Building a Monk:

[Generic_PC]

Or, at least, a monk-ish niche. And I want it to be optimized. Heres what I've got so far:

Stats of 18/18/15/11/8/8, not yet assigned. A very interesting set of stats, I thought.

Changeling is allowed.
Unarmed Swordsage is allowed.
I want to take Warshaper.
I do not want to take Fist of the Forest.

Looking at these, I wouldn't mind focusing on being unhittable, though that is obviously not a requirement. Focusing on Setting Sun maneuvers (Maybe SSN?) seems like it would be a good idea. However, I have little practical experience building monks, so I'd love some help. (Thus, why I post the topic.)

[Solo]

Monk2/Swordsage X?

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Battle dancer/hexblade/pally of freedom/mystic wanderer?

[Akahi]

hexblade requires non-good alingment, pally of freedom requires good, nice charisma synergy though.

I would go with monk 2/unarmed swordsage X.... and then?? I don't know, probably paladin 2 with serenity (yes, the build up there is more optimized, I know)... or proably mix some crusader or warblade, go to master of nine....
Anyway, get Superior Unarmed Strike. It's awesome.

[lans]

Monk2/Conjurer4/enlightened fist x/shou disciple1
Take the immediate action teleport, Decisive Strike, Disciple for flurry, cast greater mighty wallop on fists, and the teleport hit feat from complete warrior

[rubberduck]

best monk build always have as few monk levels as possible^^

i say:

monk2/psiwarrior16/warshaper2
using talshatora and monatic training (psiwarrior)

[SorO_Lost]

How about a Overwhelming Attack Monk 1 / Psychic Fighter 2 / Lion Totem Barbarian 1 / Fist of the Forest 3 / Shiba Protector 1 / Unarmed Swordsage +12 (or PrC)?

Feats
Flaw Bonuses: Iron Will (for sb) & Great Fortitude (for fof)
Human?: Improved Natural Attack
1st: Alertness (for sb)
Monk Bonus: Improved Unarmed Attack
Monk Bonus: Power Attack (for fof)
Fighter Bonus: Combat Expertise (sb)
Fighter Bonus: Two Weapon Fighting
3rd: Battle Jump (for pwnage)
6th: Superior Unarmed Strike
Swrodsage Bonus: Weapon Focus(unarmed strike)
9th: Snap Kick
12th: Improved Two Weapon Fighting
15th: Human ? Any : Improved Natural Attack.
18th: Greater Two Weapon Fighting

Overwhelming Attack Monk
Free Power Attack

Psychic Fighter
You can implant up to two Ectoplasmic Fists (magic of eberron?) if your DM lets you stack them to increase your size twice for your unarmed damage.

Lion Totem Barbarian
Pounce, also +10 to land speed. Useful for the jump checks with some Tiger Claw strikes.

Fist of the Forest
OP likes it, I like it. Con to AC, rage like effect, +2 to unarmed damage's die size.

Shiba Protector
Wisdom to attack and damage. What's not to love?

Unarmed Swordsage
Not even a shapechanged wizard can keep up with a ToBer in melee.

[Havok4]

The OP said that he did not want to take fist of the forest.

[Solo]

The OP is being given what he needs, not what he wants 

[Absolon]

I do not want to take Fist of the Forest.

Fist of the Forest
OP likes it, I like it.

SorO, I think you're a little confused there.  

Somebody beat me to a PsyWar build with Tashatora already, but if you go the arcane path for Polymorph, why not do a transmuter instead of a conjurer?  More Polymorphs per day is win win win, and Greater Mighty Wallop is a transmutation spell as well.

[archangel.arcanis]

I personally like Shadow Sun Ninja and would do monk 2 SS 3 then SSN 10. Maybe mix in something to heal/mitigate the ability damage from the 10th level ability and level drain everything to death.

[Havok4]

I personally like Shadow Sun Ninja and would do monk 2 SS 3 then SSN 10. Maybe mix in something to heal/mitigate the ability damage from the 10th level ability and level drain everything to death.

One level of binder?

[Solo]

Iron! Heart! Surge!

[archangel.arcanis]

I personally like Shadow Sun Ninja and would do monk 2 SS 3 then SSN 10. Maybe mix in something to heal/mitigate the ability damage from the 10th level ability and level drain everything to death.

One level of binder?

I recall from the Hellfire warlock threads there is another one too, i think Incarnum. One would heal while the other would prevent damage. Perhaps both just to keep from dieing and coming back as an evil NPC that happens if you use it a bit too much.

[Generic_PC]

Haha. FotF might be the best monk PrC ever, but I refuse to use it for this character.

Shadow Sun Ninja, on the other hand, wouldn't be remiss at all.

Monk 2/Unarmed Swordsage 4/Warshaper 4/SSN10?

The level of binder gets me fast healing of ability damage. The Strongheart Vest from Incarnum prevents 1 ability damage for each occurance of Ability damage.

[archangel.arcanis]

I would go with Monk 2/ SS 3/ Binder 1/SSN 10/Warshaper 4 though you would probably need to rearrange that some as binder won't be 'needed' until after SSN 10.

The binder would allow you to nuke it hard, getting down to 1 con, and heal back up before the next fight.

[SorO_Lost]

SorO, I think you're a little confused there.  

Uhh, "not" has a racial hide bonus?

[Havok4]

SorO, I think you're a little confused there.  

Uhh, "not" has a racial hide bonus?

That explains a great deal.

[SorO_Lost]

SorO, I think you're a little confused there.  

Uhh, "not" has a racial hide bonus?

That explains a great deal.

It's true. Ask any kid!

[Amechra]

I completely support having at least 1 level in Tattooed Monk. It's great for having a wise monk, especially since one of its tattoos gives an enhancement bonus to Wisdom for class level rounds a day.

The fun part is that it never specifies that only tattoos from the class modify the bonuses and such. So get 20 psionic tattoos, and revel in the DR 2+2(# of tattoos-1)/Magic one tattoo gives you.