Gestalt characters and multiclassing?

[Bibliophile]

Ok, question on UA.

Using the gestalt classes option, you can effectively take 1 level of two different classes at the same time. My question is would this still have the normal multiclassing XP penalties attached?

Here's an example:

say you have a lvl 15, human, Gestalt character, and he took levels like this:

1- Bard, Fighter
2- Bard, Fighter
3- Bard, Fighter
4- Bard, Fighter
5- Bard, Fighter
6- Bard, Fighter
7- Bard, Fighter
8- Bard, Fighter
9- Bard, Fighter
10- Bard, Fighter
11- Bard, Wizard
12- Bard, Wizard
13- Bard, Wizard
14- Bard, Wizard
15- Bard, Wizard

Now, that would give him effectively 15 levels of bard, 10 fighter, and 5 wizard, a set that would normally qualify him for multiclassing XP penalties. Well, my question is, would he still get the penalties even though he is a gestalt character?

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

I'd say that there is no penalty since under the gestalt paradigm the character isn't Bard 15/Fighter 10/Wizard 5, its' a Bard-Fighter 10/Bard-Wizard 5. For characters who aren't human or half-elf , I'd say that as long a their favored class is a component of a gestalt class, it doesn't count toward multi-class penalties.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

I'd say that there is no penalty since under the gestalt paradigm the character isn't Bard 15/Fighter 10/Wizard 5, its' a Bard-Fighter 10/Bard-Wizard 5. For characters who aren't human or half-elf , I'd say that as long a their favored class is a component of a gestalt class, it doesn't count toward multi-class penalties.

I suppose that's one way of looking at it. I hadn't thought of looking at each level as one class (like bard-fighter or bard-wizard).

As an off the cuff ruling, I'd say, since there isn't anything in there saying you aren't subject to multiclass penalties, that they still apply.

However, Twiggly has a point. Plus, it's downright encouraging multiclassing by giving you two classes to play with. And, it's a pain in the rear to keep one half devoted to one class and the other half to other classes/prestige classes. I'm giving myself fits trying to convert my epic monk (whose favored class happens to be barbarian...sigh...) to a gestalt for fun.

Brad

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I say to hell with favoured classes for gestalt characters. True, the player might do that to make his character more powerful, but the DM set the game as a gestalt game, so high power is wanted, anyway (nice way of setting off a low rate of treasure and magic item acquisition)

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

I'm liking Twiggly's solution, myself. Particularly since I'm imagining using things like Fighter/Aristocrat levels to define knights, or the classic Rogue/Thief-Acrobat to bring back a little original UA flavor...

It allows you to use the Gestalt rules without sacrificing the flavor of Favored Class multiclassing. And that's a good thing.