I'm not going to get into too much detail on my personal character, but I'm looking at suggestions for feat and spell selections for a monk 4(master of many styles) / Dragon disciple
For feats, I'm thinking Dragon Style path and pick up elemental fist as well as Shaiten style (Acid damage) - any thoughts on stuff that'll scale well with more levels of dragon disciple?
As for spells, I originally took shield as my first level spell but I'm finding I have a lot of spells for day and will be getting Mage armor soon. Perhaps the mage armor / shield combo is a little overkill? Are there any other spells that can be very useful to a monk/Dragon, other than shield? Preferably something that is not necassarily a buff, although I wouldn't object to a more utility spell...
4 levels of monk for the ki pool. Archtype is monk of many styles - so giving up flurry for being able to combine multiple styles - considering the claws and bite of dragon disciple, this seems like a good idea.
I'm also taking one level of sorcerer for the casting req. I have one less spell known per level (which is a tough disadvantage, but worth the pain imo) so I tend to have a lot more spell slots then I know what to do with.
I like mage armor a lot better for a sorceror.
It lasts much longer
It can be cast on NPC's, animal companions, etc.
It can be cast on the fighter to defend vs. incorporeal
Other spells might include enlarge person, acid arrow, vanish, expeditious retreat.
I've seen this type of build be pretty popular lately. There's a lot of good info in this thread. You said you have one less spell per level, does that mean you are taking Crossblooded: Empyreal/Draconic for your casting Req as to be able to use Wisdom as your casting stat? That's not a bad way to go.
The Ki Pool isn't as good as a second level of Sorcerer to me, because you only get the ability to increase your speed a little or give yourself a +4 to AC for one round. If the language of the Ki pool allowed you to get an extra attack when full attacking, and not flurrying, I would definitely change my mind about that. Getting earlier access to spells will be far more useful than having those things.
As for spells, Mage Armor is good, Enlarge person is good too, as it increases your damage by about 2 per hit (maybe 3-4 with dragon style) and it increases your reach as well, which is very nice. When you get a 2nd level spell, I like Alter Self for a +2 size bonus to Str, and the claw/claw/bite routine if you pick a Troglodyte (which I like to reflavor to look more like a dragon man).
If you go acid for your Dragon bloodline, see if your GM will let you take Nauseating Bite from the Monster feats, a very fine option.
For other information, check out my guide
I considered a second level of sorc, and you're right except you missed one thing - level 4 of monk also gives me a +1 to AC. That makes it a lot closer of a decision imo. That and the better saves. Ki pool can still be useful for the move ability and +4 to AC when the situation calls for it - for a couple of rounds a day I can bump my AC up to 26-27 all told that way, or even go on to fight defensively if necessary (scary thought really.) It sucks that Ki pool wont be scaling, but since Wis is my casting stat, I'll be pumping it up with gear along with strength.
I'm actually thinking silent image for my second 1st level spell (and ghost sounds for the cantrip I'd get with it) - it's a bit more utility, but mage armor is already a prep round that I don't always get to as it is, and my levels in monk have damage dealing covered so I don't see a point in an attack spell. We have an abundance of casters for field control and buffing already, so I think a little utility would be good for the high perception character who sometimes needs to think fast.
For second level spells (when I get them) I'm thinking either acid arrow or elemental touch. An additional d6+1 acid damage a round would be nice, or 2d4+2 ranged touch attack... Acid arrow scales slower but gives me a ranged attack, whereas Elemental touch sickens creatures, which is useful if I'm in melee with them. hrmm.
Mage armor lasts for an hour. It's not a prep round, it's what you do when you wake up, like brushing your teeth.
Yes, it's a bit of a drag at first level, but with magical knack and dragon disciple, you'll quickly get to the point where it lasts all day.