Pathfinder 1E Racial classes and gestalting in Pathfinder

[Wolf72]

I finally got a copy of the WoW RPG (also have warcraft rpg) ...

the Paragon 3-level classes seem pretty fair. It seems that each of those 3 level classes adds enough to just about any other class as not to hamper your overall abilities.

A tauren Paragon 3/Barbarian 3 really isn't that far off from a Barbarian 6 ... less BAB, less rage powers. ... the Improved Charge, fear bonus, and stat bonus seem like fair trade-offs.

 

[VelvetViolet]

There's also racial paragon classes from Rite Publishing for Pathfinder (though, of course it's 3PP), but for that, a racial paragon class is a 20 level class (and a favored class of whatever race it belongs).

Rite Publishing has only created racial paragon classes for giant (jotun), gargoyles, minotaur, medusa, wyrd (oni/elf cross race), ironborn (construct), restless souls (back from the dead, but not undead), fey, henge, kappa, tengu, and dragon (still in playtest). Here's a link to DTRPG for all these racial class options.

As an example, here's the Hishoken racial paragon class for Tengu (posted at d20pfsrd.com)

Each of these racial paragon classes are custom created, and not really based on a specific class building template.

Despite it being 3PP, I prefer Rite's version of racial paragon class to other PF means of doing so.

So the racial paragon classes are alternate base classes? I think that could actually work. Thanks, I'll have to look into it.

That's not quite true. Multiclassing in there works essentially the same as in Pathfinder or 3e (favored class is a little different). You should treat them as a dip class usually for stat bonuses or a big ability at level 3 (faen going tiny or giants going large) and it will usually work out fine if you are not going full caster. It is similar to dipping master of many forms monk or any other pathfinder class. There are strong mechanical incentives to go all 20 levels in one class but there are decent reasons to dip into AE racial classes or many other classes if you allow them in your pathfinder games.

Set explains it better on the Paizo forums than I can.

Pathfinder didn't change how multi-classing works.

I never said it did. This is merely a mechanic to use gestalt classes from Unearthed Arcana in the same games as non-gestalt classes while still allowing them to be balanced with regard to one another. I feel that this is best way to introduce racial paragon classes and evolved racial classes from Arcana Evolved without gimping the character from receiving most of their core or base class benefits.

 

[Voadam]

Set explains it better on the Paizo forums than I can.

I disagree with his reasoning and his proposed feats, at least with respect to giant. Giant racial levels were a fantastic three level dip for any martial class to get stat bonuses and size large in return for losing one BAB. IMO it is still very worth it in Pathfinder.

Getting large reach as a feat at first level instead is very, very strong for a first level character.