I was thinking over my experience playing a Monk specializing in Crane Stance, and I recalled how little I used it. Because the Crane Wing Attacks deal the same amount of damage as Powerful Fist, I didn't need to activate it when I leapt into battle. The +1 to AC wasn't something I would want more than making another attack, even if that attack suffers a major penalty. Perhaps if the bonus to Leap were bigger, I'd consider it more often, but given the Monk's Incredible Movement, the Monk was mobile enough that I didn't need the Crane Wing Stance's bonus to get where I needed to go. Maybe if Crane Wing Stance was with a class that didn't move so fast, I and others might activate Crane Wing more in rounds where they can't get into melee.
Does Crane Wing need to improved?
Monks I've seen took crane stance at low levels because +1 AC is really valuable before you can get bracers, then immediately trained out of it for a d8 style once bracers were acquired.
However, Crane Stance I think is the only one of the initial style feats where the level 6 extension is worth taking.
But the action economy for stances works out well since it's just 1 action to enter a stance, one action to move into melee, then one action to flurry. So are we weighing it versus: stride, flurry, step/stride away?
It's one of the reasons why. One thing I always try and drill into new players is "Not being attacked is better than having a high AC". Even risking another attack with your third action might be the right call, if you think you can bring him to zero HP.
I haven't seen any Str>Dex monks yet, so I mostly hear tell (and agree) that Wolf Drag and Tiger Slash are not very appealing options, in large part because they are two actions and so preclude a "move in and out of melee" approach" and don't combine well with Flurry.
I find generally people don't want to take feats which cost two actions, unless they are already action economy enhancers (e.g. fighters preferring to open with a strike than with something like power attack or dual-handed assault, but dual slice and sudden charge are fine.)
My son took Crane Flutter because it was one of the few reactions that a monk could take. He hasn't found it helpful yet, but were still testing it out...
My son took Crane Flutter because its one of the few reactions that a Monk can get. He hasn't found it useful yet, but were still testing it out...