Question about Gestalt campaign and racial levels

[Kae'Yoss]

I agree with Pax that levels sacrificed to level adjustment shouldn't be treated as levels able to be 'gestalted' with another class.

However, as KaeYoss suggested, a gestalt level is 'worth more' than a regular level, and so I would be inclined to allow the sacrifice of fewer gestalt levels to allow a monster type (for example, a Succubus with +6 LA might only lose 3 or 4 gestalt levels.)

I'm playing a Gestalt Succubus right now (started the char yesterday), Using Soulknive as the second class (and going rogue/elocater starting at level 10). Sure, If I had taken human (or another race without ecl) and chose rogue or fighter, I'd be much more powerful in combat. But the ability to change your shape at will (and a huge charisma boost) are *invaluable*. It's so much more fun than the previously played, untouchable elan monk/egoist. (Made the mistake to go low on int - using wis as manifester ability - and cha at once. He could survive encounters with enemies twice his level, but I couldn't identify with that one).

 

[Pax]

A Gestalt Campaign is probably the best place, by the by, to use UA's "buying off Level Adjustment" rules.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

I agree with Pax that levels sacrificed to level adjustment shouldn't be treated as levels able to be 'gestalted' with another class.

However, as KaeYoss suggested, a gestalt level is 'worth more' than a regular level, and so I would be inclined to allow the sacrifice of fewer gestalt levels to allow a monster type (for example, a Succubus with +6 LA might only lose 3 or 4 gestalt levels.)

I don't quite agree with Pax. I can see his point, but, well, each point of level adjustment is theoretically equivalent to a level of a class. If you have level adjustment, that's that many levels in classes you could be taking that you're giving up as the other gestalt class.

Of course, you can easily cheese a character out to where having the template makes your character much more efficient, and where the level adjustments would be more effective than they would be in a normal game (since you're not paying proportionally as much for them). I don't necessarily see that as being a problem (when people call me a munchkin, I smile..., though.

Reducing the LA to 1/2 normal, though, is quite acceptable. It even makes a sort of sense...you're sacrificing two class levels for two points of level adjustment.

Brad

 

[Pax]

Yes, reducing the LA by 1/3 or 1/2 would, perhaps, also be appropriate - at least then, you're still paying something in terms of HD. ^_^