Gestalt as Theme Party Tool? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Gestalt as Theme Party Tool? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nifft
03-26-04, 01:16 AM Anyone using Gestalt characters as a tool to make a Theme Party campaign?

For example, a kung-fu high-wuxia campaign would have everyone a Gestalt Monk, while a thief campaign would have everyone a Gestalt Rogue, and a savage campaign would have everyone playing a Gestalt Barbarian.

Anyone try this, and if so, how did it work out?

Thanks, -- N
philopharynx
03-26-04, 02:04 PM Well, I haven't done this, but we do have a campaign that is rogue based tht can give some insights. Everyone in the groups has at least some levels in rogue except for the bard (and everybody knows bards are rogues with lutes anyway)

Combat against anything sneak-attackable goes insanely fast.

Round 1 everybody tumbles out of the bard's invisibility sphere into flanking positings a la cirque de soleil, and sneak attacks. since most of us are multiclassed, we don't get much damage, but with multiple sneak attacks, things die quickly.

In some cases with multiple opponents, the bard stands in the middle, fighting defensively with expertise, and provides a flanker for several opponents.

With gestalt classes this becomes much more deadly. If you aren't fighting a lot of undead, constructs and people with fortification armor, expect a lot of quick kills.
TwoSix26
03-26-04, 03:19 PM I had been brainstorming a campaign where every character is the child of a powerful wizard/shifter, so everyone is a gestalt sorcerer. I have a different campaign idea for my next campaign, but I definitely like the idea if I run FR instead.
MeepoTheMighty
03-26-04, 04:26 PM I'm also thinking about doing the gestalt sorcerer idea, and I posted a thread on here a while ago about that. I think I'm going to give it a try, next time it's my turn to run a game. :)
Illithidbix
03-26-04, 07:14 PM Well one of my DM's had a similar idea involving normal multiclassing rather than Gestalt. But it could work the same:

He was going to have the party as a travelling band doing gigs and stuff and have everyone part Bard. :D How about that for party coherency (well until the bard-barbarian trashes the inn and gets them banned).
philopharynx
03-30-04, 12:24 PM Of course the gestalt sorceror idea runs into the difficulty that some people will have to choose between armor and using sorceror spells. Unless you allow them the battle sorceror option, have ready access to twilight armor (BoED), or are high enough that they can multiclass into spellsword.
MarkusH
03-30-04, 01:32 PM I'm thinking about running my next campaign where all the players are gestalt psionic characters. One class must be one of the psionic classes, the other class can be whatever they wish. (They can, if they choose, not play a gestalt player at all, but won't get any special abilities if they do.)

Should be interesting.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nifft 03-26-04, 01:16 AM	Anyone using Gestalt characters as a tool to make a Theme Party campaign? For example, a kung-fu high-wuxia campaign would have everyone a Gestalt Monk, while a thief campaign would have everyone a Gestalt Rogue, and a savage campaign would have everyone playing a Gestalt Barbarian. Anyone try this, and if so, how did it work out? Thanks, -- N
philopharynx 03-26-04, 02:04 PM	Well, I haven't done this, but we do have a campaign that is rogue based tht can give some insights. Everyone in the groups has at least some levels in rogue except for the bard (and everybody knows bards are rogues with lutes anyway) Combat against anything sneak-attackable goes insanely fast. Round 1 everybody tumbles out of the bard's invisibility sphere into flanking positings a la cirque de soleil, and sneak attacks. since most of us are multiclassed, we don't get much damage, but with multiple sneak attacks, things die quickly. In some cases with multiple opponents, the bard stands in the middle, fighting defensively with expertise, and provides a flanker for several opponents. With gestalt classes this becomes much more deadly. If you aren't fighting a lot of undead, constructs and people with fortification armor, expect a lot of quick kills.
TwoSix26 03-26-04, 03:19 PM	I had been brainstorming a campaign where every character is the child of a powerful wizard/shifter, so everyone is a gestalt sorcerer. I have a different campaign idea for my next campaign, but I definitely like the idea if I run FR instead.
MeepoTheMighty 03-26-04, 04:26 PM	I'm also thinking about doing the gestalt sorcerer idea, and I posted a thread on here a while ago about that. I think I'm going to give it a try, next time it's my turn to run a game. :)
Illithidbix 03-26-04, 07:14 PM	Well one of my DM's had a similar idea involving normal multiclassing rather than Gestalt. But it could work the same: He was going to have the party as a travelling band doing gigs and stuff and have everyone part Bard. :D How about that for party coherency (well until the bard-barbarian trashes the inn and gets them banned).
philopharynx 03-30-04, 12:24 PM	Of course the gestalt sorceror idea runs into the difficulty that some people will have to choose between armor and using sorceror spells. Unless you allow them the battle sorceror option, have ready access to twilight armor (BoED), or are high enough that they can multiclass into spellsword.
MarkusH 03-30-04, 01:32 PM	I'm thinking about running my next campaign where all the players are gestalt psionic characters. One class must be one of the psionic classes, the other class can be whatever they wish. (They can, if they choose, not play a gestalt player at all, but won't get any special abilities if they do.) Should be interesting.