Blitz monk should not be the way forward for the job

[waterboytkd]

I like the current monk. I wanted to main it back in the early days of ShB, but GL was such an unfain and frustrating mechanic. After they "traited" GL, I enjoyed monk, but it felt really simple. This current version is a bit more involved than late ShB, though still a bit simple. The one thing I'm still not a big fan of is the DoT on Demolish. Though it's easier to manage now, thanks to the freedom we get during PB windows, it still promotes a fairly rigid "best" gcd.

An idea I had on that front was moving the DoT to Six-Sided Star, and changing SSS to a normal GCD (130 Potency + DoT). DoT duration could be adjusted, if needed, but in the end doesn't really matter since SSS can be injected into the rotation without interrupting it. As for Demolish, stick a new buff on it with an 18s duration (maybe Crit chance bonus?), and we stay with the 18 GCD core rotation.

Also, Anatman is still useless. What would people think of changing it into something like Sam's meditation, where every server tick while Anatman-ing, you open a Beast Chakra? That way, it's useful pre-pull to get an extra blitz in (which has the effect of aligning PR in the opener and at 2 min burst windows), and also during downtime.

[Shurrikhan]

I like the current monk. I wanted to main it back in the early days of ShB, but GL was such an unfain and frustrating mechanic. After they "traited" GL, I enjoyed monk, but it felt really simple. This current version is a bit more involved than late ShB, though still a bit simple. The one thing I'm still not a big fan of is the DoT on Demolish. Though it's easier to manage now, thanks to the freedom we get during PB windows, it still promotes a fairly rigid "best" gcd.

I think you'll find this sadly true of every job with any DoTs, until such time as XIV adds some manner of duration roll-over mechanic.

An idea I had on that front was moving the DoT to Six-Sided Star, and changing SSS to a normal GCD (130 Potency + DoT).

I'm not sure why people are so opposed to having finishers/pre-disengage tools... It's like people hating TK in its 4.3x heyday on principle rather than because they play at high ping. SSS only needs to be tuned faintly higher to see far more usage and it's already a decent tool.

Note also that the moment you move the DoT to SSS, your Twin Snakes simply becomes the new bottleneck, and Perfect Balance sees that much less situational usefulness (think triple-Demo for your Lunar Nadi at the start of Hydaelyn's adds/jolly ranchers phase).

Also, Anatman is still useless. What would people think of changing it into something like Sam's meditation

Slap Chakra generation and a Form Shift onto it, so that it doesn't lock out other uses of the GCD during downtime, and it basically would be that already. And I don't think you'd want to make it a server-tick channel you want to fish for, which tying further power to it would likely cause. Extra power sounds great until you're balanced down for gaining it and its usage is pure clunk (see ShB Anatman openers).

[waterboytkd]

I think you'll find this sadly true of every job with any DoTs, until such time as XIV adds some manner of duration roll-over mechanic.

Well, Sam has some flexibility in its GCD windows because of Hakagure. And GNB just sticks theirs in their buff window, since it's not part of a rotation. But I get what you mean. A duration roll-over mechanic would be really great!

I'm not sure why people are so opposed to having finishers/pre-disengage tools... It's like people hating TK in its 4.3x heyday on principle rather than because they play at high ping. SSS only needs to be tuned faintly higher to see far more usage and it's already a decent tool.

I think a big part is, if you're trying to greed GCDs, Thunderclap is going to be much better for dodging an orange circle. If you're about to head into downtime, it's fine, but that's so niche. The idea of a Finisher, too, is incredibly niche. Niche abilities can be fine, but I feel like SSS is just a bit too niche. Things like the ranged attacks on melees feel a bit better, as you're forced out enough in fights to make pretty good use of them (now that they don't break combos). I guess without a ranged attack, SSS can kinda fill that hole (if you're only out for 1 GCD). EDIT: but in the same vein, Meditate, and potentially even Form Shift are also filling that role. IDK, it seems like a lot of tools all trying to "fill downtime".

Slap Chakra generation and a Form Shift onto it, so that it doesn't lock out other uses of the GCD during downtime, and it basically would be that already. And I don't think you'd want to make it a server-tick channel you want to fish for, which tying further power to it would likely cause. Extra power sounds great until you're balanced down for gaining it and its usage is pure clunk (see ShB Anatman openers).

Yeah, I got mixed feelings now about Anatman. I saw one of your other posts where you point out that changing Anatman to open Nadi is bad because Monk is currently balanced around PR not being in burst windows, and that that's a good thing because it makes the class more resistant to de-syncing.

I think it could maybe do a little more (maybe suspend+grant Leaden Fist), but totally agree that whatever it does, it can't be optimal to fish for server ticks. The GL stack fishing was bad gameplay in my mind, and was one of the things that turned me off to monk until GL was turned into a trait.

[Powercow]

That said, I actually do like the current Monk quite a bit more than any iteration of the job other than Heavensward from a pure gameplay perspective, even if I think there's quite a few things that could be improved about it.

Yeah I kinda dig it too. I think it plays like a slower TK Monk, and it definitely has flaws (why, oh god WHY is Chakra overcapping so hard for SE to fix?) and it definitely needs a little something in between Blitz windows, but otherwise it's quite fun. Lot of weird little optimization moments.

Slap Chakra generation and a Form Shift onto it, so that it doesn't lock out other uses of the GCD during downtime, and it basically would be that already. And I don't think you'd want to make it a server-tick channel you want to fish for, which tying further power to it would likely cause. Extra power sounds great until you're balanced down for gaining it and its usage is pure clunk (see ShB Anatman openers).

Yeah, unless they plan to actually rework the entire system (again), or completely change how Anatman functions, I don't wanna see it be a DPS boosting ability. Maybe give it a HoT or some damage reduction or something to spice it up a bit, I dunno. As it stands it's incredibly boring.

[wereotter]

Yeah, unless they plan to actually rework the entire system (again), or completely change how Anatman functions, I don't wanna see it be a DPS boosting ability. Maybe give it a HoT or some damage reduction or something to spice it up a bit, I dunno. As it stands it's incredibly boring.

Personally I kind of like the idea that anatman gives monk a tool to operate as the counterpart to dancer and improvise. If the monk activates anatman, the monk is holding its form, and maybe slowly generating chakra stacks, but all party members in range also take reduced damage. That way monk has the instant speed, mid combat healing increase while dancer has that for shields, and monk has the must stand still damage reduction while dancer has that for increased healing.