Has anyone experimented with Gestalt characters?

[Brother Shatterstone]

I would imagine that the title of the thread says it all but has any of the DMs out their done the insane and let their players adventure with this option?

If so:

How did it go?

What did you have to house rule?

What level did you play at?

 

[Steverooo]

I wasn't the GM, in this case, but have wanted to do this since I first heard about it... The GM wouldn't let me!

Once we got past sixth level, and most PCs were muticlassing, however, it was pretty apparent that my PC was weaker than the rest, so the GM let me try... After a while, he took it back, saying that I was "too powerful", and continued saying that, even after going back to mere multiclassing... Then again, I was spending more on "expendables" than the rest of the party, too.

I'd say that, at lower levels, Gestalt PCs WILL be a bit handier than Non-Gestalt ones, due to the extra abilities... Once Prestige Classes start being thrown in, though, I don't think it holds true. Probably the Gestalt PCs start off being a bit handier, but most of the PC Class abilities aren't as "tough" as mid-to-upper-level PrC abilities usually are... YMMV. It depends a lot upon the Gestalt PC's two classes (or more), and the other PCs' PrCs, though. You'll have to look at it on a case-by-case basis, or allow ALL PCs to Gestalt (which is what the book reccommends, anyway), and take a PHB class level along WITH a PrC level, at the same time. That should balance everything!

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

I wasn't the GM, in this case, but have wanted to do this since I first heard about it... The GM wouldn't let me!

Aye I've had the same issues.

Once we got past sixth level, and most PCs were muticlassing, however, it was pretty apparent that my PC was weaker than the rest, so the GM let me try... After a while, he took it back, saying that I was "too powerful", and continued saying that, even after going back to mere multiclassing... Then again, I was spending more on "expendables" than the rest of the party, too.

Aye, I'm a big time fan of multiclassing, or at least doing so in 3rd edition. I rearly make a character that doesn't have at least 3 classes eventualy and almost always before 10th level.

You'll have to look at it on a case-by-case basis, or allow ALL PCs to Gestalt (which is what the book reccommends, anyway), and take a PHB class level along WITH a PrC level, at the same time. That should balance everything!

yeah it would be an ALL or nothing situation. I'm not sure what your DM was honestly thinking when he limited to only one character. You would simply outshine anyone else.

Since you spent some time playing one. How did you think it improved your game play? Was your character more like you invisioned him to be or did it simply not help in that situation?

 

[Creamsteak]

In one week I'll have run 16 hours of Gestalt games, if all goes well. I'm also using the recharge magic variant, though, so the game is even higher powered for 1st level.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

In one week I'll have run 16 hours of Gestalt games, if all goes well.

Sweet, I look forward to your report on it and I'm truly sorry about not having the time for the PBP game.

 

[Steverooo]

yeah it would be an ALL or nothing situation. I'm not sure what your DM was honestly thinking when he limited to only one character. You would simply outshine anyone else.

The point was, my PC was underpowered, compared to the Prestige classed PCs, since he was third/third level, with two Feats, light armor, and poorer AC (and too low-level to be able to afford much magic to help make up for it). So we tried allowing him to be a Gestalt sixth level, instead. Thereafter, the GM felt he was overpowered, and revoked it.

Since you spent some time playing one. How did you think it improved your game play? Was your character more like you invisioned him to be or did it simply not help in that situation?

It gave me access to several class abilities that I was otherwise too low level to use, and upped two or three of them, gave me a few extra skill points, increased my BAB and Ranger-casting levels (from "None" to 3). I still only had one spell/day, but it was nice.

Once the other PCs begin to Prestige class, being Gestalt quickly gets beaten out by all the whack abilities they get. Right now, I think I'm "too powerful" because I chose equipment, actions, strategies, and tactics well. If I survive to above 10th level, though, I predict that I will, despite my best efforts, be (even in the GM's eyes) "underpowered", once again, in comparison to the Prestige-classed PCs. Maybe then the GM will restore the Gestalt abilities...



I found that it helped my character to be more what I'd envisioned him to be, yes. If I were a Munchkin-powermonger, I'd take that one level of Wizard that my Elf is always eligible for, and start pumping out spells from scrolls, wands, rods, and staves that I was SUDDENLY able to use, instead of making my Warhorse my animal companion, picking up a few more skill points, and getting a whopping one spell/day! Unfortunately, that's not the kind of character I enjoy playing...

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

I found that it helped my character to be more what I'd envisioned him to be, yes.

That's all I hope for out of Gestalt.

Unfortunately, that's not the kind of character I enjoy playing...

Yeah, same here… Neither the mage nor the sasasa Munchkin-power monger appeals to me.

 

[Creamsteak]

No problem on the inability to play. I've stretched myself to my limit again, though somehow it causes my grades to improve... go figure. I can understand, though, why someone wouldn't want to spend even more time on the internet.

I'm sure I'll restate it a million times over (I'll probably do a story hour for this week, though it will be more technical than it will be entertaining), but I'm pretty sure that by combining these two variants and a few others from Unearthed Arcanna, my players will be playing very powerful characters. That will skew a more standard perception. The recharge magic variant recommends that encounters levels be +2 for all cases, and that you give more encounters per day. Gestalt recommends encounter levels +1 to +2 depending.

 

[diaglo]

we had the Gestalt Elf in our campaign for years.

the Elf PC chose between playing a Fighting Man or Magic-user for each adventure/ quest/ mission/ etc...

when he advanced in level it was in the class he had roleplayed. ergo...he couldn't pick a new level in Fighting Man if he had played as a Magic-user the entire time.

if however, he had switched off between the two and had experience enough to advance in both. again he had to choose which one to advance.

 

[jollyninja]

nobody has taken me up on the offer yet but here are my house rules: 1. 30%xp penalty 2. gestalt must be done at first level 3. no prestige classes or changing classes until epic level is achieved 4. i set the base classes up in trees and told players they could not gestalt 2 classes in the same tree ie no fighter/barbarian or cleric/druid combos. this seemed to be a good way to balance in a campaign with single class characters although i am not sure that i got the xp penalty right....suggestions anyone?