Monk Rebalance for U9/U10

[Whargoul]

For starters, I like this:

We are considering reverting the change to the costs of higher tier elemental and void strikes that happened a couple of updates ago, however, since ki generation is now back to the originally expected rate.

Add to that the following:

A new enhancement line...

Monk Strike (Stunning Blow) I: +1 to stunning blow and stunning fist DC. AP Cost: 1, Level: 1, Progression: 0, Requires one of: Stunning Blow or Stunning Fist
Monk Strike (Stunning Blow) II: +1 to stunning blow and stunning fist DC, bringing the total increase to 2. AP Cost: 2, Level: 6, Progression: 18, Requires: Monk Strike (Stunning Blow) I
Monk Strike (Stunning Blow) III: +1 to stunning blow and stunning fist DC, bringing the total increase to 3. AP Cost: 3, Level: 12, Progression: 41, Requires: Monk Strike (Stunning Blow) II
Monk Strike (Stunning Blow) IV: +1 to stunning blow and stunning fist DC, bringing the total increase to 4. AP Cost: 4, Level: 18, Progression: 64, Requires: Monk Strike (Stunning Blow) III

...and consolidate elemental stances...

Rebalance elemental stances so that there are only 3 tiers. Tier 1 at first level for free as it is now, Tier 2 at 9th level for AP cost: 2, then Tier 3 at 18th level for AP cost: 4. The current Tier 4 would be exactly the same as the proposed Tier 3. The middle tier would need some readjustment, but each tier should get an ability bump (i.e. Tier 1 gives +2, Tier 2 gives +3, and Tier 3 gives +4).

Overall this may improve stunning DCs a little if the monk stays pure and invests points into the DC line, and consolidating the elemental stances to 3 levels at the proposed costs will help free up some action points to spread around. The levels for Tier 2 and 3 could even occur slightly earlier (ex. level 8 and 16 perhaps) so as not to discourage moderately/heavily cross-classed builds.

[Deamus]

Nice ideas but monks are already AP starved i would like a bonus to monk class capstone (maybe) for stunning instead enchantment or maybe other solutions

[Whargoul]

Nice ideas but monks are already AP starved i would like a bonus to monk class capstone (maybe) for stunning instead enchantment or maybe other solutions

Consolidated elemental lines would each cost: 0, 2, 4 for Tier 1, 2, and 3 respectively. So considering it costs 0+2+3+4=9 AP now for the top tier, you would only need to spend 0+2+4=6 AP for the top tier with the costs discussed in the OP. Thus, freeing up 3 AP per top tier you currently possess.

I do like your idea of a capstone that gives a bonus to the DC of your tactical feats like stunning fist and stunning blow.

[QuantumFX]

A generic line that improves the DC's of all monk specific abilities would be better. Currently there is nothing in the new mod to make Quivering Palm interesting. (Same low DC vs. the one save Turbine goes overboard on. No “thank you for trying” damage that Assassin III and the death spells get.)

The elemental specials *really* need some attention as well. Fists of Iron should generate an autocrit to make it worth spending an action point on. (Same with “The Trembling Earth”) Eagle Claw and Unbalancing Strike should get +modifers from Sundering/Vertigo weapons. There should be an air based special that stands in and is modified by trip. (Especially considering that monks have advantages to tripping in P&P.) Perhaps a bonus based on what stance you’re in would help as well. (Thinking +1 per tier) These kinds of changes would make a monk interesting in epics for something other than Stunning Fist.