My DM is still allowing gestalts but doesn't want any gish types. I understand this limits us, but if we pick a melee class he'd like both sides of the gestalt to be such. If we pick a caster, both sides are types of caster. Prestige classes same deal. Despite the limits he has opened up some new and possibly very fun options. We ARE ALLOWED to level two PRC's simultaneously in the gestalt build.
I am playing a DM created sub-race called Ironbeard Dwarves which the DM pitched the idea of to me and I was sold immediately. If you have seen the movie 300, think of the spartan society and upbringing, then apply it to a dwarf! The abilities are:
* +2 natural armor
* Stats: -2 chr, +4 con, +2 str (on top of regular dwarf stat line, so -4 chr, +6 con, +2 str)
* Warcry: +1 to att and dmg once per day 2d4 rounds
* Son of Iron - ironbeard dwarf may use fort in liew of reflex or will once per day.
* May use str as intimidation check
My stat line ended as: 20 STR, 16 DEX, 24 CON, 14 INT, 12 WIS, 8 CHR
So heres the challenge. I Intend Warblade to be the starting class, not necessary to take to level 20 however, especially since dual PRC's are allowed. I was thinking the other half to start as fighter for some much needed feats. I intend to stay fully melee with this character. No casting at all please. Something like battlesmith may be considered but the character will shun ANY type of casting.
My partner this time is playing a Barbarian/?? with the intent of PRC'ing into Bear Warrior, Frienzied Berserker or perhaps both I'm unsure. So we definately are lacking some things but the DM ensures he will not tailor encounters to exploit our weeknesses, but rather to put our strengths to the ultimate test as well as our ingenuity. My compantion will definately be able to put out some hefty numbers and I'm always a sucker for big numbers myself but could be convinced to go tanky with this. I am debating right now between 3 different styles of combat. Axe/shield, 2 weapon, or minotaur great hammer(already cleared and allowed). The character begins play with nothing. He is sent out with a dagger to prove his worth much akin to the spartan being sent out in the movie 300.
So the big questions I am looking for advice. How would you build a STRICTLY melee (although something like Battlesmith might sneak in) level 20 Dwarf starting with a Warblade base? Not necessary to include feat choices, although feel free to offer that advice if you feel like committing the time! Primarily looking for choices of PRC, if any and base classes in the build. I've been tossing around a LOT of ideas and can't nail them down =(.
) I'm sure a lot of gestalt parties would like it if the spell-casters were able to defend themselves even better than normal in case of emergencies.Suppose I should mention, 3rd party books are fine.
Sadly, I've already got a gestalt build that sounds like it fits your partner almost exactly that I've been working on (some alt rules aside). *sigh*
i also find the resolute ACF for fighters( i think it is also in CC) solid for melee types, cause your willsave will suck.
While it is nice, it's covered somewhat by two things (I think): one of the racial features (Son of Iron) and certain maneuvers/stances.
As far as a few level fighter dip, yes I was planning on snagging dngeoncrasher. The resolute feature probably won't be necessary do to the racial and warblade abilities.
I was considering taking a barbarian level or two to get into dwarven battlerager...which doesn't seem all that great. I also love frenzied berserker but it will have to wait for another build as I dont want to steal any thunder from my companion. Been looking at prc's like dwarven defender, deep warden, depstone sentinel, a refluffing of warforged juggernaut etc. Trying to stay within the confines of your typical heavy armored, gruff fantasy story dwarf. Making it difficult on myself probably.
Erudite, although your suggestions may not qualify as 'gish' they do completely go against the other gudelines. Those being that if my choice is melee then all classes involved are strictly melee oriented, no casting at all. I can include things like ranger or paladin but must chose the acf that forgoes casting. Same applies if I were to select arcane caster, or psion or devine caster. We are using gestalt as a means to take a theme and run with it. He doesnt want characters that can launch fireballs one round then close with a greatsword the next. I understand a lot of you may find this a silly restriction but the alternative is non gestalt using regular multiclassing so I will make do with his rules.
So as it stands I am looking at weapon master and warmaster from sworx and fist. 3.0 i know but both cleared for use. Deepstone sentinel is still on the table as is a reworded (to apply to dwarves) eternal blade. I also had my DM take a good look at warforged juggernaut. He said as long as I write it up to apply to dwarves renaming things like construct perfection to armored perfection etc etc then he likes it. Opinions?