Thoughts on the monk to be...

[Klaus]

I could see arguements for monks of defender, controller, and striker flavors. Some concepts needs more than just one narrow mechanical defination. That was one of my problems with in 3e, was that it was basically just one type of monk. I'd also like to see a good hand to hand fighter that wasn't all mystical that was just good old fashion physical force rather than being able to do semimagical things that didn't make a ton of sense.

How about a Rogue feat that lets him treat his unarmed strikes as a [insert name for the Rogue weapons they need to use their powers]?

Or maybe use Ranger, and using a feat so he can use his hands for the TWF path?

EDIT: I went ahead and put this together:

Monk Rogue Build
Key Abilities: Dex, Str, Cha
Armor: Cloth, Leather
Weapons: Dagger, hand crossbow, shuriken, sling, short sword (butterfly sword)
Bonus to Defenses: +2 Reflex

HP: 12+Con at 1st, 5/level afterwards
Healing Surges/day: 6 + Con Mod

Trained Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Insight, Perception, Stealth, Thievery

Build: Brawny rogue
Class Features: First Strike, Rogue Tactics (artful dodger), Rogue weapon talent, Sneak Attack

At Will Powers:
Deft Strike (move before attack)
Riposte Strike (immediate interrupt if attacked)

Encounter Power:
Dazing Strike (daze target)

Daily Power:
Easy Target (slows target and gain combat advantage)

Level 2 Utility:
Great Leap (at will)

Level 3 Attack:
Topple Over (encounter, leaves target prone)

New Feat:
Monk Training
Prerequisite: Dex 15, Wis 12
Benefit: You become proficient with your unarmed strikes, gaining a +3 to hit and the off-hand property. Any power you have that requires a light blade can also be used with your unarmed strike.

 

[Ondo]

Ki striker is close to confirmed by people in wizard. They stated that "martial striker" was 50% correct.

No, they didn't say that. Andy Collins said martial striker was at least 50% wrong. Source here.

 

[Anax]

I can imagine a monk being a ki striker or ki controller. Another one I could see being brought back (because it is FILLED WITH AWESOME) is swordsage as ki controller.

 

[Saeviomagy]

How about a Rogue feat that lets him treat his unarmed strikes as a [insert name for the Rogue weapons they need to use their powers]?

Or maybe use Ranger, and using a feat so he can use his hands for the TWF path?

EDIT: I went ahead and put this together:

You don't need to be so specific. You can just make a feat that says "For the purpose of attacks, treat your unarmed strike as though you are wielding a dagger in any hand that is not otherwise occupied. Your unarmed strikes do not count as thrown weapons".

That covers everyone. Warriors, warlords, rogues and rangers get proficiency. Other characters can choose proficiency. Rogues get their +1 dagger bonus (and can use shuriken for even more ninja flavour). All the light blade powers work. You can take twf and twd if you want.

Oh, and putting any requirements on it seems like a bad idea. It's not a powerful feat (you're basically just getting the ability to always have one of the weakest melee weapons with you at all times) and it should be accessable to anyone who wants it. Your example rogue for instance has paid a feat in order to be 1 point of attack worse off than if he'd used a dagger.

 

[Klaus]

You don't need to be so specific. You can just make a feat that says "For the purpose of attacks, treat your unarmed strike as though you are wielding a dagger in any hand that is not otherwise occupied. Your unarmed strikes do not count as thrown weapons".

That covers everyone. Warriors, warlords, rogues and rangers get proficiency. Other characters can choose proficiency. Rogues get their +1 dagger bonus (and can use shuriken for even more ninja flavour). All the light blade powers work. You can take twf and twd if you want.

Oh, and putting any requirements on it seems like a bad idea. It's not a powerful feat (you're basically just getting the ability to always have one of the weakest melee weapons with you at all times) and it should be accessable to anyone who wants it. Your example rogue for instance has paid a feat in order to be 1 point of attack worse off than if he'd used a dagger.

Yeah, it'll take a few tries to get the terminology just right, but at any rate, it's a perfectly serviceable Monk.

 

[Cadfan]

Because not everyone has read all the posts here?

Because people don't like the notion of a Ki Striker Monk?

There's lots of reasons.

Actually, it has more to do with people not really understanding the roles. People typically gush about their enthusiasm for a controller monk, then describe in detail a striker.

Look at the OP. A character who leaps through the air (moves without provoking OA), hits an enemy, and knocks them prone? That's almost a verbatim rogue maneuver. Countering missed attacks? Almost Riposte Strike, a rogue ability. Defensive attacks that can turn an enemy's damage against them? Again, the rogue has abilities that are very similar, abilities which cause enemy's attacks to hit their allies instead of the rogue. You can keep going with similar ideas. Interrupts that stop an enemy's attack? Ranger. Tripping someone and causing them to stumble a few spaces and fall prone there? Rogue.

I'm not saying that his vision of a monk is a poor one. I think its a great vision. Its ok that it overlaps a bit with the ranger and the rogue, and I'm sure that good designers could make a rich class with a lot of monkish feel using these ideas. I just think that its a striker.