The entire Idea behind monk makes no sense

[ZhaneX]

Many of you are picking apart my opinion on how I feel a monks lore might work, but I definitely did not intend for that to be my main point, I dont know the story on a deep level, It was just to lead into my final point, which is just how awkward monk feels in pvp when Im forced to punch other humans in the back of the skull repeatedly.
All of your opinions are appreciated but please do know this: All I wanted to get across was my opinion on how monk pvp could be improved, I just ended up bulking it out a bit more because of my, I guess you could call it "law student" tendencies XD

If that was the case, then you should have just said so straight out. You don't even make mention of PvE vs PvP until your second post. In this case, "Bulking it out a bit" only dilutes and weakens the point you wanted to make.

[tosuik]

If that was the case, then you should have just said so straight out. You don't even make mention of PvE vs PvP until your second post. In this case, "Bulking it out a bit" only dilutes and weakens the point you wanted to make.

you arent wrong XD, this was the first post I had made, and I typed it out too long for 1 post, so I ended up having to split it into 2, I didnt realize this would make so many people not catch what my intentions were. My apologies

[ZhaneX]

I typed it out too long for 1 post, so I ended up having to split it into 2

Pro-tip. You can go back and edit a post after having posted it. This lets you bypass the original figure limit.
I don't know why this forum is like that, but that's how it is.

[TarynH]

My concerns about monk PvP have almost nothing to do with rather healers should do damage or not.

Considering that it is highly doubtful they will change MNK for PvP, without changing it for PvE, your concerns are all but forced to address widespread changes to MNK. Therefore, we are back to the argument of whether or not the job makes sense from a lore standpoint. Having played the job, and having done the story line, I am in agreement that nothing has alluded to MNK being an "honorable," let alone "peaceful" profession in FFXIV. IIRC it was actually about seeking power to destroy.

However, that doesn't have to detract from you personally playing MNK honorably. Fight face to face in PvP if you want to.

[Rhaja]

I'm just going to chime in that you honestly are better off punching someone from behind. Its safer for you, more lethal to them, and its not just the skull. The spine, kidneys, and knee's are all far more vulnerable when attacked from behind. And that's just striking blindly. Grapples and both joint locks and breaks are also easier to do from someone's back and flank.

In regards to PVP... if you removed the positionals from MNK it would be on the absurd side. Crit is king in PVP and MNK's can do that once every three hits, plus have higher potency from flank and rear. So in PVP getting those positionals are just as much a reward in game as they are in a real match.

I'm also going to add in that I personally don't care for positionals and have had far more fun with my MNK in PotD because nothing has positionals in it.

[Enkidoh]

Also, you need to remember that cannonically you are not actually a true MNK at all, you're really a PGL wearing a fancy crystal which allows you to master some MNK skills quickly. When you get right down to it, you're still just a fistfighter straight out of Ul'dah where you were hired muscle to rough up debtors late on their payments (the lore behind the PGL Guild and class).

You might be throwing in your lot with Widargelt and helping to reestablish the Fists of Rhalgr, but you'll never truly be an actual Ala Mhigan MNK, you'll always be an adventurer fighting as a hybrid of MNK and PGL, which goes a long way to explain why the class's fighting style is so rough and gritty, it's basically streetfighting rather than actual martial arts. That's just accepting facts (and the same goes for every other class in the game as well... well.. except the Heavensward Jobs of course ).

Not that it's a bad thing, in fact, arguably that's what makes the player's character so powerful, because they're not content to just stick with one narrow way of fighting, they blend fighting styles together (as in, cross class skills and using Jobs). It's all a matter of perspective.

[Exiled_Tonberry]

I mean, I don't know about you, but if I was given the opportunity to punch the giant fire breathing dragon that destroyed the world in the face or in the back, I'd probably choose the back.

[Jonditaru]

You know what really grinds my gears?

How we have all these area of effect magics, yet not one of then actually causes any friendly damage!

I mean c'mon! How can Mario here, be spitting fireballs all day, yet won't seem to burn his monk friend, who is punching people on the back of their heads!?!?

[Mejingjard]

Well, I don't know if you have practiced martial arts, OP, but maybe punching someone in face is more painfull, but I challenge you to guard yourself against someone striking you from behind when your attention si focused on someone attacking you from the front
In my opinion , this is more this kind of situation Monks in FF try to simulate rather than just "it hurts more in the face". When your opponent expose his back, he is far more vulnerable than when facing you, giving you a lot more opportunities to land a hit. If you manage to bypass a foe's guard and reach his flanks or back, you have the advantage ^^
Besides I think it is pretty well emulated with monks here as you constantly move to be at the best spot to hit. That inclues taking risks, but you are rewarded for it.
Same as PVP, if you manage to stun or find a way to get in the back of an opponent, he will be easier to hit, either because you will hit harder, but also because his evasion is reduced from behind.

[SwarleyMcSwarls]

Monk is EXTREMELY strong in PvP scenarios and you now have a pvp cooldown to negate the positioning penalties suffered from not attacking from the flank or rear. Also, this game's bread and butter is PvE so I feel like asking them to fully rework how a class functions just for pvp scenarios isn't going to happen as the game currently stands. Also, the idea of attacking the flank or rear of an opponent is always considered to be more lethal because they can much more easily defend their front. So yes, I see how you are thinking of monk as a boxer and when you think of boxing you think of knockout punches being to the front of the face. But monk is not a boxer. It is designed to function as a sort of kung-fu fighter that flows through their different fighting styles to build up their own damage while also positioning themselves to attack their opponents where they are most vulnerable.


Also, the ninja thing is a little off base as well. Yes, sneak attack is more potency but trick attack is only 100 less potency and has the added benefit of increasing all damage done to the target by 10% for the next 10s because of the attack to their exposed back side leaves the target vulnerable. So sneak attack is a surprise punch in the face (which I'd think you'd be excited about) but trick is the more lethal and also signature ninja attack from behind.

ALSO, looks like you don't have a ninja or rogue at all and just leveled monk. So take some time and learn the classes and the lore and see how you feel about them. If you end up not liking a class the great thing is there are plenty of other ones to choose from that should be more ideal for how you'd want them to be approached.