Best Gestalt Combos?

[wolfpunk]

Maybe it isn't super powerful, but I am going to go with a Half-giant Paladin8/Cavalier 3//Cleric 12. I intend on focusing on mounted combat.

Considering on taking the varient favored enemy paladin from UA.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Aye, and the Pal/Sor is still mostly all there and still dangerous when the Greater Dispel bomb is dropped. The Clr/Sor who was approximating it with Divine Power much less so.

That is what counter spelling is for...

 

[RigaMortus2]

THOSE ARE ALMOST ALL THE SAME ACTION. You get one Swift (aka quickened) action, one Standard action, and you can't use your Move action to cast any spell I know. (C'mon, someone gimmie a move-action spell!)

Quickened Spell (any) + Arcane Fusion + Celerity + Arcane Fusion = 8 spells in one round.

Cast a Quickened spell of your choice (doesn't matter how), use Arcane Fusion to cast a 1st-level spell and a 4th-level spell, declare the end of your turn. Before anyone else can act (or wait to interrupt another spellcaster), cast Celerity to gain another Standard Action, which you then use to repeat Arcane Fusion.

Celerity using your next round's swift action doesn't make any difference since you skip your next turn due to the dazed effect anyways. It is one heck of a Sorcerer nuke.

And that is just what a single classes Sorcerer can do...

Time stop isn't a reliable tactic until 17th level, and even then, the things you can do with it are limited. Schism is nice, and will actually net you a manifesting action (at -6 levels), but is obviously limited to Psions.

I am responding to the OP, who never mentioned levels, stats or any other requirement for the "best gestalt character". So what if Time Stop isn't reliable until 17th level?

Hustle? What use would that be? It costs you your Swift action (which you could have used to cast a useful spell) and gives you an extra Move action (which is useless for a caster).

A Move Action is not very useful to a spellcaster, which is true. But look at how you are obtaining that Move Action.... (Probably) via Expanded Knowledge as a Psion. So if you are already going the Psion/Cleric route (which you would be if you had Hustle) then you would have a Psionic Focus, which you have to expend on certain Psionic feats to enhance your Psionic powers. Which can only be retained as a Full Round Action OR... (wait for it)... As a MOVE ACTION via Psychic Meditation. This will allow you to apply multiple Psionic feats to your powers 2 - 3 times per round (Expend Psionic Focus 1st time + Move Action to get it back + Expend Psionic Focus 2nd time + Swift Action Hustle to get another Move Action + Move Action from Hustle to get Psionic Focus Back + Expend Psionic Focus 3rd time.)

Polymorph doesn't grant you any (Su) abilities. Look at the spell closely, especially after the errata.

Who cares? Obviously you would not cast Polymorph if you were worried about using (Su) abilities. I also mentioned Shapechange in there as well...

You can't use two Quickened, Swift or Immediate actions in the same round.

True. But you can use two (or more) spells that require a Swift or Immediate to use per round, simply by casting certain other spells before hand (look up Arcane Fusion).

It's easy to cast 2 spells per round. Telepaths and other Psions who blow three feats can do 3 every round, but at a very high power point cost.

Yeah, but 8 or more is even more fun (see above)

Two meaningful actions per round is the limit I'm talking about.

I would consider 8+ spells (each of 4th level or lower) per round quite meaningful.

(Move isn't nearly as meaningful for a Wizard or Sorcerer. There aren't many "full round action" spells, just standard and 1 round.)

Right, but it is for a Psion (see above)

Pick a secondary class that doesn't require that same resource.

Cheers, -- N

Not if you want to be "the most powerful" gestalt like the OP asked for. Maybe if you want to be second to "the most powerful".

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

Fighter/Tempest/Whirling Dervish + Scout. If you gotta move, may as well get AC and bonus damage.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

In my SCAP campaign one of the players is using a Scout/Sorcerer and that seems to be working pretty well.

 

[glass]

Maybe it isn't super powerful, but I am going to go with a Half-giant Paladin8/Cavalier 3//Cleric 12. I intend on focusing on mounted combat.

Why have you only got 11 levels on one side of the progression and 12 on the other?


glass.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Why have you only got 11 levels on one side of the progression and 12 on the other?

I assume he's counting LA on one side of the progression.

-Hyp.

 

[Nifft]

Not if you want to be "the most powerful" gestalt like the OP asked for. Maybe if you want to be second to "the most powerful".

Dead = worse than second. Mid to low HP, split-stat casting (meaning you have even less left over for Con & Dex), mid to low BAB, and no defensive class features ... you're making a glass cannon.

- - -

Anyway, I feel any further response I could give would involve points previously mentioned. Seeing as there are a bunch of other posters in this thread who disagree with your position, perhaps one of them would enjoy discussing this further with you? 'Cause I think I'm done with this.

Good gaming, -- N

 

[Nifft]

I assume he's counting LA on one side of the progression.

I take it all back. THIS is the most powerful Gestalt (and technically illegal, I think). All LA and templates on one side, then the class you actually want to play on the other.

Half-Ogre / Half-Dragon / Half-Celestial / Half-Minotaur / Mineral Warrior / ... Half-Fey?
+ plus +
Barbarian 20

"Your strength bonus is what?!"
"And I have wings!"

Cheers, -- N

 

[Quartz]

I know it is not the most powerful gestalt combo, but I really like Fighter/Monk. Gives the monk increased BAB, HD, and --most important-- bonus feats. Truely makes the monk a superlative combat guy. And yes, I do realize that the armor proficiencies are wasted in this combo.

Have a look at how many of the monk's special abilities can be used in armour.