Preface
First off this is purely for entertainment purposes, not a serious, fully realized concept based off vast knowledge and super mathematical data. Just a fun concept to illustrate what some of what could be done to incorporate a fun class and unarmed mechanic into the game. Granted the Unarmed skill line could be inserted as simply that, a “weapon” skill line with no class attached but designing an entire class seemed like more fun to do. I say just pretend the Wandering Monk skill tree is also the Unarmed Weapon SKill tree, because that's what i would have done for it most likely.
I took inspiration from playing the unarmed skills from Oblivion, my experience playing a Monk in WoW and Diablo 3, movies, books, and my personal ideas of what a monk could/should be.
With slightly weaker attack damage per hit compared to say, a dagger, they also attack faster and concentrate on cc/debuffs. I would also think that Zenimax could add in an “Unarmed” Weapon for the weapon slot so that non weapon using monks could still get something enchanted. It would add little to no damage and no armor. Just hand wraps or something. But maybe they don’t get anything and that is just the balancing drawback to playing unarmed.
I know that the numbers (resource cost, cast times, etc.) represented here aren’t perfect but more to give a general feel of a possible ESO Monk class.

I hope you all have fun reading through it and good luck on your adventures.


ESO MONK CLASS DESIGN
The monk was designed as a fast hitting, low resource, debuff fighter. Their attacks are not as powerful per hit as their opponents most of the time, but they land their attacks faster and often leave devastating debuffs in their wake. This can help the monk keep up a steady chain of attacks while leaving their opponents dazed, weakened, and often flat on their backs..

Class lines

Wandering Monk –Unarmed, Skills scale off Stamina
Fast Attack speed, lighter damage but great CC and can chain attacks for constant damage. Good gap closer to keep the pressure on his enemies. Designed to be dps/specialist with a stamina drain mechanic. They can be tanky if mixed with a few Weapon Monk skills. Maiming, Knock Downs, and Stamina draining are the name of the game for this class. They excel at making sure their opponents’ damage is reduced and that they should probably just stay down.
Storm Bringer – Unarmed or Weapons, Skills scale off Magica
Magical buffs and useable with weapons. Good CC and more ranged moves. Designed to be a dps/tank character they can be Off Tanks and even Main Tank if the situation arises. Specializing in frost and lightning based damage they are masters of slowing their foes while speeding themselves up, and of punishing those who would dare to strike at them.
Weapons Master – Weapon Based, Skills can scale off a mixture of Magica and Stamina.
Designed to be either dps or tank, the Weapon monk specializes in damage avoidance style tanking. A true Mixed Martial arts master they can do a little bit of everything, slows, knock downs, bleeds, etc…


Wandering Monk

The Wandering Monks of Nirn are renowned for their speed, dexterity, and ability to find their opponents weak spots. With hands hardened to the point that they can break solid rock these men and women are a truly frightening foe to face. Luckily the vast majority of them would rather spend their time wandering the wilds or gathering lore than fighting. But Woe to those that finds themselves the hapless foe of the Monk.

Ultimate Ability

Multi-Strike – Rapidly strike the target in front of you 8 times. Each strike hits for (x) damage. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Enemy. Duration .8 seconds. Cost – 100 Ult.}

Healing Blows – Now heals you and nearby allies for 20% of the damage done.

8 Star strike – Now hits all enemies around the Monk. Enemies not in front of the Monk take 75% damage.

Active Abilities

1) Quick Strike – Dash towards your target, dealing (x) damage upon reaching them. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Enemy. Range – 20 meters. Cost – (Z) Stamina.}
Regenerative Strike – Heals for the Monk for 20% of the damage done once per second for 3 seconds.
Evasive Maneuvers - Grants Major Evasion for 4 seconds and reduces the cost of the next Dodge roll within 10 seconds by 75%.

2) Concussive Strike – Land a blow to your opponents’ head dealing (x) damage and applying Minor Maim, reducing damage they deal by 15% for 10 seconds. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Enemy. Range – Melee. Cast – (Z) Stamina.}

Skull Fracture – Enemies are now stunned for 1.5 seconds and Minor Maim duration is increased to 15 seconds.
Spear Hand – Casting enemies are interrupted and silenced for 1 second.

3) Heel Strike – Thrust out with the heel of your hand, knocking your opponent back 5 meters and dealing (x) damage. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Enemy. Range – Melee. Cast – (Z) Stamina.}

Iron Heel – Knocks opponent back 7 yards and applies Minor Snare for 4 seconds.
Healing Palm – Now also heals for (y) health over 3 seconds.

4) Uppercut – Lash out at your opponents’ jaw knocking them off balance for 5 seconds and dealing (x) damage. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Enemy. Range – 4 Meters. Cost – (Z) Stamina.}

Rising Sun Strike – Activating this ability again within 3 seconds knocks them up in the air. They are knocked down for 2 seconds up on landing.
Savage Strike – Deals increased damage and grants Minor Empower for 4 seconds.

