Splinter Cell(s): Advice for a gestalt squad?


Advice


So in my level 12 gestalt game the PCs may soon come into conflict with the elite intelligence division of a "goodly" church, the kind of intelligence division that is authorized to protect church interests using any means necessary. Any means, including spying, kidnapping, torturing, and the occasional act of genocide. They perform rites of "penance" in advance so that they can commit atrocities without falling from grace... they think that anyway. That's the kind of people they are.

So how would you make a gestalt group like that? I'm looking for some ideas about how to build them. They are going to be level 10 gestalts themselves with full PC WBL. Any ideas? Inquisitor pretty much suits the flavor dead on, but just throwing down an all inquisitor party lacks style. I'm pretty much open to all ideas but they each be capable of stealth and infiltration at least to some degree and I'm thinking I'm going to give each a bonus feat: Troth of the Forgotten Pharaoh. Yay, instant suicide option!

As a side note, I don't know what I'm going to call their order yet but of course it has to be ominous sounding. Thoughts on a name too?


Bring in powerful spellcasters, particularly wizards. Devout ninjas. Maybe a magus as a boss (they're combat nightmares).

As for name, that's tricky. You need something with a negative connotation, but since the group doesn't consider itself evil it can't be obvious. You need something pernicious. How about just "The Librarians"?


The name should be based off their cleansing ritual IMO. It's the centre of the shared identity you describe.

If the group has a 'Political Officer' who is there to ensure the others are keeping to proper doctrine, maybe that person whould be a cleric. Gestalt with rogue to keep that person able to sneak, but most of those extra skill points will go to social skills.

For your more typical agents, inquisitor // ranger is a skilled tracker and agent, and when needed an effective front liner or sniper depending on the exact build.

At least one arcane caster with teleport will be necessary. They can also provide various support including invisibility as necessary. A prepared caster would seem most appropriate for agents who shouldn't be getting into things without some information in advance, wizard or arcanist. Gestalt with anything, it's not important to their function; monk would be best for keeping them alive.


Hmm. Inquisitor is pretty bad for gestalt, actually. Bard would be better. How many should there be in the squad, and at what level? Can they have minions?


A Zen Archer/Inquisitor would be a good start. Flurry of greater bane is ridiculous. Take the conversion, or heresy inquisition and you can dump CHA completely and still be highly effective.

An Archeologist Bard/Oracle of lore would be good for gathering information and investigation. A catfolk with the bards favored class will mean you know just about everything.

Another good combination would be a Ranger/Warpreist. Full BAB, all good saves, lots of bonus feats including some fighter only feats, and decent magic.

Just to have the odd man out a Slayer/Wizard for arcane power. This gives you some needed utility to cover what the other characters do not.


I was throwing Inquisitor out there as the kind of flavor I was going for; they are essentially inquisitors even if they lack that actual class. I'm thinking 5 or 6, level 10 or 11, full WBL. What kind of minions in particularly are you asking about? I could see like companions granted by class features, but perhaps not a group of low level characters following them around just to be cannon fodder. Think of them like an adventuring party. They are an elite force; they ain't got time to babysit.

Here's what I was originally thinking of doing, but it's all rather vague and hazy even to me still. It's certainly not definite either, so all ideas are welcome.

1. One member would have one side of his gestalt be Black Jack Fighter and everyone else would have one level of it on the side of their gestalt that can best afford it; the primary Blackjack would stock up on Teamwork feats... that character might be level 12 just for Superior Tactics. Seems like it could be interesting, but not sure if it would be worth it. I'd see each member of the group taking Stealth Synergy at the very least.

2. Repose Domain. One character having that and others in the group having ways to cause stagger. Maybe two characters with it. I'd see them using it for "stealth kills" in their missions.

3. Stealthy grappler with Bushwack.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Advice / Splinter Cell(s): Advice for a gestalt squad? All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.
Recent threads in Advice