Flamestrike
Legend
I've figured out the problem, you only consider games with feats whereas I enjoy games without feats.
DMing or playing, and why?
Monks are one of the best single target controllers for most of the game and get pretty good DPR as well. Thus they already compete with and due to their potent offensive ability combination they likely outdo the fighter whose sole contribution is DPR.
Monks are great, but they dont come close to Fighters in sustained DPR, and shockingly good spike damage with Action surge. Fighters bring the pain better than anyone (barring a Barbarian with really good dice!).
There is a reason they're the number 1 played class man.
They are only slightly ahead in DPR in featless games.
Featless games not featuring magic items (which benefit fighters the most), and with few short rests (or few encounters).
Then Monks are flat out better than them as they get the damage and control aspects.
Yet you dont see many Monks at tables compared to Fighters. Why is that?
All it takes is not being in a party with a bard/cleric or paladin. Fighter/Rogue/Wizard/Druid and your out of luck on saves.
No feats, no cleric, no Bard and no Paladin. Check.
Any reason why the Wizard isnt using Counterspell to negate the incoming spell, polymorph to turn you into something immune to the effect you just wore, dispel magic or calm emotions to strip it off you, or the Druid isnt doing the same with restoration, and similar spells?
And in that party composition you also have the Wizard and Druid who are great with Wisdom saves (and later on the Rogue), the Wizard and Rogue that are great with Int saves and soforth so when a mass target save or suck hitting Wisdom or Int hits the party, several should still be up (i.e. the casters) to remove the effect from you.
Also, in this party featuring you (the Fighter) and a Rogue, Wizard and Druid, what happens when the party is hit with a mass target save or suck targeting... Con saves?