Trying to break flurry of blows lately...

[Empirate]

Answered (partly) in no particular order:

Since I already take weapon finesse, my Dex qualifies me for TWF, brings my AC up, and gives me my attack bonus. I don't really care about strength in this regard. I think dextrous fighters are way better than strong fighters any day of the week.

What does MAD stand for, something about needing more than one attribute?

Exactly. MAD = Multiple Ability Dependency. Also, Dex Fighters really don't convince me, as you still need some Str. Hitting things for negligible damage, paired with a high AC, will make opponents avoid attacking you at all: you're the least threatening PC damage-wise, while still being hard to hit. Your attack bonus will still never outstrip the Barbarian, who will still do way more damage than you. So even though you're a melee guy, you're neither dealing damage nor tanking (because you're avoided for you high AC and little threat generation). You can't even do battlefield control with low Str, as Trip requires high Str, Stand Still requires high damage, and so on. Pure Dex isn't the right route for Monks IMO.

What book is Fist of the Forest from?
I had heard of shou disciple in another thread,
it seems really good.

Fist of the Forest is from Complete Champion. It introduces a completely different flavor into the character, as you're required to live on the rough in the wilderness to gain most of its benefits. Among other things, it adds Con to AC.
Shou Disciple is very good. A Monk/Fighter/Shou Disciple who's not married to his unarmed fighting style can kick some decent ass. Shou Disciple is in Unapproachable East.

I looked into Duelist, but I'm pretty sure that doesn't work, since an unarmed strike isn't considered a piercing weapon (lol, first glance I got so excited)

Duelist is one of the crappiest classes ever written, as it forces you into the least powerful fighting style (one-handed light weapon, nothing in the other hand) and requires lots of levels to give at least a mediocre payoff. It can be salvaged with a mostly Monk entry plus Carmendine Monk (which replaces Wis with Int for Monk specialty stuff) and Versatile Unarmed Strike (which lets you do crushing, piercing, or slashing damage with your UAS, as required). Also, look out for the Einhander tactical feat, which allows you some bennies when using this style, most notably a higher AC bonus when fighting defensively or using Combat Expertise. Still, you'll lose out on lots of AC and Unarmed damage progression as well as other Monk class features.

What other classes offer a bonus to AC from other attributes?
I know Deepwarden does, but that's dwarf only.

Fist of the Forest adds Con to AC when unarmored. Goes nicely with Deepwarden, actually... and Dwarves are not bad Monks anyway!

You mentioned Intuitive Attack? Is that the feat where you add your wisdom bonus to attack instead of strength? What book is that out of?

Precisely. I believe it's in some Dragon magazine, although I'm not sure about that. Talk to your DM, see if he will let that fly regardless of the source.

 

[Shin Okada]

In my experience, the top-two strongest Monk build is Enlightened Fist and Sacred Fist.

Enlightened Fist is a prestige class in complete arcane, combining mage and monk abilities.

Cast Wraithstrike (Swift Action) to make all of your melee attacks into touch attacks. And use Arcane Strike (Free Action) at the same time to add spell-slot-level d4 damages for each attacks. And of course use Fist of Energy (Free Action) and Arcane Fist (Free Action) class features. This combo can deal really a good amount of damages. Also, various Sor/Wiz defensive spells will protect your PC without wearing armor.

You will burn up your spell slots really fast. So, be a Sorcerer rather than to be a Wizard. Then take Ascetic Mage feat in Complete Adventurer.

Sacrid Fist is a Cleric/Monk prestige class in Complete Divine. This prestige class has full BAB progression. And cleric spells and divine feats are good, of course.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Don't even think about playing a monk with bad rolls (or a single AWESOME roll and the rest crap) or low point buy, You want at least a 14 in 4 ability scores. Getting a 16 in str and wis being ideal.

The single most important thing a monk can do is pick up Improved Natural Attack (unarmed strike) at level 6. It almost singlehandedly makes the monk on par with Fighter for damage (not a lofty goal, but it's better than before). And monks count their strikes as natural weapons, so you DO qualify.

