Question about Gestalt campaign and racial levels

[molonel]

We're about to run a Gestalt campaign using the gestalt rules from Unearthed Arcana. A question came up during the process. This campaign is designed to be a high-octane campaign drawing from almost any published d20 book.

For those of you unfamiliar with the gestalt rules, basically your character starts getting two levels per level. There are a few stipulations, though, and one of those stipulations is that one of your levels at each level must be a base class, and not a prestige class.

For the purposes of the gestalt rules, would you consider racial levels, like the half-celestial levels in Anger of Angels or the Savage Progressions like wereboar or dire wereboar, to be a base class or a prestige class?

 

[Mulkhoran]

I'd say consider them as base levels. Racial levels don't really seem, to me, to be much like prestige class levels, and if you have a character with lots of racial levels, it makes it harder to build towards a PrC that you also want.

Just my .02

 

[mikebr99]

I don't see any problems with progressing as a race (or paragon for that matter) as one side of your character, and some other class as the other.

There isn't anything in the rules about limiting classes to one base every level though, just limits on the PrCs that try an emulate 2 classes (EK, AT, MT etc.). If your DM agrees to a Duelist/Mage Killer (after meeting all prerequisites), more power to you... That is the way I'm heading.

Mike

 

[molonel]

There isn't anything in the rules about limiting classes to one base every level though, just limits on the PrCs that try an emulate 2 classes (EK, AT, MT etc.). If your DM agrees to a Duelist/Mage Killer (after meeting all prerequisites), more power to you... That is the way I'm heading.

Actually, I'm at work, so I can't double-check this, but I believe you are mistaken. I remember reading in Unearthed Arcana under the Gestalt rules that you cannot progress in two Prestige Classes in the same level. You might want to double-check that. I know I will when I get home.

 

[Gilwen]

Actually, I'm at work, so I can't double-check this, but I believe you are mistaken. I remember reading in Unearthed Arcana under the Gestalt rules that you cannot progress in two Prestige Classes in the same level. You might want to double-check that. I know I will when I get home.

I think that is was suggested that you do not allow 2 prestige classes at the same time.

Gil

 

[kreynolds]

I remember reading in Unearthed Arcana under the Gestalt rules that you cannot progress in two Prestige Classes in the same level. You might want to double-check that.

Yup. Page 73, third bullet.

 

[rich]

I definitely think racial levels should be allowed
However, my question would be what to do with any level adjustments...
Does the character forfeit the first few levels on the racial side until he/she gets "caught up" with the correct ECL, or do you space out the extra levels (like in Savage Species)?
For instance, say you want to build a Minotaur/Fighter as your gestalt character, with Minotaur racial levels as one half and fighter levels as the other half. The Minotaur gets 6 HD with a +2 LA. How do you assign the HD/LA as the character progresses?

 

[Pax]

"Paragon ____" levels I would treat as Base Class levels.

"Racial Levels", i.e. picking up Half-Dragon over time, well ... those mirror Level Adjustment, and LA is one of the problematic elements of the Gestalt Rules. Technically, LA and Racial Hit Dice cannot be taken in Gestalt with another class.

IMO, however, it should be okay to gestalt racial HD - or Monster/Race levels that give a HD. Justbe consistent, and give any intelligent monster out there with racial HD, another class' worth of abilities. IOW, gestalt the monsters, too. ^_^ At least the BBEG and his Lieutenants; it's one thing if the Orcs are just run-of-the-mill gumby Orcs, but the Orc Warchief, the tribal Shaman, and possibly most or all of the Warchief's personal bodyguards, should all use Gestalt rules.

A bit more work for the GM, but it means that the "important" opposition will be all the tougher for your PCs, and defeating them will be appreciated that much more. ^_^

 

[mikebr99]

Yup. Page 73, third bullet.

Ahh... my bad. thanks kr.

Mike

 

[molonel]

Technically, LA and Racial Hit Dice cannot be taken in Gestalt with another class.

Care to explain why?