Currently there are several good threads around discussing the monks weaknesses and really nice monk redesigns. One often mentioned weakness is the monks disadvantage at hitting foes compared to the fighter. While I think that these arguments are valid, I'm wondering how the monk compares to the fighter when not concentrating on this aspect.
In various threads there have been made quite valid comparisons of the monk to the ranger and paladin, too, which I won't touch here, though.
For doing the comparison I'd like to try to match features of the fighter with features of the monk which are similar in purpose or power (up to level 20).
Ok, let's try:
HD: fighter has +1 hp per level which is approximately worth a feat (Toughness).
Skills: monk has +2 ranks per level, so he can select the hp as favored class bonus to cancel out the HD advantage and is still 1 rank per level ahead (assuming the character is not built to maximize hp).
=> monk +1 rank per level if not built to maximize hp
BAB: monk has full BAB for flurry and CMB but only 3/4 BAB for standard actions and CMD. Standard actions are not much of a problem in my eyes, because usually that's just one single attack (the first) when connecting with the foe and the monk can easily choose a maneuver for that, e.g. trip, disarm or grapple. Reduced BAB means that monk may qualify for some feats later or cannot use them as effectively
=> monk effectively behind on CMD and BAB based feat selection
Saves: monk has two more good saves
Attributes: monk has MAD but then every attribute counts for something, so he gets something back. Many moderate attributes even give a higher total of modifiers than one or two high attributes (when built with points). So the fighter can better concentrate on one thing (hitting and damage), but the monk will have much higher acrobatics, perception, sense motive and stealth values (skill ranks + more attribute bonuses).
Bonus feats: fighter gets 11 bonus feats, monk gets 6, so fighter is 5 feats ahead. Both are restricted in their choice, the monk even more, but there are enough nice feats to be chosen from, so that this should not be a problem.
Class features:
- bravery: fighter gets +5 on fear saves only. Monk has good will save, so will be +6 ahead on will saves in general and +1 on fear saves (not counting still mind which gives another +2).
- armor training: fighter can apply Dex bonuses to AC although wearing armor, monk will get Wis bonus to armor and +5 AC bonus. Fighter may wear armor and shield for up to +12 to AC (+ magical bonuses up to +10) whereas monk will get Wis bonus +5 (Wis enhancements apply). If monk wears bracers of armor he should have competitive AC while having vastly better touch AC.
- armor mastery: fighter gets DR 5/- if using armorer shield, whereas monk gets DR 10/chaotic which is even better (or do chaotic creatures count as chaotic aligned weapons at high enough HD?)
- weapon training: fighter gets +4/+4 on his favored weapon group and less on others. This I would rate to be equal to about 6 feats.
From bonus feats and (fighter) class features looked at the fighter has an advantage of about 11 feats. The rest was about comparable.
Let's see whether the monk's class features are worth 11 feats:
- flurry of blows: about 3 feats (the 3 TWF feats, although there are differences and the monk does not qualify to feats based on TWF feats, but then he didn't have to qualify for the TWF feats either)
- stunning fist, unarmed strike (2 feats)
- evasion, improved evasion (at least 1 feat, probably 2)
- diamond body, abundant step, empty body: very cool features (3 feats)
- ki swift actions (extra attack, +20 ft movement, +4 AC) (at least 1-2 feats)
- extra movement (at least 2 feats, heck there is a feat to get a paltry +5 move)
stopping here I already count at least 12-14 feats which is more than the 11 feats the fighter was ahead and the monk still has features left (High jump, Wholeness of body, Immunity to diseases, moderate spell resistance, quivering palm, slow fall and others)
Special fighter feats: only fighters have access to the weapon specialization feats giving large bonuses to hit and damage.
Summary: if you want to build a character maximizing combat damage then play a fighter (nothing new here) but if you are happy with moderate combat damage then you can play a monk and it is as powerful as the fighter (feat and feature wise). He might not be able to the BBEG but someone has to do something about his minions, too, right? And then there is not only fighting but scouting and social interaction (Cha might not be high, but Wis helps there, too).
Did I miss something stupid? Is the hitting weakness a crippling one which cannot be canceled by other features?
Comments welcome.
