Help me brainstorm a Gestalt Monk/Bard (or Rogue)

[Herobizkit]

Hey all,

I am looking to create a somewhat unique character for an upcoming game. My character is going to be a half-celestial Gestalt Monk/Bard (or possibly Rogue).

The DM has informed me that he wants to run something like a "Supernatural" (the T.V. show) game that will be heavy on investigation and problem-solving. So, that in mind, I want to make my character a neophyte as a "detective" in the town guard. I plan to advance into the Chameleon prestige class.

In point form, because I'm sleepy:
- A Gestalt Bard/Monk (or Monk/Rogue, not sure which yet)
- A detective, potentially an "undercover" detective (with the addition of the Chameleon PrC)
- working for the town guard in a major city
- uses his martial arts to subdue criminals
- male Half-Celestial; he'll be well-known in the city for being who and what he is at first, but disguises etc. should help him "blend in"
- Bard would have useful spells in the field; Rogue has more skills available (s'why I can't decide between the two right now)
- Also might take the "Watch Detective" PrC from one of the old splatbooks.

Any thoughts, ideas, criticisms, builds, other ideas would be great.

 

[Question]

Monk/Rogue definately. You get all the rogue skills that will be useful as a detective, and the monk's unarmed and unarmored abilities mesh very well while going undercover, plus you can potentially do an insane amount of sneak attack damage while flurrying.

I wouldnt take half-celestial, underpowered for +4 LA IMHO.

 

[BlueBlackRed]

When using a gestalt campaign you want to try to combine your two classes into one as easily as possibly.
Usually mixing spell & melee classes means you are one class in combat, the other class out of combat, or you are switching during combat which can get unwieldy.
Watching a fighter/cleric die thanks to failed combat casting check when trying to cast Heal has proven that to me.

Monk/Rogues I can see mixing much more readily since they have a lot of similar skills. And definitely mixing the movement of the monk with the sneak attack of the rogue will allow you to get to flanking positions a round or 2 quicker.

That doesn't mean a monk/bard won't work, you'll just need to figure out how best to get them to mesh.

 

[Thanee]

When using a gestalt campaign you want to try to combine your two classes into one as easily as possibly.
Usually mixing spell & melee classes means you are one class in combat, the other class out of combat, or you are switching during combat which can get unwieldy.
Watching a fighter/cleric die thanks to failed combat casting check when trying to cast Heal has proven that to me.

Although, I would count a fighter/cleric as a combination that combines very well, as long as the cleric-side is of the more martial orientation, that clerics easily can be. And Concentration is an important skill for clerics, especially those that like to be in the midst of things.

But I also agree, that Monk/Rogue will mesh better than Monk/Bard.

Bye
Thanee

 

[BlueBlackRed]

Although, I would count a fighter/cleric as a combination that combines very well, as long as the cleric-side is of the more martial orientation, that clerics easily can be. And Concentration is an important skill for clerics, especially those that like to be in the midst of things.

When he has the time to buff up he's amazing in combat. We all are really. When prepped we can take on an opponent 7 or more CR than our level. Heck even when drained we took on something 4 CR more than us (barely made it out).

But when unbuffed, this guy often spends 1-3 rounds buffing up while the rest of us are getting thrashed, then he comes in a saves the day. But without the buffing, he's just a fighter without a sufficient source of healing.

We about had to threaten him to get him to take Quicken Spell...

Sorry for the threadjack, but it did help to prove my point.

 

[Luthien Greyspear]

Slight problem with the Monk/Bard...

You do realize that the Monk must be lawful, and the Bard CANNOT be lawful, right?

Unless your DM is relaxing some of the alignment requirements, it looks like Monk/Rogue is the way to go.

 

[Thanee]

@BlueBlackRed: Yeah, I can see that for this specific example, but I was more thinking of the character combination in general, which seems pretty synergistic to me (more than, say, monk and bard, to put this somewhat on topic ).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Malum]

You do realize that the Monk must be lawful, and the Bard CANNOT be lawful, right?

Unless your DM is relaxing some of the alignment requirements, it looks like Monk/Rogue is the way to go.

I was just going to type this very post "Monk/Bard don't work"

Malum

 

[Malum]

Monk/Rogue at 1st glance looks good improved, lightening initiative, flurry of blows & Fient should get you well into awesome damage. And for role playing I can see how it would be a great build.

Malum

 

[szilard]

Ummm...

As a Half-Celestial, he'll have wings. Won't that make disguises a bit difficult (unless he's using magic)?

-Stuart