Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Hekale 11-17-07, 12:11 PM	My gaming group and I love to use the gestalt characters variant from Unearthed Arcana (can be found on pg. 72), in which each character takes the best features of two classes at each level. For example, a 1st-level gestalt fighter/rogue gets the +1 BAB, +2 to Fort saves and the bonus feat from the fighter, and the +2 to Ref saves and the sneak attack and trapfinding abilities and the 8+Int skill points from the rogue. If such a character wants to take a prestige class, say the Invisible Blade, he/she gains a level in either fighter or rogue (but not both) and also in the prestige class, taking the best of both as normal. The variant produces high-powered characters who are also very versatile (bard-barian, anyone?), and provides possibility for some interesting roleplaying (so your character was born a sorcerer, got bullied through childhood, and, determined to get back at his oppressors, grew up to be a fighter who could buff himself and fly? Go ahead, knock yourself out...). We also like occasionally to use monster PCs (yup, we're twinkies :). There's an article in the Fight Club (back in ye olde 3rd Edition) on the idea of a good succubus paladin, which I'd love to play in an appropriately high-level campaign. The succubus starts with 6 HD and has a +6 level adjustment (and so is the equivalent of a 12th level character with no class levels). Any ideas on how this should work with the gestalt mechanics? Treat the ECL as one character class (ie 12 "levels" of succubus and 12 levels of paladin make her a 12th level gestalt character)? Take her first level of paladin/sorcerer (for example) on top of the 12 ECLs to make her a 13th level gestalt character? If anyone has experience with this, I'd appreciate the input. Things to keep in mind: -We've had pretty good success treating a gestalt party as level x 1.5 for purposes of determining appropriate CR. -A good succubus is incapable of using her summoning ability, and my DM has declared the use of her energy drain (that's a 9th-level spell at will, folks) to be an evil action, so can't use that. The DM says that he will allow a reduction in her ECL to account for the loss of these two powerful abilities, but have no idea how this will affect her level adjustment.
Syrios 11-17-07, 03:53 PM	I'm actually running a ridicoulously overpowered monster gestalt game, and we treat it like this: 1)All LAs fall to the bottom of your gestalt and settle evenly (So LA +6 becomes LA +3 on both sides) 2)Run 6 HD up one side and 6 Paladin Class levels up the other. You would get 6 class levels of Paladin, and the best features of Monster/Paladin HD. At this point you're a GECL 9 Character with your race fully paid off, (6 HD, effective Character level 6), and you Gestalt normally.