Gestalt and Prestige Classes

[Classic Villany]

The Gestalt option from Unearthed Arcana has recently become quite popular in my group and after reading the entry in Unearthed Arcana I'm still not quite sure how it affects Prestige Classes. My initial thought was that upon entering a Prestige Class you would only stop progression in the class you moved into the Prestige Class from (i.e. a Gestalt Fighter - Wizard going into Elemental Savant would continue progressing in Fighter, stop progressing in Wizard and instead progress in the Elemental Savant Prestige Class). On further thought though I could see where you might stop progression in both Gestalt Classes while progressing in a Prestige Class. So my question is how exactly does Gestalt work with Prestige Classes?

 

[irdeggman]

Essentially you can't combine a prestige class with another prestige class when leveling up.

Prestige classes that are essentially class combinations like arcane trickset, mysteic, theurge, etc should not be allowed.


Due the easing of meeting Prestige class prerequisites the DM can (and most likely should) change the prestige class prerequisites to prevent entering them too early.

Pretty much all things gestalt still work the same except for those.

Whenever you increase levels you basically add a level to each part of the prestige class.

So a fighter-wizard gaining a level elemental savant (you still get to combine that with another base class but not another prestige class) progresses just as if he gained a level in each of the classes (except for the better hd, saving throw, etc. from normal gestalt progression).

 

[udalrich]

Prestige classes are (almost) the same as base classes in gestalt. You take two classes at each level and (barring house rules) 0, 1 or 2 of them can be prestige classes. A wizard 5 // fighter 5 could become a wizard 5/elemental savant 1 // fighter 6, wizard 5/elemental savant 1 // fighter 5/dwarven defender 1 or even a wizard 5/elemental savant 1 // fighter 5/wizard 1 (assuming he meets the prereqs).

The last is probably suboptimal most of the time, although it might make sense for levels where the prestige class doesn't grant an increase in casting ability.

I don't think it's official, but most GMs house rule that you can't enter a prestige class before level 6. Multiclass penalties are also unclear. I think they're often removed.

 

[Thanee]

My initial thought was that upon entering a Prestige Class you would only stop progression in the class you moved into the Prestige Class from (i.e. a Gestalt Fighter - Wizard going into Elemental Savant would continue progressing in Fighter, stop progressing in Wizard and instead progress in the Elemental Savant Prestige Class). On further thought though I could see where you might stop progression in both Gestalt Classes while progressing in a Prestige Class. So my question is how exactly does Gestalt work with Prestige Classes?

Your initial thought is how it works.

Your further thought is how it should work IMHO, and how I use it.

Bye
Thanee

 

[irdeggman]

Prestige classes are (almost) the same as base classes in gestalt. You take two classes at each level and (barring house rules) 0, 1 or 2 of them can be prestige classes.

Incorrect

A gestalt character can’t combine two prestige classes at any level, although it’s okay to combine a prestige class and a regular class. Prestige classes that are essentially class combinations—such as the arcane trickster, mystic theurge, and eldritch knight—should be prohibited if you’re using gestalt classes, because they unduly complicate the game balance of what’s already a high-powered variant. Because it’s possible for gestalt characters to qualify for prestige classes earlier than normal, the DM is entirely justifi ed in toughening the prerequisites of a prestige class so it’s available only after 5th level, even for gestalt characters

 

[irdeggman]

Your initial thought is how it works.

Thanee

Also I believe incorrect.


See the text on page 72.

You can combine any two classes per gestalt level - except for prestige classes. You can only have 1 prestige class per gestalt level (but it can still be combined with a standard class).

 

[Thanee]

Also I believe incorrect.

You believe wrong, then. In fact, though, I believe, that you just read the post wrong.

See the text on page 72.

You can combine any two classes per gestalt level - except for prestige classes. You can only have 1 prestige class per gestalt level (but it can still be combined with a standard class).

I don't think that has been mentioned in the post at all... he just said, that the PrC only replaces one side of the Gestalt (not both), which is correct.

There was no talk about combining two PrC at a single level up (in the post I quoted, anyways).

Bye
Thanee

 

[irdeggman]

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