There’s a lot of things I’d like to see this game adopt. I think we need more shield users, I wish there were more ranged classes, and I would love to see more professions that matter.
I tend to want to “add stuff” to the Monk class because it has historically been a low-pop class, and in my mind, that means: It needs more of a value proposition. Don’t change what’s there, but add maybe a 4th spec, or some additional features (let WW option a weapon, give them a ranged sped, make ale a bigger part of their overall identity). One poster even suggested that we give Monks and archery spec, but after I thought about it could be pretty cool.
But I think this all stems from Monks feeling like 3 classes, not a class with 3 specs.
- Thematically they feel disjointed. Brewmaster was initially envisioned as the class, and honestly, I love BrM. But what does it have to do with a Windwalker?
- I get Wind Walker - you need a DPS spec, and it’s a monk. I get it. But no option for weapons? We have no stave users? Monks came out 2 years prior to the iconic GOP Stave fight between Obryn and the Mountain. Make a Glyph.
- That said, where’s the ale with WW. Why not replace the Tiger with an Alemental? The CDs it uses can be brew related, but it feels like a 20% overlap with BrM, not a 60-80% overlap
- Mistweaver seems to be the least on-brand. Which is no comment about how they play, but the whole thing is healing, and they don’t have abilities like Drunk Muscles? A “Brush it Off”
It doesn’t have to all be related to Brewing, but it should all be related to something, no? Aren’t all of the specs of the other classes more closely aligned than the Monk? Shouldn’t we find more cohesion?
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because the energy windwalkers and mistweavers channel is not derived from beer. chi is not beer. it’s primordial elemental energy akin to shamans.
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But that’s what I’m saying. It’s more like 3 classes rather than one.
Most specs feel like individual classes. Back in Mists and WOD period, classes seem to have converted into Archetypes with specializations more akin to Classes within those.
Can you say more about this? I don’t see it that way but I’m hoping some examples get me closer.
They don’t feel like different classes but thematically I think monks are all over the place. Sort of like they were in the concept stage of the class and just decided to throw together some very random Chinese/Asian motiffs hoping they stick.
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and i LOVE my monk wait was that not the point of this lol.
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No, but on the forums the SOP is “see word in title, ignore OP, say whatever you want related to that word in title.” So hey, who am I to stop you.
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Monk main here. And I actually agree with some of these points.
I disagree that Monk specs don’t feel connected. They are supposed to represent the Ox, Tiger, and Serpent schools.
But, I do agree with OP that they could be a little more connected. And I think a good way to do that is Brew.
All 3 specializations should incorporate brews. Tigerseye brew and energizing brew for harder hitting attacks and faster energy on Windwalker.
Mistweaver could also have more than Thunder Focus tea.
Perhaps a brew that focuses on fist weaving?
I would also love Brewmaster to get a Tanking cooldown that lets them Channel a long Drink from a keg that constantly generates a shield as they drink. Just like Chen Stormstout from Heroes of the Storm.
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There’s definitely a theme and abilities that tie through the specs. I’d say no and disagree.
You can break down any “class” like this, odd you picked monk as well. If anything monk has some of the most core/abilities themes used in all of the specs.
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As a Druid, the game play between Resto, Balance, and Melee (Feral/Guardian) are all completely different. They wear different armor and need different stats. Or a hunter that doesn’t use bows, guns, or spears but uses a polearm and is a melee fighter. Then with monks, there is very little in common between the specializations but they are all in a broader Monk archetype. The cleric class is a Holy Paladin but it still falls within the traditional Paladin archetype.
Some specializations are closer to the archetype of the class but probably because there is only so much deviation between them. This is why when people ask for classes like Gladiator, Necromancer, Bard, and Dark Ranger, I think they would be better as specializations for Warrior, Mage, Rogue, and Hunter respectively. Those playstyles have a lot of overlap with those archetypes and the newer class system means would make great specializations.
The only traditional archetype that doesn’t really exist as a class is artificer. Currently this is a profession but a Tinker class would fulfill it.
Thanks for filling in my gaps here, Liianas. And addressing the spirit of what I was getting at. If I could give you a Forum Award I would.
I feel the exact opposite. All 3 specs feel so similar that it’s hard to get any variety.
MW: Punch, kick, heal
Brew: Punch, kick, keg smash.
WW: Punch, kick, kick again with a long animation that might get you killed.
They feel like they share more abilities across the specs than almost any other class.
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technically you could pick apart alot of the class specs… and wonder what it has to do with the class in general…
a markman hunter… really, because it has a pet… seems markman, is more akin to rifleman, more akin to warrior… seems more a sub set of engineer, making guns…
it’s one thing to hunt, with hunting dogs… but hunting with every kinda of critter in the world, well that’s the basis of beastmaster…
elf hunters, seems like a racial problem, imagine, OPPPS, I shot a druid, in bear form, I didn’t realize you was a friendly. Oh, my BEAR is your sister… Yes, I tamed her… explains alot…
It’s not just monk.
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All the warrior specs hit things with weapons.
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Most every role classes are like this?
Even triple DPS classes like Lock or Hunter will still feel vastly different.
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Aw. Thanks!
Monk is the class in this game that I really REALLY enjoy the fantasy of. And I think their class fantasy could be a little more concise between the 3 specializations.
One big problem is that Monk probably has the fewest abilities that are class specific and not spec specific.
Tiger Palm, Blackout Kick, roll, Fortifying brew, and Touch of death, are their only abilities that are shared across all 3 specializations that come to mind at the moment.
So: I feel like Monk could have more Specialization abilities that feel similar to eachother.
If all 3 specializations were pounding brews and teas constantly. The 3 specializations would feel more like 1 class.
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Yes and it seems like the usual good-faith actors are out in force.
But all those classes have a thematic core. Warlock seems different in all three specs, but it’s just a different way to express the core concept of using dangerous energy to do your bidding and that is highly risky.
You’ve got more at stake with Monks than I do - what are your thoughts on letting WW option a weapon?
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This is the reason why I’m not a fan of WoW’s version of a Monk class.
Monks should be first and foremost a martial artist class. They hone their bodies to be weapons. The closest spec we get to that are WWs, the other 2 aren’t really Monks.
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Monks are powered by celestials and chi/mist while using unarmed combat. It is strange that they wear a weapon but don’t use it. Other than that, the class is fine thematically and all three specs are top tier for most content.
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