Proposed fixes to Monk

[ZyrinMisharuji]

I'll have to disagree with Anatman's suggestion (instant stack) as well, right now everyone is using it at their openers even if takes a full server tick to get the next stack, because even then, it's still a DPS gain. Just like Irisdina said, it won't change anything, people will still do it to wait for the next server tick, (from 2nd stack, to 3rd stack).

Some of my thoughts:

1- Perfect Balance should have its cooldown reduced and become a buff that just gives 2 or 3 stacks while in combat, with no need to attack. The main problem (and I think this is why devs decided to increase it to a 120 seconds cooldown) is that people were using it as a damage buff, and not as a utility buff, in raid scenarios mostly. It was always mainly used to push more DPS, by allowing the usage of the stronger GCDs with form restrictions, instead of being used as it should, a utility tool to replenish stacks fast. Either that or make it something like: "Allows the usage of Demolish/Snap Punch/Rockbreaker for 10 seconds, regardless of current form", this would prevent DPS cheese with Dragon Kick > Bootshine.

2- Make Twin Snakes' buff duration decreased (from 15, to around 11~10 seconds) while having it's damage buff increased ( from 10%, to maybe 15%) once you reach level 76 (this would be a trait). At level 76 we get GL4, which makes our GCDs considerably faster, fast enough that creates the possibility of using 2 True Strikes before reapplying Twin Snakes, this basically creates a "meta" build for Monk, with no diversity choice, now we have a skill speed threshold that MUST be met (1.92 at GL4). The buff increase from Twin Snakes would compensate for the loss of that 2nd True Strike.

3- Just make forms' duration permanent, you change to them, they stay. This would be more helpful during casual plays, while doing normal dungeons, then you don't have to be a psychic, time you form changes, then predict if the tank is going to instantly pull packs/bosses or if they're gonna re-evaluate their life choices for a couple seconds before pulling. It would also help a bit in raid scenarios when you disengage and either have time to recharge chakra OR change forms (usually short pauses).

4- Make something with Fists of Earth, it's about time they revamp this thing, we can't even use it as a panic button to survive an incoming hit, because we would lose GL4 from Fists of Wind. Maybe make AoEs GCDs deal more damage, more than GL4 would do. AoE stance lol.

Agreed:
SSS rework to become oGCD while keeping all it's other current effects.
TK like Foul.
Anatman just freezing everything and giving chakras, NOT stacks.
Removal of RoF slowdown, but only if we're not getting more oGCDs back (gotta balance). This would also be nicer if we had some changes on how to get chakras during Brotherhood, then we could spam Forbidden during RoF window, with no need of extra oGCDs.

1- The thing is PB will always be a damage buff skill no matter what they do with it. Right now it's being used to squeeze in a few extra Leaden Fists to boost DPS, especially under buff windows. From what I've heard it's because we were using PB to be able to actually use TK and they didn't like that because it wasn't intended, even though it felt great (at least imo it did), so rather than just make TK function like Foul and leave PB alone they decided to wreck PB and in doing so we get to where we are now with TK/PB. They would have to rework it to be something like "grants a stack of Greased Lightning on your next 3 weapon skills" and maybe keep the formless thing. This would make it so it's no so much a window as a way to quickly get GL and if you're at maxed GL it's useless (though I abhor useless skills/niche skills), but if TK became something that was just part of our rotation (Just have it function like Foul so there is a reward for maintaining GL and maybe rather than needing max stacks have it gain more potency the more stacks you have [100 for GL1, 250 for GL2, 400 for GL3, and 550 for GL4 or something]) that way if something happens where you lose stacks and the boss is about to disappear for a bit you can throw out TK for added potency, sort of like SAM's Meditation/Shoha(?) interaction, instead of being an engage after downtime it would be a disengage potency gain which would also make it similar, but also unique to its brother/sister job.

2- Rather than having them touch Twin Snakes, though I think it's a decent idea and would dampen the SkS tier MNK needs to hit right now for optimal DPS, I'd rather they just make GL4 a stand-alone trait like the previous GL's and also make the stances traits so FoF gives a permanent 5% damage buff (becomes 10% at 74 like it does now?), FoW gives a permanent movement speed (or haste % pls!), and FoE gives a permanent 5% damage mit. This could be a bit OP, but I feel like it would make the stances useful and streamlined so you don't have to worry about turning on a stance every time you're level synced or just log-in, etc. Plus it'll clear up a little bit of hotbar space.

3- While I agree that would make things more friendly for dungeons and stuff, I feel like it would severely nerf the challenge of MNK and kinda break the theme. The idea is to quickly attack and move from stance to stance and the timer pushes you to do so and really try to optimize your uptime. I know they want to make things friendly to newer players but I want some sort of challenge aside from general movement (waiting til the last possible second to move out of an AoE), but I could be overthinking it and removing the stance timer may do nothing to impact MNK's challenge.

4- If they moved all of the Fist stances to traits I feel like it would fix it. To elaborate more from the 2nd point, I feel like it's silly that we spend almost 40 levels with FoF as the defacto DPS stance only for FoW to take over at 76(?), especially when all FoW gave us beforehand was a movement buff to run around areas we couldn't mount inside of. It's just weird and the only way I can kind of see it is by thinking "faster movement = unlocking faster attacks???" but it would make way more sense if FoW was a 5% haste buff but because of GL, FoF is stronger until 76 when GL4 is unlocked via FoW. But this would also make GL4 a 10% haste increase over GL3 instead of just 5% so there may be a balance issue there which is why I'd rather just see the stances moved to traits, FoF 5% damage, FoW movement speed, FoE 5% damage mitigation. Then GL4 being a normal trait like the previous GL's would give MNK a 45% damage boost and a 20% haste boost at max stacks (unless they let us keep Enhanced FoF, then 50% damage boost). Maybe I'm just crazy, but I feel like this is the best option.

As for the others, I completely agree with 6SS. Anatman I like the idea of it freezing all buffs (GL, Twin Snakes, etc) and generating Chakra instead of GL (maybe keep the refresh as well to lead into stronger burst afterwards? Not needing to reapply buffs and such, but fine if not because balancing stuff).

As for RoF and Brotherhood. Personally I think the magic would be give us 1 additional oGCD, but give it a 60 second CD. Then, depending on balance either keep RoF as is (maybe a small nerf to the damage) and remove the slowdown, or reduce RoF to a 60 second CD that gives 15% damage buff and make Brotherhood a 120 second CD and increase the chakra chance to 50%, and maybe give the MNK an extra effect of weaponskills/crits have a 100% chance to open a chakra while under the effect of Brotherhood. This way we can get consistent Chakra by ourselves, and others still pitch in for the potential for PHAT forbidden Chakra usage and really let us feel that change to TFC's cooldown, because as it stands I feel like I'm getting slightly fewer TFCs under buffs than I used to (mostly because R.I.P. IR) so I feel like I can't make use of the 1 second CD. But again, I may just be crazy.