Returner Question

I haven't played since the end of 1.0 and just returned. Overall I love the game as it is. The new class is fun (especially scholar) and the continuation of story line has been fun to play out. My question kind of is two-fold and curious if someone has insight on the change.

My old class was MNK. Gear only mattered so much, skill on how to position was more vital. Your gear changed which combos you went for moreover than anything else. Is there a reason they semi-eliminated that so gear mattered more and positioning and timing matters less? It still is a fun class, but seems less challenging to play well, but I liked the challenge.

40-50 potency difference from positioning comes up to be a lot in the end dps wise

the timers on monk buffs/debuffs have been adjusted so theres no skill speed requirement now to use skill like true strike and actually be a dps increase, that being said a lot of fights still require certain amounts of skill speed if your to have any hope of keeping greased lightning stacks up during phase transitions.

i just remember the fights you would hit in front, swing to the side, to activate the next combo to move to front, then maybe to the back... where you were changed the combo... felt like you were actually boxing that way.

I don't completely remember how monk was in 1.0. But they no longer require to hit the targets from the front any more.
You generally use 6 skills:
Dragon kick (increased potency on flank)
Twin snakes (increased potency on flank)
Snap punch (increased potency on flank)
Bootshine (guaranteed crit on back)
True strike (increased potency on back)
Demolish (increased initial potency on back, has no effect on the DoT)

Dragon kick, Twin snakes, Snap punch and Demolish will grant you the additional effect no matter which side you hit it from.

It may not seem like boxing anymore (as pugilist had a street-like fighting style where you brutally maul someone's face). It's more like martial arts as of 2.0. To optimise your dps as a monk, you need to be able to reach the proper side each time in specific forms - There are 3 kind of forms, certain skills can only be used in specific forms or get additional effects when used in that form.