5) Blade Turning – Deflect the next frontal attack against you within 8 seconds. If successful the attacker is put off Balance for 4 seconds (Ranged attacks will be deflected but attacker will be unaffected by the debuff.). {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Enemy. Range – Melee. Cast – (Z) Stamina.}

Riposte – Strike back at your unbalanced foe, dealing (x) damage and knocking them down for 2 seconds.
Master Turner – Deflect all attacks made against you for the next 3 seconds.

6) Disarm – Disarm your opponent for 5 seconds. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Enemy. Range – Melee. Cast – (Z) Stamina.}

Numbing Strike – Numb the hands of those you disarm, causing them to fumble their weapons. Opponents are afflicted with Minor Maim for 10 seconds after recovering their weapon.
Dismember – Also Strikes at your opponents armor straps, loosening their armor. Now Applies Major Fracture for 10 seconds.

Passive Skills

Endurance Training – Increases Stamina by (2, 4, 6, 8%). Unarmed light and heavy attacks grant Minor Endurance for (5, 10, 15, 20) seconds. {Note: Buffs do not stack! The timer refreshes on concurrent hits.}

Iron Knuckles – Increases the damage from unarmed attacks by (2, 4, 6, 8%). These numbers are Doubled if the Monk is not carrying a Weapon.

Nimble Fighter – Increases movement speed by (2, 4, 6, 8%) and increase dodge chance by (1, 2, 3, 4%) while not carrying a weapon.

Efficient Warrior – Unarmed attacks cost (4, 8, 12, 16%) less stamina. And light and heavy attacks drain (.5, 1, 1.5, 2%) of an opponents stamina


Storm Bringer

Storm Bringers are said to be the offspring of mortals and winter storms. With lightning for blood and ice for skin they wreak havoc across the battlefields appearing as if from nowhere to devastate their opponents before quickly moving on leaving nothing but destruction in their wake.

Ultimate – Lightning Strike – The Monk Teleports to the target dealing (x) damage and stunning nearby enemies for 4 seconds. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Enemy. Range – 30 meters. Cost – 75 Ult.}

Charged Up – If Lightning Strike kills an enemy 75% of the Ultimate cost is refunded.

Chain Strike – Lightning forks out to strike other nearby enemies dealing (x) damage to each.

Active Abilities

1) Charged Fists – The Monks hands are engulfed in Lightning for 15 seconds. All attacks deal an additional (x) damage as lightning damage. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – self. Range – N/A. Cast – (Z) Magicka.}
Crackling Fist – Now applies Minor Breach for 5 seconds on hit.
Explosive Strikes – All light and heavy attacks made while this is active deal 20% splash damage to nearby enemies.

2) Palm of Ice – The Monk lays freezing hands on their foe, dealing (x) damage and Rooting them for 3 seconds. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Enemy. Range – 4 Meters. Cast – (Z) Magicka.}
Frostbite – Applies Minor Maim for 10 seconds and Roots for 5 seconds.
Leeching Cold – Monk is healed for 20% of the Damage done and gains Minor Expedition for 5 seconds.

3) Lightning Blood – Your blood courses with lightning granting Major Expedition and shocking enemies who strike you, dealing (x) damage each time you’re hit, can happen once every .5 seconds. Lasts 20 seconds. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Self. Cast – (Z) Magicka.}
Static shock – Enemies within 8 yards are pulled to you and Snared upon activation, reducing their movement speed by 20%, for 5 seconds.
Warding Blood – Now grants Major Ward as well.

4) Ice Form – The Monk hardens their skin granting Major Resolve and Minor Vitality. Lasts 15 seconds. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Self. Cast – (Z) Magicka.}

Crystalline Ice – The Monk reflects the next spell cast against them back to the attacker.
Jagged Ice – The ice covering the Monks body is sharp. Applies Bleed to enemies who strike the Monk while effect is active, dealing (x) damage over 3 seconds.

5) ¬Tornado Strike – The Monk lashes out at all enemies around them, pulling enemies to them and dealing (x) damage. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Enemy. Range – 12 Meters. Cast – (Z) Magicka.}

Mile Wide – Increases the radius to 18 meters.

Whirling Dervish – Grants the Monk Major Evasion and Minor Force for 2 seconds, increasing dodge by 20% and crit damage by 8%.

6) Snow Clone – The Monk summons a snow clone at their location that redirects one harmful spell to itself, causing it to die. When killed it explodes into icy fragments that deal (x) damage to all nearby enemies. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Self/Area. AoE – 12 Meters. Cast – (Z) Magicka.}

Snow Troll – Snow clone now can absorb up to 2 non fire spells, each spell absorbed causes the death explosion to increase in damage and area by (15%), a fire spell will instantly kill the snow clone, releasing any pent up spell damage.
Frost Spider – The Monk summons a frost spider that webs nearby enemies immobilizing them for 4 seconds.

