Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DevaNinja 05-27-04, 11:42 PM	Here's a variant of the Gestalt rules that I"m probably gonna try out for my group. Most of it is a throwback to the old second edition version of multiclassing. Hit Die: Instead of taking the higher die, the player takes the average of both rolls. (roll both dice add the results then divide by 2). Skills: Same as above. The character takes the average of both classes. All skills on both lists are class skills. Saving Throws Instead of taking the best of both worlds, the player chooses one class progression and must stick with it. Also no Gestalting with redundant classes (Sorc/Wiz, Fgtr/Pal, Clrc/Drd, etc...). I was also thinking of only allowing this to be done at first level, so no gestalting with Prestige Classes, Multiclass only with those. As a side note, if I integrated this in a regular campaign, should I impose an xp penalty for the Gestalt character or just treat him as a +1 LA?
Marcus Majarra 05-28-04, 01:17 AM	Second Edition multiclassing sucked. Badly. It was poorly structured, and wasn't at all balanced with single class-characters. The way I see it, you either allow full gestalt or you don't allow gestalt at all. Modifying means that you'll be making plenty of personal calls into what is allowed for gestalt characters and what isn't, on a case-by-case basis. I mean, what exactly qualifies as redundant gestalting? Taking two classes with the same kind (arcane or divine) of magic progression? Taking two classes with the same BAB growth? I say it's better you leave gestalts as they are. Much less complications. Furthermore, mixing gestalts with non-gestalts is a very bad idea, on account that there is no way to balance out gestalts with single-class characters (LA would have to be progressive, since you don't get a set of advantages that remain immutable throughout your character's growth). Gestalts were made for high-power campaigns with small adventuring parties. If you want weaker gestalts because either condition isn't filled, then I suggest you run a high-magic game instead.
Tenzhi 05-28-04, 01:38 AM	Originally posted by Marcus Majarra Furthermore, mixing gestalts with non-gestalts is a very bad idea, on account that there is no way to balance out gestalts with single-class characters Sure there is - you use the Level-independent XP award variant and you charge the gestalt character twice as much XP to gain levels. That way, the gestalt character needs as much XP as two characters - since the gestalt is actually less powerful than two seperate characters this more than balances the gestalt with regular characters.
TheMightyMcClaw 05-28-04, 12:23 PM	I personally find the best way to implement Gestalt is to to pre-determine which class is going to be "Gestalted" with; for example, for a Wuxia type game, you might have all characters "gestalted" with monk... or for a super-high magic game, everyone might be "gestalted" with sorcerer. I find that way, the Gestalt rules can be used to run the characters along a theme without penalizing them by forcing them to take a certain class... rather than just allowing the PC's to make extra-powerful characters.