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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Daedrova" data-source="post: 1576178" data-attributes="member: 11835">I have seen discussions about how and why the current multi-class system leaves something to be desired.  While some classes synergize well enough with others, many class fall short in power compared to a base class.  So my question is- do you think Gestalt, as presented in Unearthed Arcana, works well to fill this gap?  Before saying “it is too powerful” (obviously it would be), consider what I have tried in my game.  Obviously prestige classes have stepped up to try to “fill the gap” and I have noticed that PrCs such as Eldritch Knight, and Mystic Theurge give close to full progression for the important aspects of their respective requisite classes (full base attack and 9/10th spell casting to Elk).  I did decide to let my players try playing with gestalt characters, but decided that and effective ECL increase would work well, as some of the players weren’t interested in an archetype other than a core class.  For balance, I thought it fair that before you take levels gained in the gestalt multi-class style, and every 10 levels thereafter, you would have to take an ECL adjustment of +1.  So a figher/ranger11 would be ECL 13.  Right now we have a Wizard 14, a gestalt Sorcerer/Rogue 12, a gestalt Cleric/fighter12, and a paladin/fighter12.  The wizard is looking pretty good.  I notice (as pointed out in discussions on “mystic theurge” discussions) that the Wizard needs not worry about having more than one high stat, while the multi-classers seem not to excel as well in one or either of their classes due to ability score spread.  Also, his caster level is 2 higher than the other casters, and next level he will be firing at 8th level spells, while the sorcerer will still be using 6th.I had thought the cleric/fighter combo would well outshine a paladin/fighter, but the power difference does not seem too substantial.  The paladin needs only his good Str, and does well with above average Con, Wis, and good Cha.This may be an important note; I used point buy- 36 points.  The cleric/fighter started as a cleric (of war) who wanted to focus on buffing/combat ability.  He did start with Str, Con, and Wis at 16 (other stats at 10), and continued raising Wis.  The Paladin started with Str 16, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 16 and continued with Str.I guess to add to the question above, do you think there would be a better way to handle gestalt multi-classing (when concerning balance toward base classes) than the ECLs?  I thought about an XP “penalty” of 25% (or something similar) but felt it may make players feel “punished”, and figured I would have to calculate them at a higher ECL anyway, as a gestalt fighter/cleric 12 is surly better than 12th, and I believe 13th level single class character.</blockquote>

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