Originally Posted by
Eisenhower
Riddle of Fire could have been a reverse Embolden, where it grows in +%dmg every X seconds (through stacks) until you take damage or until the buff runs out. It makes the ability greedy, and requires good timing for it to shine. Pop it at a bad time and you'll drop the damage buff. Use it sometime safe and you'll get a tasty boost.
Riddle of Earth could have been a counter thing, where taking damage makes the monk counterattack with Haymaker or even a ki-strike if you'd want monk to have a ranged counter.
Riddle of Wind could have made Wind Tackle reach longer, and deal damage based on distance travelled. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