Gestalt Character Concepts [Archive] - Wizards Community

Gestalt Character Concepts [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
colindownes
05-03-05, 10:52 PM So, a friend of mine is running a campaign with the high-powered gestalt character rules from Unearthed Arcana (basically, it's like 2nd edition multiclassing, where you get the best of each class you take - no xp penalties though). Having so many combinations has really thrown me for a loop, however. Every character concept I've come up with has been kinda schizophrenic (hmm... maybe a mentally ill character would be interesting) so far. I just can't seem to get a coherent idea together. Does anyone out there have any ideas?
Northwest
05-04-05, 04:45 PM You can theme about anything really.

Cleric with just about anything if you pick a god that is themed that way. God of Thieves? Cleric/Rogue; Magic - cleric/sorc,wiz, or bard; art/beauty/music - cleric/bard, etc

Barbarian-bard - mentioned in fiction alot (Fafhrd for one), oral tradition of tribes and bards were widely respected.

Druid/Ranger/Rogue Pick any 2 and run with it as wilderness expert and scout

Rogue with any other class just for a wide selection of skills. That can generally add depth to any concept you want.

Tell us a concept you might want or 2 classes you are considering and we can maybe help with it from there.
Dead Jester
05-04-05, 08:18 PM A sort of cop-out is available with classes that supposedly are about innate abilities like sorceror, warlock, or wilder. The character trains to do what he wants to do (hit people with a sword, worship some god) but he has special wossnames that come to him without conscious effort. A variant of this would be to have to complemantary classes i.e. be a sorceror/wizard. Your character studies wizardry to better understand his sorcerous powers. I don't know if this would work, and if it did if it would be overpowered, but could be fun.
Worguron
05-04-05, 10:06 PM Sorceror/Wizard wouldn't be overpowered. Sure, the guy could blast spells ALL day, but he would still only have lowest BAB, a d4 hitdie, and poor fortitude and reflex saves. Most Gestalt Characters have at least d6 or d8 hit die, at least medium BAB, and at least two good saves.
Max the Immortal
05-08-05, 12:35 AM I'd like to see a Cleric/Favored Soul (Complete Divine), with domains and feats chosen to max out undead turning.

Ninja (or maybe Rogue if you don't have Complete Adventurer) paired with nearly anything could make a character who's secretly an assassin.

A Wizard/Ninja or Wizard/Rogue would make a sweet arcane spy (with TONS of skill ranks).

An elf that pairs a melee class with a primary arcane spellcasting class can be a "Bladesinger" without actually having to be a Bladesinger (I personally don't particularly care for any version of the PrC).

Consider pairing anything with Monk; the result is usually interesting.

A Sorcerer/Favored Soul must be doubly blessed by a higher power (can you say "prophesy"?).

Combine Fighter with virtually anything to get a heavy-combat-ready version of a class that normally can't melee well.

A Sorcerer/Warmage would have ridiculous firepower.
Vapthorne
05-08-05, 02:28 AM Try a simple concept: For instance, let's say you want to play a demon/vampire slayer. Then you can go Monk/Paladin (Pretty lethal, but MAD dependent), or a Ranger/Paladin. If you want a nature-type witch, then take Druid or Cleric (with Nature domains) plus Wizard or Wen Ju.

You can always look at a prestige class and try to mimic it with a Gestalt, like Max hit with the Bladesinger. Assassin? Rouge / Hexblade. Or you can tackle it from a single class concept. Wanna be a Sorcerer? Just make you other class Warlock or Spirit Shaman :-)

The important idea is to decide on a basic concept or theme first. Otherwise, we'll be throwing random ideas all day.
Worguron
05-08-05, 02:48 AM I posted a concept in another thread on this board a few days ago.

It is basically a Spellthief/Warlock. I just like the idea of using other casters' spells to offset the limited aspects of the Warlock. Also, stealing spells with Eldritch Blast sounds like alot of fun.
obrysii
05-09-05, 02:37 PM Wood Elf Werebear 9/Warshaper 4/Warhulk 7//Monk 20

Ends up with a +6 item of strength at around 65 or so strength, depending on initial stats...and very devistating unarmed strike (Fanged Ring + Warshaper size bonus + Large size + Enlarge)

From a role-playing perspective, the wood elf could be an outcast...perhaps ignorant of city ways as well...who is not very trustworthy (due to their lycanthropy, people have been quick to judge them). As for the strength increase: perhaps they mediate while working out, and that accounts for their increases in physical capabilities (an awareness that they can stop evil creatures more quickly by doing more damage due to increased strength probably helps as well).
karmhundredfists
05-09-05, 07:06 PM Wrong board obrysii :b.

