Level Adjustments and Gestalt [Archive] - Wizards Community

Level Adjustments and Gestalt [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ChimericalWolf
06-27-04, 12:28 AM Okay, I'm looking for a nice and simple answer here.

My group is looking to play a gestalt campain, and we're wondering what to do about level adjustments in gestalt.

We figure it will either count as one half of the gestalt level, or both halves of it. So the simple question is this:

For a +1 level adjusted race, such as Asimar or Tiefling, would a char starting at level 2 be:

A
level 1. ftr1 / tiefling
level 2. ftr2 / rog 1

OR

B
level 1. tiefling
level 2. frt 1 / rog 1

Please refrain from excessive arguements and bashing. Thank you in advance for your replies.
CDW22
06-28-04, 04:21 PM In this case, A, losing two entire levels (gestalt) for the very weak powers of the tiefling would be a shame.

For most Savage Species classes, I give them a level every HD increase definately, but I have yet to playtest if I should every LA or not.

Basically, weigh the benefits and disadvantages of both. In the possible case of most Outsiders, the spell like abilities and ability scores merit not getting your levels in some cases, but the Tiefling has absolutely nothing I'd give up two levels for, one is a fair trade though.
Part-Human2
06-29-04, 02:46 AM Someone posted a suggestion that would result with

C)
level 1. Outsider 1HD/Tiefling LA
level 2. Ftr 1 / Rog 1

I vote B) myself.
Glak
06-29-04, 11:51 AM Probably the equivilent solution (but not very useful) is to gestalt to LAs together:

level 1: Tiefling/Aasimar
Level 2: ftr1/rog1
JoshRodriguez
06-29-04, 03:02 PM I usually just allow my players to ignore the first LA for any gestalt characters that they build. If I'm running a game where the characters want to be gestalt, then I know I'm dealing with a bunch of munchkins already and don't see any point in trying to contain it by penalizing them for a measly +1 LA.
Jachra
06-29-04, 07:07 PM A Tiefling/Aasimar?

What's next?
Vulture/Whales?
Credit http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=040410

Note: As we all know, there's nothing wrong with an Orc Zombie ;D.
Riznar
06-29-04, 07:49 PM Originally posted by Jachra
A Tiefling/Aasimar?

What's next?
Vulture/Whales?
Credit http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=040410

Note: As we all know, there's nothing wrong with an Orc Zombie ;D.

Unless you believe that celestial and fiendish blood will boil each other away, I don't see any reason you couldn't have both fiendish and celestial ancestors
Aerunation
11-16-04, 05:25 AM I had this come up recently. 1 level adjustment is the equivalent to 1 class level. So, my player that wants to be a ranger/fighter will start out at level 1 as a ranger/level adjusted creature. At level 2 he will be a level 2 ranger/1 fighter. Works out perfect, dudn't? :)
Lord_Anthrax
11-16-04, 08:16 AM Start him out as a full-on whatever-whatever 1 with 0 XP, and require him to earn enough XP to get to level 3 before he hits 2. Also, you might want to let him buy off that LA when he hits 3 character levels so he can catch back up with the rest of the group.
Tein
11-18-04, 05:48 PM Ok, this is how it works in a game i'm in: LA is half of normal LA 2 = LA 1. LA 1 would be one and you get a class level for each HD obtained.
monkeybone
11-19-04, 03:42 AM I usually just allow my players to ignore the first LA for any gestalt characters that they build. If I'm running a game where the characters want to be gestalt, then I know I'm dealing with a bunch of munchkins already and don't see any point in trying to contain it by penalizing them for a measly +1 LA.

LOL
monkeybone
11-19-04, 03:44 AM A Tiefling/Aasimar?

What's next?
Vulture/Whales?

