Are there any viable monk builds apart from the standard / top 4?

[insaneogeddon]

The standard:

Human Qigong Martial Artist Mantis Style Monk
B Mantis Style, 1 Weapon Focus, B1 Dodge, B2 Deflect Arrows, 3 Ability Focus (stunning), 5 Specialization ..

Oread Qigong Tetori
Bonus: 1.Improved Grapple, 2 Stunning Pin, 6 Greater Grapple, 10 Pinning Knockout, 14 Choke Hold, 18 Neckbreaker.
1. Snapping Turtle Style, 3. Snapping Turtle Clutch, 5. Snapping Tutle Shell, 7. Weapon Focus, 9. Rapid Grappler, 11. Pinning Rend
B. Barkskin (7th), Whirlwind attack (11th), Abundant step (15th), ? (20th)

Zen Archer Monk (they build themselves)

A crit fishing Mater of Many Styles/Sacred Mountain/Hungry Ghost with a temple sword for infinite ki and healing with a high AC. Maybe some dragon, overrun and panther style (nothing like booting people 10ft when they attack you for moving past)

Is there any other monk build easily played 1 to 20th that pulls its weight?

[master_marshmallow]

What books are allowed?

[GM Arkwright]

Well...

Halfling Qigong Sensei Ki Mystic Monk
Helpful trait, Fools for Friends (If allowed)
b Combat Reflexes, 1 Bodyguard, then on- blundering defense? cran

Idea is a for a rather nice party-support machine. You can buff your allies with +4 Attack/AC (or more, depending on traits). You have Inspire Courage. You'll have a high Wisdom, which means maxed out on extremely useful skills (Perception, Sense Motive). You have wis-to-attack-rolls meaning you don't need to worry much about Strength and can max Wis, leading to a good AC. Ki Mystic lets you provide even more buffs and monk abilities (Qinggong abilities!) to your party members.

Definitely tapers off in the later levels, but can be a beast early on.

[pauljathome]

insaneogeddon wrote:

Is there any other monk build easily played 1 to 20th that pulls its weight?

Kind of depends on what you mean by "pulls its weight".

If you mean "contributes its share to the game in all but the most twinked out groups" then yes, there are a great many. My Champion of Irori certainly manages quite well (admittedly he is only level 10 right now).

But if, as I suspect, you mean "can one shot most encounters of CR +2 or less" then I have no clue. That isn't the game I play

[Imbicatus]

Pure monk only or is a small dip allowed?

[The Shaman]

I still think psychic fist and champion of irori monks are quite legit, but the first depends on whether your DM allows psionics, and the second on having good starting stats.

[Imbicatus]

I don't really think Champion of Irori as a monk, it's a paladin who punches people.

[Banh Xeo]

My build (ki-centric monk) is perfectly viable.

[The Shaman]

I consider it a monk build because it fits the theme and requires monk levels, but yes, it is not a typical monk. Then again, I didn´t expect monks to be that good with longbows before the Zen archer came along :P .

[Gauthok]

I like the Qinggong Sohei. If you dip 3 levels of Weapon Master Fighter, you can get katana as a flurry-able weapon. Then pick up a blade of the sword-saint, and use Dragon Ferocity and Medusa's Wrath to get a ton of attacks at highest base with STRx1.5 damage.

Pick up Mounted Skirmisher as a Sohei bonus feat, and get a pearl of power 3 to let your caster give you a phantom steed every day. Now you'll be able to move up to 100' and full attack, even in dungeons.

Every melee monk likes Eldritch Heritage: Orc combined with Optimistic Gambler Trait. Eventually pick up Quicken SLA. You'll need to not dump CHA too much for this one though, and buy a CHA enhancing item. I think it's worth it for the +6 inherent bonus to STR and +half level to attack and damage though.

[Kazumetsa Raijin]

insaneogeddon wrote:

The standard:

Human Qigong Martial Artist Mantis Style Monk
B Mantis Style, 1 Weapon Focus, B1 Dodge, B2 Deflect Arrows, 3 Ability Focus (stunning), 5 Specialization ..

Oread Qigong Tetori
Bonus: 1.Improved Grapple, 2 Stunning Pin, 6 Greater Grapple, 10 Pinning Knockout, 14 Choke Hold, 18 Neckbreaker.
1. Snapping Turtle Style, 3. Snapping Turtle Clutch, 5. Snapping Tutle Shell, 7. Weapon Focus, 9. Rapid Grappler, 11. Pinning Rend
B. Barkskin (7th), Whirlwind attack (11th), Abundant step (15th), ? (20th)

Zen Archer Monk (they build themselves)

A crit fishing Mater of Many Styles/Sacred Mountain/Hungry Ghost with a temple sword for infinite ki and healing with a high AC. Maybe some dragon, overrun and panther style (nothing like booting people 10ft when they attack you for moving past)

Is there any other monk build easily played 1 to 20th that pulls its weight?