Second, realize that monks need buff spells. A LOT of buff spells. Potions are expensive, it's best to have a spellcaster in the party for this. If he's unwilling, buy him wands to use on you. If you don't have one at all, you might consider multiclassing into an arcanist or cleric yourself and going into Enlightened Fist or Sacred Fist to provide your own buffs. Not the most optimal build, but it makes life easier.

Monks also need to be able to get a full attack, and preferably without having to stand still to do it. Look at Magic Item Compendium for anything that gives you swift/immediate action movement, like Boots of Sidestepping or Chronocharm of the Horizon Walker. This could also go the other way, of course: You started in melee, enemy's still not dead after the flurry, and realizing you're squishy, you want to tumble the F outta there.

 

[Popertop]

Thanks for all the replies, you guys have been a tremendous help.

Oh wow, I didn't ever notice Sacred Fist got full BAB, I need to take another look at that class!

Yeah, the very first character I rolled up was a Dwarf Monk, and he did okay except he didn't hit much, and the campaign died. It just doesn't make a ton of sense for there to be dwarf monks anyways... regardless, they are too sick.
You can go Dwarf Paragon/Fighter/Deepwarden/Monk, with way too much CON for any one person to have.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Depending on which sourcebooks you use (see my sig), you have a variety of choices:

• FoB with a Reach weapon can be fun, esp. since your foe may not be able to counterstrike.
  
• Multiclassing to get access to a way to increase your size will boost your damage.
  
• Certain monk base class variants (OA, FR, others) have different multiclassing restrictions- if any- which may save you the cost of a feat like Ascetic Mage.
  
• Shiba Protector PrCl grants a Wis bonus to att & damage at 1st level
  
• Shou Disciple is an armored monk PrCl that ultimately lets you flurry with any weapon.

A word about armed monks:

While it is true that Monk unarmed strike damage can keep pace with manufactured weapons, a weapon can help you fight foes you don't want to touch with your bare skin or otherwise need to avoid striking. Plus, there are all kinds of nifty things you can do to enhance a weapon that- barring adding a feat like Hands as Weapons (Arcana Unearthed/Arcana Evolved)- there is no way to do in most 3.X campaigns.

 

[parinho7]

Is there a class that gives a bonus to AC from Charisma?

Gemini Dancer
http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Gemini_Dancer_(3.5e_Class))

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Gemini Dancer
Gemini Dancer (3.5e Class) - D&D Wiki)

Also, the Gladiator variant from my Fighter houserules.

The most "official" examples I can think of are the Battledancer (Dragon magazine/Compendium) and the Monk/Sorcerer multiclass feat in C.Adventurer, which made monk AC based off of charisma instead of wisdom.

 

[Popertop]

Yeah that Monk/Sorcerer feat is the one I was thinking of. So sick, but I just don't ever get around to playing arcane casters, I dunno I just find divine casting more enjoyable, and it's hard to find a good cleric. lol

I'm definitely putting in a level of shiba protector, can't believe I never looked at all these classes.

I agree about the armed monk, I just fell upon Weapon Master again, and the possibilities are reeling in my mind.

What kind of classes offer damage reduction for the monk?

 

[Dandu]

Fist of the Forest adds Con to AC when unarmored. Goes nicely with Deepwarden, actually... and Dwarves are not bad Monks anyway!

When you're in trouble who do you call?
Who do you need when you're in a brawl?
Who is the drunkest dwarf of all?
Fistbeard Beardfist, of course!

Fists of iron! Abs of stone!
Balls of brass and beard of roan!
Fistbeard! Beardfist! Fistbeard Beardfist!

When orcs are invading who do you find?
When tentacled monsters attack your mind?
When elves are being snobby and unkind?
Fistbeard Beardfist, of course!

Knuckles like steel! Ale that's blessed!
Fist of beard and beard of fist!
Fistbeard! Beardfist! Fistbeard Beardfist!

Plus, there are all kinds of nifty things you can do to enhance a weapon that- barring adding a feat like Hands as Weapons (Arcana Unearthed/Arcana Evolved)- there is no way to do in most 3.X campaigns.

Kensai prestige class (C. War)

Amulet of Natural Weapons (Savage Species)

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Kensai prestige class (C. War)

Amulet of Natural Weapons (Savage Species)

Both of those are actually in my database- my quoted post omitted the word "almost." Thanks for the catch!