Even though I posted earlier in the thread, I don't like to get too involved in these kinds of debates. Generally I like to read what other people, whom I perceive as very reputable, think.
MonkeyArcher posted this in the other forums:
Quote:With all things equal, fire wind and earth provide nearly identical dps.
For example, a monk with decent gear would average about 100 damage per swing (50 base +25 effects +25 strikes/crits etc..) and would do 100% mainhand + 80% offhand damage per swing = 180 total.
Wind stance gives 10% more mainhand strikes for +110 mainhand + 80 offhand damage = 190/180 = 5.5% increased dps
Earth stance would give about 5 extra crit damage per hit on average (50 base damage * 2 crits / 20 swings) for 105 mainhand + 85 offhand = 190/180 = 5.5% increased dps
Fire stance would give about 2 damage from strength +3-4 damage per hit from extra ki strikes (200 ki per minute = 40 extra strikes @ approximately 15-20 average damage per strike) for roughly 5-6% increased dps.
The biggest factor is actually whether you miss or not. +2 to hit = 10% more dps, so in the most basic terms, if you hit on a 2+ in all 3 stances, then it really doesn't matter which one you use. If you don't hit on a 2+ then use fire (or wind for finesse)
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?p=4402734#post4402734So it seems they're pretty much equal. It looks like a lot depends on your toon's role an what you feel comfortable with.
I'm going to TR my WF Monk Arkat and was going to make him a Half-Orc that used Fire stance. From reading MonkeyArcher's post, I changed my mind and, instead, will make him a Half-Orc Air stance Monk. I just feel more "comfortable" with Air stance and I can make up for the CON loss easier than I can make up for the WIS loss. I will make up the +1 Ki loss by using the Tier 3 level 16 Frozen Tunic crafted with Deathward.