How about a Psion/Barbarian. It would be quite powerful and not that difficult to RP. Just focus on chaotic talents and play up that you're a wilder.

Alternatively
Rogue/Ranger is great (play elf maybe? spec bow)
Rogue/Fighter can be devastating and EXTREMELY fun to play. If you're allowed to take prestige classes then have very high int, fight with a rapier, and take duelist as soon as you can. Then you get to be an incredibly intelligent pirate. You could even start taking levels of wizard once you become a duelist. Wizard duelist is an amazing combo, plus you get full BAB, great skill selection and the spells of a level 15 Wizard.

I guess I'm in the wrong board too...

OK lets look through the classes

Rogue - Spy, Thief, Thug, Assassin
Fighter - Soldier, Gladiator, Duelist, Noble
Wizard - Educated in a school, son of Wizard, uncanny interest and ability.
Sorceror - Wild child, dragon blood, innate ability
Ranger - Forester, soldier, traditional (elf hippie woods guy), Robin Hood
Barbarian - Brawler, Nomad, Loner, (think, why's he angry
Bard - Actor, Dancer, Singer, Jester, Advisor to Royalty
Cleric - Holy man, Priest, innate connection to a god, cloistered etc...
Paladin - not many options, great gestalt class (statistically) but hard to multiclass most things RP wise.
Druid - pretty strict here too, Druid Wizard would be a cool (and powerful) gandalf type character.
LordLycanthrope
05-10-05, 12:32 AM Monk/Rogue = total ownage.
Wizards_White_Knight
05-10-05, 03:15 AM I quite like the imagry of Bard/Swashbuckler. Sails the 7 seas, getting into mischief here and there, comign home and sharing his tales over a flagon or two.

My character I am trying to build for our next campaign which will be gestalt is a Rouge/Bard 2 Bard/Swashbuckler 2 (Level 4 start).

I try and come up with names for the combination classes though.

Actually, I am gonna start a new thread for this. But just as an example so people here havea clue what I am going on about.

Bard/Rogue - Scoundrel
Bard/Swashbuckler - Buccaneer

So my character is a Scoundrel 2 Buccaneer 2.

