Is there a way to use Flurry of Blows while armored?

Question

Just like the title says. Monks can't use Flurry of Blows unless unarmored. Is there a way around this? Feat, some other class that can use Flurry of Blows but isn't subject to the same restriction?

Answer 1

“Flurry of Blows”

The Shou disciple prestige class from Unapproachable East allows flurry of blows to be used in light armor. Medium or heavy armor, or using a shield, still interferes with it. The Shou disciple also gains the ability to flurry with any light melee weapon, rather than only with monk weapons, though this isn’t particularly impressive.

“Flurry”

The exotic weapon master prestige class from Complete Warrior offers a “flurry of strikes” option. This only adds a single attack, and always applies a −2 penalty (i.e. it is equivalent to a 1st-level monk’s flurry of blows), but it has no armor restrictions. It must be used with an exotic double weapon or with a spiked chain.

The Defenders of the Faith version of the sacred fist prestige class gets a “flurry attack” feature that allows an extra attack for a −2 penalty, with no other requirements, but Defenders of the Faith is a 3.0e book and the 3.5e version of the sacred fist, in Complete Divine, does not offer this ability.

The tribal protector prestige class from Sword and Fist gets a “wild fighting” feature that trades a −2 attack penalty for an extra attack, with no other requirements. Mentioned because it is explicitly “[s]imilar to a monk attacking with a flurry of blows,” which of course is an accurate description.

Other ways to get more attacks

There are many ways to get more attacks. The haste spell, and the related speed special weapon property, are the most famous examples. The swiftblade prestige class deserves special mention just for doing so much more with haste.

Not quite the same thing, but it’d be remiss to leave Two-Weapon Fighting et al. out here, since those also can give more attacks for a −2 penalty on all attacks. Having to use two separate weapons, having to use one-handed and light weapons, having to take numerous feats, are all significant drawbacks, however.

The whirling frenzy rage variant is another, easy source of an extra attack, available to anyone who dips barbarian—which is already a good idea thanks to Complete Champion’s lion spirit totem option, which gives pounce.

Finally, worth mentioning is the Snap Kick feat from Tome of Battle: with this, you take a −2 penalty on attacks to make an extra unarmed strike, but what’s special about is—unlike almost all other options—you can use it any time you would make one or more attacks. All the other options in this answer require a full-attack, which is very limiting since you cannot move, and also cannot use some combat features that require a standard action (such as the strike maneuvers from the same Tome of Battle).

Attempting to list every single way to get extra attacks seems beyond the scope of the question.