Monk and Dragoon...what exactly is the difference?

[ChaozK]

As someone who has both at 50, both are trying to do the same thing and its more or less a choice of how you want to do it.
Imo, to make it really simple, MNKs have a lot more Flank and Rear attacks and DRGs have a lot more off-GCD attacks. This makes them both interesting to play in their own way, choose the playstyle you like better.

[Zareth]

As someone who has both at 50, both are trying to do the same thing and its more or less a choice of how you want to do it.
Imo, to make it really simple, MNKs have a lot more Flank and Rear attacks and DRGs have a lot more off-GCD attacks. This makes them both interesting to play in their own way, choose the playstyle you like better.

Don't forget that half of those off-GCD attacks leave the DRG vulnerable to AOEs as well. A dead DRG isn't contributing anything to damage. Meaning that where a MNK might lose 10-20% of their DPS by avoiding an AOE of a boss, but a DRG who is trying to perform optimally but gets hit by an AOE that kills will lose their entire DPS bit until however long it takes for them to be fully back in action. People keep forgetting how vulnerable a DRG is when using either of the damage Jumps.