WWK

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
colindownes 05-03-05, 10:52 PM	So, a friend of mine is running a campaign with the high-powered gestalt character rules from Unearthed Arcana (basically, it's like 2nd edition multiclassing, where you get the best of each class you take - no xp penalties though). Having so many combinations has really thrown me for a loop, however. Every character concept I've come up with has been kinda schizophrenic (hmm... maybe a mentally ill character would be interesting) so far. I just can't seem to get a coherent idea together. Does anyone out there have any ideas?
Northwest 05-04-05, 04:45 PM	You can theme about anything really. Cleric with just about anything if you pick a god that is themed that way. God of Thieves? Cleric/Rogue; Magic - cleric/sorc,wiz, or bard; art/beauty/music - cleric/bard, etc Barbarian-bard - mentioned in fiction alot (Fafhrd for one), oral tradition of tribes and bards were widely respected. Druid/Ranger/Rogue Pick any 2 and run with it as wilderness expert and scout Rogue with any other class just for a wide selection of skills. That can generally add depth to any concept you want. Tell us a concept you might want or 2 classes you are considering and we can maybe help with it from there.
Dead Jester 05-04-05, 08:18 PM	A sort of cop-out is available with classes that supposedly are about innate abilities like sorceror, warlock, or wilder. The character trains to do what he wants to do (hit people with a sword, worship some god) but he has special wossnames that come to him without conscious effort. A variant of this would be to have to complemantary classes i.e. be a sorceror/wizard. Your character studies wizardry to better understand his sorcerous powers. I don't know if this would work, and if it did if it would be overpowered, but could be fun.
Worguron 05-04-05, 10:06 PM	Sorceror/Wizard wouldn't be overpowered. Sure, the guy could blast spells ALL day, but he would still only have lowest BAB, a d4 hitdie, and poor fortitude and reflex saves. Most Gestalt Characters have at least d6 or d8 hit die, at least medium BAB, and at least two good saves.
Max the Immortal 05-08-05, 12:35 AM	I'd like to see a Cleric/Favored Soul (Complete Divine), with domains and feats chosen to max out undead turning. Ninja (or maybe Rogue if you don't have Complete Adventurer) paired with nearly anything could make a character who's secretly an assassin. A Wizard/Ninja or Wizard/Rogue would make a sweet arcane spy (with TONS of skill ranks). An elf that pairs a melee class with a primary arcane spellcasting class can be a "Bladesinger" without actually having to be a Bladesinger (I personally don't particularly care for any version of the PrC). Consider pairing anything with Monk; the result is usually interesting. A Sorcerer/Favored Soul must be doubly blessed by a higher power (can you say "prophesy"?). Combine Fighter with virtually anything to get a heavy-combat-ready version of a class that normally can't melee well. A Sorcerer/Warmage would have ridiculous firepower.
Vapthorne 05-08-05, 02:28 AM	Try a simple concept: For instance, let's say you want to play a demon/vampire slayer. Then you can go Monk/Paladin (Pretty lethal, but MAD dependent), or a Ranger/Paladin. If you want a nature-type witch, then take Druid or Cleric (with Nature domains) plus Wizard or Wen Ju. You can always look at a prestige class and try to mimic it with a Gestalt, like Max hit with the Bladesinger. Assassin? Rouge / Hexblade. Or you can tackle it from a single class concept. Wanna be a Sorcerer? Just make you other class Warlock or Spirit Shaman :-) The important idea is to decide on a basic concept or theme first. Otherwise, we'll be throwing random ideas all day.
Worguron 05-08-05, 02:48 AM	I posted a concept in another thread on this board a few days ago. It is basically a Spellthief/Warlock. I just like the idea of using other casters' spells to offset the limited aspects of the Warlock. Also, stealing spells with Eldritch Blast sounds like alot of fun.
obrysii 05-09-05, 02:37 PM	Wood Elf Werebear 9/Warshaper 4/Warhulk 7//Monk 20 Ends up with a +6 item of strength at around 65 or so strength, depending on initial stats...and very devistating unarmed strike (Fanged Ring + Warshaper size bonus + Large size + Enlarge) From a role-playing perspective, the wood elf could be an outcast...perhaps ignorant of city ways as well...who is not very trustworthy (due to their lycanthropy, people have been quick to judge them). As for the strength increase: perhaps they mediate while working out, and that accounts for their increases in physical capabilities (an awareness that they can stop evil creatures more quickly by doing more damage due to increased strength probably helps as well).
karmhundredfists 05-09-05, 07:06 PM	Wrong board obrysii :b. How about a Psion/Barbarian. It would be quite powerful and not that difficult to RP. Just focus on chaotic talents and play up that you're a wilder. Alternatively Rogue/Ranger is great (play elf maybe? spec bow) Rogue/Fighter can be devastating and EXTREMELY fun to play. If you're allowed to take prestige classes then have very high int, fight with a rapier, and take duelist as soon as you can. Then you get to be an incredibly intelligent pirate. You could even start taking levels of wizard once you become a duelist. Wizard duelist is an amazing combo, plus you get full BAB, great skill selection and the spells of a level 15 Wizard. I guess I'm in the wrong board too... OK lets look through the classes Rogue - Spy, Thief, Thug, Assassin Fighter - Soldier, Gladiator, Duelist, Noble Wizard - Educated in a school, son of Wizard, uncanny interest and ability. Sorceror - Wild child, dragon blood, innate ability Ranger - Forester, soldier, traditional (elf hippie woods guy), Robin Hood Barbarian - Brawler, Nomad, Loner, (think, why's he angry Bard - Actor, Dancer, Singer, Jester, Advisor to Royalty Cleric - Holy man, Priest, innate connection to a god, cloistered etc... Paladin - not many options, great gestalt class (statistically) but hard to multiclass most things RP wise. Druid - pretty strict here too, Druid Wizard would be a cool (and powerful) gandalf type character.
LordLycanthrope 05-10-05, 12:32 AM	Monk/Rogue = total ownage.
Wizards_White_Knight 05-10-05, 03:15 AM	I quite like the imagry of Bard/Swashbuckler. Sails the 7 seas, getting into mischief here and there, comign home and sharing his tales over a flagon or two. My character I am trying to build for our next campaign which will be gestalt is a Rouge/Bard 2 Bard/Swashbuckler 2 (Level 4 start). I try and come up with names for the combination classes though. Actually, I am gonna start a new thread for this. But just as an example so people here havea clue what I am going on about. Bard/Rogue - Scoundrel Bard/Swashbuckler - Buccaneer So my character is a Scoundrel 2 Buccaneer 2. WWK