Question on half celestial

[kenc]

Starting a new campaign to give our current D.M a break.

There are only three players in the group and instead of having some of them run two characters I gave them the choice of playing a half dragon or half celestial or making a gestalt character. One of them chose to make a half celestial paladin, how do I handle his level adjustment? Does he start with zero experience? not gaining any levels untill he has enough experience to be sixth level?

Also has anyone yet played with the gestalt characters? How did it work out?

 

[Nail]

One of them chose to make a half celestial paladin, how do I handle his level adjustment? Does he start with zero experience?

His LA is +4, so "you can't".

IOW, a 1st level fighter with the Half-celestial template is equal to a 5th level character. The other PCs start at 1st level? They're gonna feel hosed.

 

[kenc]

His LA is +4, so "you can't".

IOW, a 1st level fighter with the Half-celestial template is equal to a 5th level character. The other PCs start at 1st level? They're gonna feel hosed.

So he starts with the experience of 5th level. There has to be a book better then the MM for setting this up. How many skill points would he have? what about HP?

 

[Epametheus]

So he starts with the experience of 5th level. There has to be a book better then the MM for setting this up. How many skill points would he have? what about HP?

The deadweight levels from the template only count towards XP.

His HP, skills points, and other HD-related abilities would be the norm for a 1st level paladin, though the stat adjustments for half-celestial would need to be taken into account.

He'll have 1 Hit Die by the time everyone else has 5, so he probably won't survive.

 

[Camarath]

If you are running gestalt characters I think you should make a Template Class for Half-Celestial (maybe using this Half-Fiend Template Class as a guide) and allow the character to take both that and Paladin as his two classes. You might want to increase the number of levels in the Template Class (to maybe 6 or 8 instead of 4) since the character will not be missing out on the normal HD/level based bonuses.

 

[mikebr99]

Also has anyone yet played with the gestalt characters? How did it work out?

I just started in a new campaign, with a gestalt Cleric/Monk. The only other character is a Fighter-thief/Wizard. Definetly a powerful option. Though still not as powerful as 4 characters would be.

We are both built for melee combat... with our casting alter ego for buffing.

Combat lasts longer...

YMMV


Mike