Gestalt Characters

[EyeontheMountain]

I play gestalt and love it. (I have a 3 person group, me, the DM, included)

We ban a lot of prestige classes, and most of the multi-class feats. (Aestetic .... etc) but are very loose about multiclassing and level adjustments. It works well.

 

[Bad Paper]

I have been considering running a gestalt game. Caveat: one of the classes must be an NPC class (possibly toss Commoner a bone, like weapon or armor proficiency). Also, I will rein in the wealth-per-level to be closer to the NPC wealth-per-level.

I have never run, played, or even seen a gestalt game before. What do you think?

 

[BlueBlackRed]

I have been considering running a gestalt game. Caveat: one of the classes must be an NPC class (possibly toss Commoner a bone, like weapon or armor proficiency). Also, I will rein in the wealth-per-level to be closer to the NPC wealth-per-level.

I have never run, played, or even seen a gestalt game before. What do you think?

My opinion - "eh".
It depends on your style of gaming and DM'ing, but I'd almost rather do non-gestalt than that. The added paperwork wouldn't maked up for the enjoyment.

Now I like the idea that everyone has to be a specific class on one side of their gestalts. Everyone being a paladin/-something- or wizard/-something- sounds kind of cool to me.

 

[szilard]

I've toyed with a few gestalt variants:

1) Everyone is gestalt up to 3rd level. Proceed normally from there.

2) Gestalt where one of the classes has to be a class with no spells, spell-like, or supernatural abilities (limited pretty much to barbarian, rogue, fighter, scout, swashbuckler, or knight).

3) Allowing LA to be on one side of the gestalt, provided that the other side is an NPC class.

4) Some combination of the above.

-Stuart

 

[EyeontheMountain]

I have been considering running a gestalt game. Caveat: one of the classes must be an NPC class (possibly toss Commoner a bone, like weapon or armor proficiency). Also, I will rein in the wealth-per-level to be closer to the NPC wealth-per-level.

I have never run, played, or even seen a gestalt game before. What do you think?

I would have no interest. Might as well jsut do it straighti f the second side is going to be so sub-par.

Try it out at low levels with two full classes and I think you will find it is not all that overpowering. It make for far better rounded characters if both sides complement, but do not do the same thing. For example a Warblade/Fighter would be a very powerful, but ultimately boring gestalt as they only do one thing, fight. A Fighter/rogue on the other hand is a very versatile character with good skills, nice saves, and a lot of combat and non-combat options.