Monk Identity and Blitz ?

[Sqwall]

Now, don't get me wrong. I like the positionals. Always have. It makes it unique but after 6,7 years of a stagnant MNK that has slowly been drained of its core identity - if one is given the ultimatum of a class redesign vs. hanging onto an archaic last stand I'll risk the redesign. The thing about BLM is that its immobility is not all it's known for. If a redesign allowed for full positionals but make it so that it's not it's only identifying factor - even better. Gameplay of a class is only part of how we come to love a job. The other part is the animations, perhaps its lore, its ability themes, etc. Right now MNK is the weakest of near all of these areas. As for positionals, though it may not be a 1:1 comparison, DRG is a close tie for it and thus lessens the positional "is our unique identity" even more.

I echo this completely and you said it better then I could have I suppose. When GL was taken out and all that was left was positionals and chakra...that was the nail in the coffin for old monk. Without the need to constantly worry about GL anymore, left us chakra and positionals. GL was monks identity, and the whole job centered around it and it's upkeep. Now things have changed and job is going in a new direction (thankfully), and the fact that some postionals being removed as well as GL mechanic getting reworked tells me just how much SE cares about those aspects of Monk. Positionals just aren't that important so they were lessened to make way for something new and different.

I think in a perfect world we could have a postional heavy job, we really could. But if it were to be enjoyable it would REALLY have to focus completely on positionals as it's core design. Literally making every postional fullfilled grant buffs, gauge spender, dot potency, critical hits, etc. And you would ONLY get those rewards for ONLY completing those positionals. Missing a postional would mean your DoT is less powerful, not getting a buff, not getting gauge, etc. THAT would be an identity a positional job should employ. MNK just didn't commit that way....so postionals are not it's identity. Chackra, Blitz, Crit chance, and fast gameplay are now. This is a good direction.

I have thought about if we added postionals to RDM 3 melee combo, would change it's identity? Absolutely not...it's still RDM. Adding postionals didn't change anything about White Mana/Black Mana, verflare, verholy, scorch. They would all be the same. Now if you added postionals that are required to be completed to verflare/verholy gain x3 of it's respect mana, and scroch always crits. THEN they class would be very different. MNK doesn't really offer that outside of minor potency increases...I still get leaden fist regardless if I DK from the rear. I still get twin regardless if I hit from the rear. I still get Demo DoT if I were to hit it from the flank.