We are probably the worst or second worst class in the game now. (rogues are either worse or just a bit better than us.)

From my experience, Disciples have the same or better dps than us (using just fists no abilities). Level 21 disciple friends fists are 95 dps main 35 off. Mine at 21 are 75 main 25 off, before you ask we both had the same buffs.

I am not sure if dps is based off dex, but I got 140ish str 140ish con and 120ish dex, around 430 armor class 2400 defense and 1700-1900 hps depending on what weapon I use at level 21. I CANT solo 2 dots at all effectively (lose either half life or more depending if I get crits (total crit chance is about 15%) which does not equate good grinding.)

Yes I know group game blah blah blah, but you know what you cant always get a group, cant always get an effective duo or just dont have the time to group. Most 20+ 2 dot mobs all debuff melee damage, which I think is asinine, basicly telling us healers and casters can solo but FU to pure melees. Furthermore group bonues xp is non existant, it is more efficient to solo as a caster/healer than group since there is very little xp bonus to grouping.

So just a heads up, if you plan  on making a monk expect to be frustrated and have the feeling of being inferior to other classes. And if you decide to play on a FFA pvp or team pvp server expect this frustration to be ten fold. I spend more money on repairs than new armor weapons simply because monks are basicly Free Infamy.

I now know this, and I STILL continue to march (less because I love the class so much, and more because regrinding 20 levels on any class is enough to shoot yourself in the head.) Dont get me wrong I love the "concept" of the monk class, but in its current implemation it is decidedly lackluster.

I think some of the problem is with dragon style. 

We get the storm style.. which adds a small proc to help our damage.
We get the dragon style.. which adds health regen.. this is 100% broken and doesn't work
We get stone dragon.. which adds AC.. while slowing attack 20%. both too minor to make much of a difference.

I can tell you this... I am rarely over 50% health and usually at 0 endurance, 0 Jin when done fighting an even con 2 dot.. and i've moved around thinking maybe I was hitting undercons. 

Besides that I don't think we as a group do much more damage than the healers and tanks.  I dont' think thats the idea of offensive fighter.

Dont worry, I dont feel picked on at all but put words in my mouth again and this is my last reply to you.
I'm just simply explaining how I have overcome the "DPS issues", while you rant I find the class interesting enough to keep playing and wait for "fixes"

I loved my monk in eq1, I loved my monk in eq2 and I'm loving my monk in VG no matter what

But I do have a question. Is going bare fist the better option? I'm using ulaks and claws and sometimes a martial staff. Wondering what people reckon

I'd have no problem with monks being out-DPS'd by Bards and Rangers.

I have a huge problem with monks being out-DPS'd by Bards and Rangers AND we offer less utility to groups.  And I definately have a problem with monks being out-DPS'd by non DPS classes.

My take on the issue is... either of:
1) Give monks some good utilities - buffs or heals or CC
2) Or give monks higher DPS


For now, I play a monk simply because i love being a monk, not because it's the uber class (coz its not lol)

First off, I am not here trying to elicit sympathy for myself nor the monk class as a whole. I just want new players to be able to get a realistic view on the class in its current state. Will we get buffed? I am pretty sure something will be done, however how effective it will be is something I have my doubts about.

Second, I do have a problem with Rangers and Bards out dpsing us. Both of those classes leave us in the dust as far as utility goes. Rangers get buffs, snares, heals, and a multitude of other abilities over us. And dont even let me mention what Bards get, cause if you think monks currently get more utility than a bard you should go play another game.

The monk should be the BEST dpser in a strait up fight, where we get out dpsed by a rogue when they are in their element (behind and stealthed) and it shouldnt be close between Ranger and Bard for melee dps, but should be made up with their skills (Bow for Ranger and spells for Bard.) As it is now I get smoked in melee with a ranger cause they dont have to wait for a crit to get off a special move, and the Bard has their unresistable spells to deal with (at least now since most people have no resists worth mentioning).

The ONLY utility a monk has is Feign Death, and as I stated earlier it doesnt work when its really needed. (+2 or higher 3 dot or higher dot mobs will usually see through it, and by the time it would work you are already dead.) Also most groups just have a sorcerer evac you out if SNARF hits the fan and most classes prefer this over the monk FD and rez cleric option, as they dont incur xp loss. Is it nice to have when it works, you bet, but it shouldnt be our "calling card" to get into a group.

Pulling has already been addressed, there are several other classes that do it better than a monk. Also a lot of mobs that would require split pulling are linked so its useless.

Right now a monk needs better insta damage that requires nothing to use (up boundless fist and or crescent kicks damage and lower the finisher moves so we get more consistant damage.) because as it is we are very very subpar at what the strength of this class is supposed to be, and thats melee dps.

And what is with us never getting a snare, anyone ever here of knee kick? As a martial artist myself, one of the most effective and also the most protected against moves is a kick to the knee. I dont see anyone running away from a knee kick that lands sorry. Also if you see UFC those fighters that hammer their opponents thighs/legs during the fight eventually slow their movement down.

Anyway enough ranting, I will close by saying I enjoy the thought of being a monk, but right now it needs A LOT of work to be what it should be.

Hi,

The problem with your premise, though, is that you want to offer new people a "realistic view."  However, your view isn't realistic.  It's completely biased and subjective to you.  It's your opinion.  People agreeing with your opinion doesn't make it fact, either

I, for one, disagree with most of what you said.  I have no problems soloing 2 dot mobs my level or even a level or two above (no buffs by my own), being a DPS class doesn't necessarily mean doing big numbers.  Even the term itself (dps, damage per second) is a measurement of damage over time.  Sure, we may not spike like rangers and do lots of damage in spurts (which we can, actually), we deal a good amount of damage consistently over time.  While you make thing this doesn't mean much, or amount to much, I assure you, it does.  In long haul fights, a lot of the damage is coming from us.

I never have a problem feeling underutilized in my groups, if I'm grouped I'm generally pulling, which with FD is a natural niche for us, I'm doing damage, occassionally offtanking and basically supporting the group as a whole.  I am happy to play a monk and be more concerned with how I can contribute rather than how I can't or how I want to be but aren't.

While you may love playing a monk, it sounds to me like the playstyle and benefits of the class aren't what you're looking for.  Perhaps instead of warning people off because of the negative attitudes you have and self-limitations on you create, you should invest time in finding something that suits you a little better.  And I don't say that to be mean at all, but if the class isn't doing it for you, why play that class?

Be aware also that thankfully Sigil isn't taking the same view that many MMO's do.  Classes will be marginally balanced but they will have strenghts and weaknesses.  These are the things that give our classes the very definitions of what they are.  Everyone's so concerned about balance that it makes all the classes homogenous and then aside from aestectics, there's no good reason to choose one over the other.

im not saying classes should be balanced within each other.  everyone should have something to offer though.  rangers can dps, give utility including slight heals and in some cases off tank just as well, bards can give of alot of utility, in some cases tank, they can pull better and slow and they can dps better, what i am getting at is what do we have to offer... besides fd because in most cases bards pull better and rogues can get tombstones just as easily if not easier then us... where is our benefit to groups