!