Man, do I know your pain...
I figure that my monk didn't really become a viable and
important contributing member of my party until I was level 30 or so.
(Talk about a LONG adolescence!) Monks are out-damaged by all other
melee classes and hybrids (with level-appropriate equipment) for most
of our lives.
Once you hit 30 (and get flying kick), things begin to
change. At that point, only warriors really can out-damage us (with
the new patch, that is - before it was more even, depending on his
equipment, of course). As far as what would be a compelling reason
for a group to select us over a warrior goes... I can't think of one.
I stick with my monk because I have a ball playing him and the party
I'm in has leaned to recognize that we bring benefits that are harder
to define.
--
Aaron Braunstein
Pacific Data Management, Inc.

<aaron_braunstein@...>