Monk Needs a Complete Rework

[Kalise]

back then we couldn't maintain GL indefinitely so TK still had a place outside of RoW and PB.

You mean spending GL stacks on TK when you're guaranteed to lose GL stacks due to transition timing?

Such mechanics. Many interactions. Wow.

That's literally option 2. One that's also been shat on since AST was introduced and was forced to be a SCH- or WHM-substitute rather than wholly its own job.

Except, AST's sects are complained about because they simply offer AST the ability to become "WHM-lite" or "SCH-lite" instead of AST being its own unique job. Not the inability to switch in combat, but the fact that AST itself wasn't designed as a unique job.

With the stances, you still pick between "Monk", "Monk" and "Monk". You're not becoming a "DRG-lite" or "NIN-lite" as you're still fundamentally and uniquely a Monk irregardless of which stance you use. The only difference between them is are you a MNK that punches fast or a MNK that punches hard?

No, they wouldn't. I was quite explicit in saying that overspending, the same thing that would drop BotD entirely during HW (but here only reduces you by a GL level at a time) reduces your speed, not any and all use of Ki.

GL duration (Ki) can be spent to add additional effects to your damaging abilities.

You literally even highlighted the fact that you said Ki can be spent.

Then implied: Do I want to remain in GL3 just for my auto-attacks, Twin Snakes, Dragon Kick, and Snap Punch, or would it be worth spending Ki now, dropping a level, and then maxing it again before my next Coeurl skill for full Bootshine, True Strike, and Demolish damage?

If spending Ki doesn't drop a level... Then why would you not simply sit at GL3 and only spend enough Ki to stay at GL3 constantly? Therefore not only maintaining full speed and damage, but also benefitting from the Ki usage with maybe times during burst windows where dumping all your GL stacks into Ki would be worth it (AKA: Exactly the same situation as with TK)

What, exactly, is the problem with having some freedom to choose, some balance around the kit that could present two choices as near enough to equal that you might want to consult a guide for the minutiae of each's benefits or do what you want?

The problem is when the choices are too unclear so that it feels unintuitive to actually play. When you don't know whether you should be doing one of many things, and feel like you have to consult a guide in order to figure out how to play properly, rather than optimally.

Much like how TK usage in StB was. In regular play, it was unintuitive because you'd use it, lose all your GL stacks and feel like crap while you rebuilt it. Only to read a guide and find out that you're supposed to stance dance into FoW to pop RoW or use PB to try and negate its downsides.

Jobs should feel intuitive to play, with the minutia of choices taking place when trying to optimize. Someone should have a reasonable understanding of what they're supposed to be doing when playing the job and how to utilize the kit as it is presented to them.