LOL
catharz
11-19-04, 04:04 AM The most balanced solution IMO would be as follows:
For creatures with racial HD and LA, the LA and HD run parallel (like two classes), until one or the other runs out.
If you have more racial HD then LA, you can take a class parallel to the racial HD.
If you have more LA then HD, then you can run the LA parallel to its self, effectively halving the remaining LA. If the remaining LA is odd, you're out of luck and have that last LA as a full level adjustment.
Morwen
11-19-04, 06:21 AM I usually just allow my players to ignore the first LA for any gestalt characters that they build. If I'm running a game where the characters want to be gestalt, then I know I'm dealing with a bunch of munchkins already and don't see any point in trying to contain it by penalizing them for a measly +1 LA.
Heh. Gestalt doesn't necessarily mean "munchkin". It can be used effectively in smaller groups, such as groups where you have the DM and 2 or 3 other players :)
Lord_Anthrax
11-19-04, 07:05 AM Ahh, but munchkin means "Someone who plays in a way I don't like" so yes, it can mean that. :cool:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ChimericalWolf 06-27-04, 12:28 AM	Okay, I'm looking for a nice and simple answer here. My group is looking to play a gestalt campain, and we're wondering what to do about level adjustments in gestalt. We figure it will either count as one half of the gestalt level, or both halves of it. So the simple question is this: For a +1 level adjusted race, such as Asimar or Tiefling, would a char starting at level 2 be: A level 1. ftr1 / tiefling level 2. ftr2 / rog 1 OR B level 1. tiefling level 2. frt 1 / rog 1 Please refrain from excessive arguements and bashing. Thank you in advance for your replies.
CDW22 06-28-04, 04:21 PM	In this case, A, losing two entire levels (gestalt) for the very weak powers of the tiefling would be a shame. For most Savage Species classes, I give them a level every HD increase definately, but I have yet to playtest if I should every LA or not. Basically, weigh the benefits and disadvantages of both. In the possible case of most Outsiders, the spell like abilities and ability scores merit not getting your levels in some cases, but the Tiefling has absolutely nothing I'd give up two levels for, one is a fair trade though.
Part-Human2 06-29-04, 02:46 AM	Someone posted a suggestion that would result with C) level 1. Outsider 1HD/Tiefling LA level 2. Ftr 1 / Rog 1 I vote B) myself.
Glak 06-29-04, 11:51 AM	Probably the equivilent solution (but not very useful) is to gestalt to LAs together: level 1: Tiefling/Aasimar Level 2: ftr1/rog1
JoshRodriguez 06-29-04, 03:02 PM	I usually just allow my players to ignore the first LA for any gestalt characters that they build. If I'm running a game where the characters want to be gestalt, then I know I'm dealing with a bunch of munchkins already and don't see any point in trying to contain it by penalizing them for a measly +1 LA.
Jachra 06-29-04, 07:07 PM	A Tiefling/Aasimar? What's next? Vulture/Whales? Credit http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=040410 Note: As we all know, there's nothing wrong with an Orc Zombie ;D.
Riznar 06-29-04, 07:49 PM	Originally posted by Jachra A Tiefling/Aasimar? What's next? Vulture/Whales? Credit http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=040410 Note: As we all know, there's nothing wrong with an Orc Zombie ;D. Unless you believe that celestial and fiendish blood will boil each other away, I don't see any reason you couldn't have both fiendish and celestial ancestors
Aerunation 11-16-04, 05:25 AM	I had this come up recently. 1 level adjustment is the equivalent to 1 class level. So, my player that wants to be a ranger/fighter will start out at level 1 as a ranger/level adjusted creature. At level 2 he will be a level 2 ranger/1 fighter. Works out perfect, dudn't? :)
Lord_Anthrax 11-16-04, 08:16 AM	Start him out as a full-on whatever-whatever 1 with 0 XP, and require him to earn enough XP to get to level 3 before he hits 2. Also, you might want to let him buy off that LA when he hits 3 character levels so he can catch back up with the rest of the group.
Tein 11-18-04, 05:48 PM	Ok, this is how it works in a game i'm in: LA is half of normal LA 2 = LA 1. LA 1 would be one and you get a class level for each HD obtained.
monkeybone 11-19-04, 03:42 AM	I usually just allow my players to ignore the first LA for any gestalt characters that they build. If I'm running a game where the characters want to be gestalt, then I know I'm dealing with a bunch of munchkins already and don't see any point in trying to contain it by penalizing them for a measly +1 LA. LOL
monkeybone 11-19-04, 03:44 AM	A Tiefling/Aasimar? What's next? Vulture/Whales? LOL
catharz 11-19-04, 04:04 AM	The most balanced solution IMO would be as follows: For creatures with racial HD and LA, the LA and HD run parallel (like two classes), until one or the other runs out. If you have more racial HD then LA, you can take a class parallel to the racial HD. If you have more LA then HD, then you can run the LA parallel to its self, effectively halving the remaining LA. If the remaining LA is odd, you're out of luck and have that last LA as a full level adjustment.
Morwen 11-19-04, 06:21 AM	I usually just allow my players to ignore the first LA for any gestalt characters that they build. If I'm running a game where the characters want to be gestalt, then I know I'm dealing with a bunch of munchkins already and don't see any point in trying to contain it by penalizing them for a measly +1 LA. Heh. Gestalt doesn't necessarily mean "munchkin". It can be used effectively in smaller groups, such as groups where you have the DM and 2 or 3 other players :)
Lord_Anthrax 11-19-04, 07:05 AM	Ahh, but munchkin means "Someone who plays in a way I don't like" so yes, it can mean that. :cool: