2 gestalt characters for a single player campaign, core rules only


Advice


While on a trip through the USA, we will be stuck in hotels while our 2 year old sleeps, so my wife will run the game and I'll play two gestalt characters (level 2 and level 3). I was going to go with Sorcerer/Oracle and Psion/Ranger, but she decided to limit me to just the books we have on hand, which is core rules only (and I don't have the money to go buy any books before we leave).

My only idea at this point is either Wizard/Ranger or Sorcerer/Ranger for one of the characters (archery focus). These are probably one off characters, maybe gain a level or two each while on the road, and that's about it as my wife wants to switch to Starfinder as she likes sci-fi over fantasy. Can't say I'm against playing a space elf.

In the meantime, I'm looking for some ideas for our road trip game since my original picks are now shot.

Scarab Sages

Sorcerer/Paladin. Even at level 2, you're super tanky, add Charisma to Saves, effective healing via extra Lay on Hands uses, and the DCs of spells and getting extra ones. If you're willing to invest some starting money into mithril gear, you can even get really solid defenses at that level.

As for the other, to be complimentary, I'd suggest doing something like Rogue/Bard or Ranger/Bard. Inspire Courage works well with helping those sneak attacks hit, helps your MAD Paladin, and you have more skill bonuses than you can shake a stick at. Considering the Pala/Sorc will be low on skills, shoring up that end will be extremely useful. Remember that a high Charisma on a bard is more of a recommendation, not a requirement, so you can be combative for your 1-shot and use your bard side for a bit of extra healing and support.


So I figure Sorcerer/Paladin as the level 3 pick and then the other as the level 2. Any ideas for bloodline?

I figure I'll take Ranger/Bard. The switch hitter always has a special place in my heart because it makes me feel like Aragorn.

Scarab Sages

Well, Celestial bloodline is thematic. Draconic bloodline for Silver could also be great, plus you can actually make good use of the claws. I'd also recommend either Fey or Elemental. The ability to take out an enemy for 1 round is surprisingly useful, even for just two characters, and getting access to Entangle is a GODSEND.


do you have a tablet or a labtop?


Lady-J wrote:
do you have a tablet or a labtop?

I suppose it is fair for the OP to float the idea to his Dungeon Mistress that if they are in hotel rooms then they will almost definitely have free wireless internet and therefore have access to the Pathfinder websites and have every rulebook on hand.

But his wife said Core Only, and she's the GM.

But maybe you are thinking of something different.


I have an idea for 2 Core-Only Characters.

1) A Fighter or Ranger/Wizard/Eldritch Knight/Arcane Archer

2) A Barbarian/Druid Druidzilla character. I'm thinking take like 1 level in Barbarian, 4 levels in Druid, then the rest in Barbarian. Take Shaping Focus and Natural Spell. Take Rage Powers that give you Natural Attacks like Claws and a Bite. Your Rage ST Mod will stack with Wild Shape. Your Rage Natural Attacks will just add onto the Natural Attacks of the Animal you take, so become a Triceratops with a Gore Attack Already, then go into a Rage and get 2 Claws and a Bite on top of your Gore! And your Size increases from Wild Shape should apply to your Barbarian Rage Natural Attacks. I'm not 100% sure that everything I'm suggesting is Core Rulebook, but most of it is, and you should be able to build something like this Core Only.

As a bonus, 1 of your characters can ride the other. What could be more badass than riding into town on the back of a Triceratops?


Scott Wilhelm wrote:
Lady-J wrote:
do you have a tablet or a labtop?

I suppose it is fair for the OP to float the idea to his Dungeon Mistress that if they are in hotel rooms then they will almost definitely have free wireless internet and therefore have access to the Pathfinder websites and have every rulebook on hand.

But his wife said Core Only, and she's the GM.

But maybe you are thinking of something different.

even if they have only the core book as a hard cover if they have purchased any pdfs then a tablet or labtop will allow them access to the books they have already purchased but just don't have a physical copy of


Lady-J wrote:
Scott Wilhelm wrote:
Lady-J wrote:
do you have a tablet or a labtop?

I suppose it is fair for the OP to float the idea to his Dungeon Mistress that if they are in hotel rooms then they will almost definitely have free wireless internet and therefore have access to the Pathfinder websites and have every rulebook on hand.

But his wife said Core Only, and she's the GM.

But maybe you are thinking of something different.

even if they have only the core book as a hard cover if they have purchased any pdfs then a tablet or labtop will allow them access to the books they have already purchased but just don't have a physical copy of

Oh, we were thinking along the same lines, weren't we? I think I want to play with you!


We have access to the whole PFSRD, but she wants this to be core rules only for simplicity sake (and because she has far less experience than me).


Yehudi wrote:
We have access to the whole PFSRD, but she wants this to be core rules only for simplicity sake (and because she has far less experience than me).

so core races and classes only, are feats, traits, archetypes and prestige classes also core only?


