Gestalt vs core classes

[thorimar]

I'm looking at creating a gestalt character for one of the players in my group, likely to be a Wizard/Psion, based on a previous character concept. I'm looking to start the campaign around 15th level and likely terminate at or abover 30th lvl. Huzzah! What I need to know is this: how well do Gestalt characters balance against "core" classes, with core being anything 3.x, WOTC or other major publishers. I'm not looking for a re-hash of the rules abot making a gestalt character. What I want is practical, in game commentary from players or DM's who have mixed gestalt and "straight" classes in a single party. Should there be an evffective LA for the gestalt character? And what does it need to be? Any advice would be appreciated.

My other idea to create this character is to create a sub-race of elf and give it SU or EX abilities as it advances in level, then let him pick a single class to play. This idea is not likely to work well, so I was trying to use the rule set to come up with something better.

thorimar

 

[Nifft]

What I need to know is this: how well do Gestalt characters balance against "core" classes

They generally don't.

At that level, LA +3 is appropriate.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Nifft]

PS: What's wrong with Cerebremancer?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

They generally don't.

At that level, LA +3 is appropriate.

Cheers, -- N

LA +3 seems a bit high, I'd go LA +2.

 

[Wik]

Gestalt works well in small groups. The larger your group, the less likely you'll find it working.

The more people, the more roles get filled, and you have people stepping on each others' toes. PCs don't stand out as much, which irks me. But in small groups, you're still building towards a role - you may be a cleric/wizard, but you'll still be awful if the baddies get close to you.

 

[Will]

I'd say LA +3 at that level if you know what you're doing and optimize, +2 otherwise.

 

[Hypersmurf]

The more people, the more roles get filled, and you have people stepping on each others' toes. PCs don't stand out as much, which irks me. But in small groups, you're still building towards a role - you may be a cleric/wizard, but you'll still be awful if the baddies get close to you.

One other way I've seen Gestalt work is for creating a themed party.

I ran a 'Caper' one-shot, where every character was a 7th-level gestalt rogue. So there was the tank, and the arcanist, and the healer, and so forth, but they all had 7 levels of rogue as well.

And the campaign I've been playing in (though we haven't managed to get together in some time, now ) is a Viking game... and every PC is a gestalt barbarian.

-Hyp.

 

[Shin Okada]

Gestalt rule is basically designed for allowing to play DnD when you don't have enough number of players and thus each characters must fill multiple roles needed to compose a party. So, it is NOT balanced to other characters not using this optional rule from the beginning.

Play entire party with Gestalt characters, or disallow using Gestalt rule. Don't mix them up.

And, as others said, when you start a campaign at med to higher level, many feats and prestige classes covers most "something/something" concepts. So you don't need to use Gestalt rule.

 

[Jack Simth]

I'd say LA +3 at that level if you know what you're doing and optimize, +2 otherwise.

And with a Wizard//Psion, that'd be the +2 version. d4 HD, 1 good save, 2+Int skill points per level - definately the weaker end of Gestalt.

 

[Andor]

I'm slowly brewing up a campaign which I intend to be a gestalt campaign, but with the option of taking a single classed character with up to a +3 LA adjustment for free.