Passive Abilities

Child of the Winter Storm – Increases Cold and Lightning damage by (1, 3, 5, 7%) while an Elemental Monk ability is slotted.

Lightning Rod – Reduces Lightning damage done to you by (1, 2, 3, 4%) for each Elemental Monk ability Slotted. And you gain (1, 2, 3, 4) ultimate whenever you’re hit by or use lightning based abilities while an Elemental Monk ability is slotted. This effect can only happen once every 5 seconds.

Shatterer – Your attacks have a (1, 2, 3, 4%) increased spell critical chance while an Elemental Monk ability is slotted.

Unforgiving Storm – Attacks against opponents below (10, 13, 17, 20%) HP apply Minor Breach while an Elemental Monk Ability is slotted.



Weapon Master

Weapon Masters are, of course, masters of weaponry and specifically weapon based fighting styles designed to unbalance their foes granting the monk ample time and opportunity to finish them off. Utilizing their speed and impressive reflexes Monks who practice this style of fighting can dodge and block their foes attacks tiring them out before delivering the killing blow.

Ultimate

Spirit Weapon – The Monk summons a spirit Weapon to aide them. The weapon copies the Monks’ attacks dealing 25% damage and will attack whichever enemy the Monk is attacking. Lasts 10 seconds. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Monks Target. Range – N/A Meters. Cost – (150) Ultimate.}
Vengeful Spirit –.While the Spirit Weapon is active the Monk gains Minor Brutality and Minor Savagery
Guardian Spirit – While the Spirit Weapon is active the Monk gains Minor Protection, Minor Vitality, and Minor Evasion.

Active Abilities
1) Thrust – The Monk thrusts forward with their weapon dealing (x) damage and cutting their opponent, causing them to Bleed for 50% of the damage each second for 2 seconds. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Enemy. Range – 5 Meters. Cast – (Z) Stamina.}

Go for the Head – The Monk Aims his/her thrust at their opponents head, stunning them for 1 second.
Double Thrust¬ – The Monk thrusts a second time dealing an additional (x) damage.

2) Nimble Defender – The Monk uses their natural agility to gain Major Evasion. Lasts 12 seconds. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Self. Cast – (Z) Stamina.}

Like the Wind – Now grants also Minor Expedition
Nimble Sword – Now also deals (x) damage per second to nearby enemies.

3) Crippling Strike – The Monk strikes at their opponents’ weak points, dealing (x) damage and applying Minor Slow for 4 seconds. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Enemy. Range – 5 Meters. Cast – (Z) Stamina.}

Go for the Knee – The monks blow comes down harder on his opponents’ limbs. Now roots target for 1 second and applies Major Slow.
Maiming Strike – Now also Applies Major Maim and Minor Fracture.

4) Whole Body – The Monk channels their inner strength to rapidly regenerate (y) health per .5 seconds for 3 seconds. While channeling they have Major Fortitude, Major Protection, Major Ward, and purify their bodies of any poisons and diseases. Must remain still to channel, movement or taking any action will cancel the channel early. {Cast Time – Instant, Channel time 3 seconds. Target – Self. Cast – (Z) Magicka.}

Battle Ready – When the Monk is finished Channeling they gain Minor Brutality for 6 seconds and Empower.
Tranquil Soul – No Longer has a channel time, instead becomes a toggle ability with a 1 second cast time that lasts until cancelled. {Healing is reduced by 50% and only reduces poison damage by 50% instead of purging it.}

5) Double Strike – The Monk delivers a devastating two part attack to his opponents gut and head. Deals (x) damage. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Enemy. Range – 5 Meters. Cast – (Z) Stamina.}

Crescent Strike – The Monk now knocks their opponent down for 2 seconds .
Double Moon Strike – Now applies Major Defile on their target, reducing healing received by 30% for 10 seconds.


6) Wolf Strike – The Monk lashes out in a vicious strike to their opponents’ throat. Silences the target for 2 seconds and deals (x) damage. {Cast Time – Instant. Target – Enemy. Range – 5 Meters. Cast – (Z) Stamina.}


Wolf Heart – The Monk now receives Minor Savagery and Minor Berserk for 4 seconds after using Wolf Strike.
Dire Wolf – The Monks strike is even more vicious, now applies Minor Mangle and Minor Maim.


Passive Skills

Weapon Specialist – Increases damage done while wielding a weapon by (1, 2, 3, 4%)

Reactive Strikes – The Monk lashes out dealing (147, 198, 262, 315) damage each time they are hit. Effect can only happen once every 4 seconds. {Numbers are just to show it is small damage that scales up a little.}

Sweeping Strikes - The Monks Weapons Master attacks now deal (4, 8, 12, 16%) of the initial damage to enemies near the Monks Target.

Close for the Kill – Attacks against Vulnerable Targets (Slowed, Knocked Down, etc..) deal (1, 2, 3, 4%) more damage while a Weapon Monk ability is slotted.