Lady-J wrote:
Yehudi wrote:
We have access to the whole PFSRD, but she wants this to be core rules only for simplicity sake (and because she has far less experience than me).
so core races and classes only, are feats, traits, archetypes and prestige classes also core only?

Yup.


Yehudi wrote:
Lady-J wrote:
Yehudi wrote:
We have access to the whole PFSRD, but she wants this to be core rules only for simplicity sake (and because she has far less experience than me).
so core races and classes only, are feats, traits, archetypes and prestige classes also core only?
Yup.

whats the stat generation


Lady-J wrote:
Yehudi wrote:
Lady-J wrote:
Yehudi wrote:
We have access to the whole PFSRD, but she wants this to be core rules only for simplicity sake (and because she has far less experience than me).
so core races and classes only, are feats, traits, archetypes and prestige classes also core only?
Yup.
whats the stat generation

Not selected yet.


Yehudi wrote:
Lady-J wrote:
Yehudi wrote:
Lady-J wrote:
Yehudi wrote:
We have access to the whole PFSRD, but she wants this to be core rules only for simplicity sake (and because she has far less experience than me).
so core races and classes only, are feats, traits, archetypes and prestige classes also core only?
Yup.
whats the stat generation
Not selected yet.

alright well depending on the stats will change what is open for playability so once you decide let us know dont want to give you a MAD character suggestion if your only getting a 15-20 point buy

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

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Paladin//Bard 2 and Ranger//Druid 3.

P//B can tank and buff and face (and cast in light armor), R//D summon and snipe and scout, and animal companion can help P//B with melee.

Both have Full BAB, all good saves, d10 HD, 6+ skills per level, can heal each other. Both can take Stealth, so both can sneak.

Swap out Bard or Ranger for Rogue if you're really concerned about traps, but hopefully your wife will plan the adventures for the capabilities of the party.

P//B can use Power Attack on a Strength build or Weapon Finesse on a Dexterity Build, with Combat Reflexes good for reach, and Improved Initiative good for getting buffs off before Animal Companion and R//D go (and summoned allies).
15 point buy human:
Power Attacker 16 13 12 10 10 14
Finesse 10 16 14 10 10 14 or 13 16 12 10 10 14

R//D can either fully focus on ranged combat: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, or go Spell Focus conjuration and Augment Summoning, with Precise Shot or Rapid Shot from your Ranger Combat Style, and if human, take Diehard at 3rd, or Power Attack, Combat Reflexes, or Weapon Finesse depending on what kind of switch-hitting you want to use. Also, consider what kind of feat you want to use when wildshaping at 4th level.
15 point buy human:
Archer: 10 16 14 10 14 10 or 13 16 12 10 14 10
Switch hitter: 13 14 12 10 16 10


SmiloDan wrote:

Paladin//Bard 2 and Ranger//Druid 3.

P//B can tank and buff and face (and cast in light armor), R//D summon and snipe and scout, and animal companion can help P//B with melee.

Both have Full BAB, all good saves, d10 HD, 6+ skills per level, can heal each other. Both can take Stealth, so both can sneak.

Swap out Bard or Ranger for Rogue if you're really concerned about traps, but hopefully your wife will plan the adventures for the capabilities of the party.

P//B can use Power Attack on a Strength build or Weapon Finesse on a Dexterity Build, with Combat Reflexes good for reach, and Improved Initiative good for getting buffs off before Animal Companion and R//D go (and summoned allies).
15 point buy human:
Power Attacker 16 13 12 10 10 14
Finesse 10 16 14 10 10 14 or 13 16 12 10 10 14

R//D can either fully focus on ranged combat: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, or go Spell Focus conjuration and Augment Summoning, with Precise Shot or Rapid Shot from your Ranger Combat Style, and if human, take Diehard at 3rd, or Power Attack, Combat Reflexes, or Weapon Finesse depending on what kind of switch-hitting you want to use. Also, consider what kind of feat you want to use when wildshaping at 4th level.
15 point buy human:
Archer: 10 16 14 10 14 10 or 13 16 12 10 14 10
Switch hitter: 13 14 12 10 16 10

Much appreciated. Thank you.

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

You're welcome! :-D

I figure the bard is better than a sorcerer because it can cast while wearing armor, has more skill points, and also helps with Reflex saves, plus it has buffing.


SmiloDan wrote:

You're welcome! :-D

I figure the bard is better than a sorcerer because it can cast while wearing armor, has more skill points, and also helps with Reflex saves, plus it has buffing.

I got 4d6 reroll the ones for the ability selection, so I had rather good results, but patterned them after your suggestions.

I went with half-elf instead of human for thematic reasons, though. Still leaves a lot of power and I pumped those bonus skills points into perform on the bard, which boosted two other skills and freed up some ranks.

Thanks again, appreciate the help!

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Great! I think that's going to be a fun pairing. Non-stick-in-the-mud LG paired with any other non-evil alignment should lead to some fun stories. NG, N, LN, or CN?

Half-elves are great too.

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