Pathfinder: Kingmaker

[Dharus]

Thing is, monks are AC beasts too. In MMOs you tend to have "dodge tanks" which have no mitigation and then "mitigation tanks" which get hit a lot but mitigate most of the damage away. In D&D every tank is a dodge tank. Armor doesn't actually mitigate. Monks get the same dodge advantage while naked that fighters get while wearing full plate, and that's the only benefit full plate gives you. You can load Valerie up with AC but you can do the same thing on a monk just by not putting armor on him. (Give him +protection gear, still. And a +WIS hat is more AC for a monk.)

Fighters should really get some DR. It really isn't clear what their advantage is supposed to be.

Another nice thing with monks is that you can pick up "Crane Style" early on, which means fighting defensively is -2 to-hit instead of -4. A little better odds of still dealing damage while in defensive stance.

They do get DR.  It depends on the DnD system and I'm not as familiar with Pathfinder but I know if you use certain plate it gives DR.  Sometimes shield feats gave additional DR.  Monks are still very viable too it just a matter of preference.  I've always played Fighters as gadget monkeys.  They are all about items and feats.  Sometimes I dabble with use magic device with them or splash 2 rogue levels.  However, I think the stalward defender prestige class would also work.

In the end its all about your personal choice.