FEATS -> Class Abilities -> Bonus Feat(format) 

LvL 1 Weapon Finesse -> IUS, FoB, Redirection -> Combat Reflexes
LvL 2 xxxx -> Evasion -> Unbalancing Counter
LvL 3 Punishing Kick -> Improved Unarmed Strike(Fighter) -> Snake Style
LvL 4 xxxx -> Aura, Channel Positive Energy 1d6, Domains, Orisons(Cleric) -> xxxx
LvL 5 Stunning Fist -> Arcane Bond, Arcane School, Cantrips, Scribe Scroll(Wizard) -> xxxx
LvL 6 xxxx -> Flowing Dodge, maneuver Training, Still Mind -> xxxx
LvL 7 Snake Sidewind -> Ki Pool(Magic), Barkskin -> xxxx 
LvL 8 xxxx -> Elusive Target(Basic), Ki Stand -> xxxx 
LvL 9 Snake Fang -> xxxx -> Improved Trip 
LvL 10 xxxx -> Ki Pool(Cold Iron/Silver), Power Attack -> xxxx 
LvL 11 Dimensional Agility -> xxxx -> xxxx 
LvL 12 xxxx -> Improved Evasion -> xxxx 
LvL 13 Dimensional Assault -> Ki Pool(Lawful) -> Improved Reposition
LvL 14 xxxx -> Elusive Target(Advanced) -> xxxx 
LvL 15 Dimensional Dervish -> Abundant Step -> xxxx 
LvL 16 xxxx -> Diamond Soul -> xxxx 
LvL 17 Dimensional Savant -> xxxx -> Ki Throw
LvL 18 xxxx -> Volley -> xxxx 
LvL 19 Outflank -> Ki Pool(Adamantite) -> xxxx 
LvL 20 xxxx -> Diamond Body, Quivering Palm -> xxxx 

Boom. If you have any questions, let me know. Ranged damage won't be a thing for you, but you're guaranteed to have Someone in the group that can cover that. If not, just grapple something.
The fun part, is that you'll give your DM a headache with all of the Saves he'll have to be making for his creatures : P
With this, you can get up to 17 attacks per round. 17 attacks that you can stun, blind, deafen, stagger, sicken, daze, trip, disarm, prone, and flat out insta-kill with. They always say the best offense is a good defense... well here you go : P Edit: You've got Mage Armor and Shield to cast on yourself whenever, barkskin, Elusive Target, Snake Sidewind/Style, ki points, Improved Evasion, mirror image(wand) etc. Keep in mind this whole build is centered around Dex, High AC, Combat Reflexes, and Snake Fang.

That cleric level can be a druid level instead. Imbicatus pointed out that Urban Druid would help more than a level in Cleric. It still gets the Charm domain, and gets access to strong jaw later(via wand).
You also have the option of choosing when you get that Druid level(which btw gives you access to using a wand of strong jaw! or wand of any other druid spell!) later... at level 10 when you can afford a wand for strong jaw.

[Imbicatus]

Catfolk Nimble Guardian is very good as a pure monk. They can wildshape into a tiger form to have great size based boosts to unarmed strike damage and pounce without needing druid levels.

[XMorsX]

Also Sohei.

And I am sute that Brother of the seal makes for s tronger monk than vanilla monk. Especially if allowed to combine with maneuver master.

[Cazin]

insaneogeddon wrote:

Is there any other monk build easily played 1 to 20th that pulls its weight?

I am currently considering starting a hungry ghost/quiggong monk with a 1 level dip in Bard/Dervish of Dawn archetype and a 1 level dip in Cleric of Seranrae/separatist archetype with the travel domain.

The Bard dip lets me get the feat dervish dancer for free (Use Dex in place of strength for both to hit and damage with a scimitar). I stat dump strength in favor of dexterity.

The Cleric level gives me scimitar as my god's favored weapon and +10 base speed. I take the feat Crusader's flurry. This lets me flurry with my god's favored weapon.

Ta Dah! I am a level 3 character with strength 8 and dexterity 19 who uses dex for melee combat and AC. My weapon gives a crit on 18-20, I ki leach and spend those tasty ki points on extra attacks, barkskin and scorching rays (from the Quinggong archetype).

Draw backs:
1. I am at a net -2 BAB from level dips.
2. I have little to no range weapon ability, but I have high mobility due to the travel domain and monkish ways.
3. It is a bit of a challenge to roll play a hungry ghost monk of a good god, but hey, internal conflict makes for some of the best roll playing.