Talk:Monk/@comment-188.22.101.193-20180205134627

Let's be honest, Monks are terrible. There seems to be this opinion that the monk is weak in the beginning but will become a powerhouse at high levels. While that's already a sign of pretty bad class design it's not even true. WIzards and Sorcerers are weak in the beginning while becoming gods at the end, Monks are so bad in the beginning they can't contribute anything at all (i.e. all of BG1 and a good chunk of BG2) and they become ok, in a "now they're kinda on par with a reasonably competent fighter" sort of way, at the very end.

Right out of the gate, they get nothing. No armor class, no defenses of any kind, terrible damage, no to-hit or damage bonus from exceptional strength, no extra attack from specialization, terrible HP for a warrior. They are bar none the worst class around.

They will slowly get better in terms of AC but always lag behind a normal warrior class that can wear armor (and perhaps a shield) up until the point where AC doesn't matter anymore, when they might start surpassing your average fighter. Their damage will improve and they will get equipment (or a stat tome) to help with their sub-par strength but they won't get the static bonuses, elemental damage and other benefits that normal warriors get from their weapons, making sure that their damage output always stays average at best. They will get more extra attacks from levelling as long as they stick to their fists but fighters can get even more with dual wielding and grand mastery and, the big one, they can be hasted!

Apart from that, monks get a few rather easily replicated (with equipment) immunities, a piddling self-heal, a (few times a day) stunning effect which is decent, a (once a day) save-or-die effect that by the time you get it will soon be obsolete and fast movement. All things you can easily get from weapons and/or equipment, in exchange for never being able to make use of haste or improved haste. Yay.

The Sun Soul Monk is even worse, the Dark Moon Monk slightly better because of decent defensive spells.

Their hit points will always lag behind, as will their ability to actually hit things because the enchantment bonus of their fists which advances too slowly.

The one good thing they have is their magic resistance. It kicks in rather late as well but when it's there, it's better than anyone else's. That's great. Well, they need at least one really good thing. It's the only reason why they aren't totally terrible all the way through to the end. They will still get raped in melee.