Half-Elves get 2 favored classes as a racial trait. Am I able to pick the same class twice and use one +1 for the hit points and the other +1 for the skill points?
From the PRD (regarding Half Elves) "Half-elves choose two favored classes at first level and gain +1 hit point or +1 skill point whenever they take a level in either one of those classes."
My view is no. You cannot select the same class twice as a favored class.
I tend to agree with you. I just wish it was spelled out clearly.
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Most definitely not. A class is either a favored class or not a favored class. There is no way to make it a "doubly favored class" and it isn't mentioned anywhere in the rules. Nothing would stop you from picking the same class twice however, you would simply only have that one class as a favored class (Which would only ever come up for RP reasons). The confusing part is when you get a half-elf in a gestalt campaign.
It's a bit like asking them to spell out that you can't gain 1st level in the same class more than once.
Agreed.
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Most definitely not. A class is either a favored class or not a favored class. There is no way to make it a "doubly favored class" and it isn't mentioned anywhere in the rules. Nothing would stop you from picking the same class twice however, you would simply only have that one class as a favored class (Which would only ever come up for RP reasons). The confusing part is when you get a half-elf in a gestalt campaign.Certain things should never have seen the light of day. Gestalt characters are one of them.
Personally I find gestalt to be fun and useful for situations where you may only have a few advanced players (1-3) or where you want a very difficult campaign. As a DM it's alot more work, but I think it's fun. For a regular 4 person party? Probably not the best. Running two people through a Paizo AP? It's really fun (with a few minor tweaks and about 1-2 major tweaks per AP).
Most definitely not. A class is either a favored class or not a favored class. There is no way to make it a "doubly favored class" and it isn't mentioned anywhere in the rules. Nothing would stop you from picking the same class twice however, you would simply only have that one class as a favored class (Which would only ever come up for RP reasons). The confusing part is when you get a half-elf in a gestalt campaign.Certain things should never have seen the light of day. Gestalt characters are one of them.
Didn't seem to be such a problem in first and second edition...
Didn't seem to be such a problem in first and second edition...
Ha! Quite true. There were even 3-classed combos. Level limits kept your elf fighter/thief/mage from getting too high in levels, though.
Ha! Quite true. There were even 3-classed combos. Level limits kept your elf fighter/thief/mage from getting too high in levels, though.
Didn't seem to be such a problem in first and second edition...
While similar (perhaps the closest thing available), gestalt characters are solidly more powerful than 1st edition multiclass characters.
1e:
Best attacks,
Best saves,
Average hp,
All class features (what few there were),
~1 level behind through 10th, then further.
Gestalt:
Best attacks,
Best saves,
Best hp,
All class features (many more now),
Same level.
Saves actually make a bit bigger difference now.
Best hp is about +15 hp at 10th level for a F/M-U.
It's the class features that really makes the biggest difference. The added power of bonus feats, special abilities, etc., stacking on top of each other makes for much stronger gestalts than multiclass.
They certainly can be fun at times, no question.
Erm.. and yes, no double-favored for half-elves.
They certainly can be fun at times, no question.
The PrCs that combine classes are the closest, now, other than gestalt.
I played a MU/Thief in 2e who remains one of the most fun characters I ever played. We had no mage or thief other than him, so at higher levels, he started to be very appreciated (2e haste on the fighters. GO!).
When he got stuck in melee, He was decent with the theif's ThAC0 and two swords (high dex), with the elves' +1 with swords. Almost kept up with the cleric. Good times!
His thief level was always ahead of his mage level, and he was always a level or 2 behind the rest. All told, though, the new arcane trickster has the same feel and some tricks of his own. Pathfinder rules!
Or, maybe it's; Pathfinder rules rule! ;)
Certain things should never have seen the light of day. Gestalt characters are one of them.
Gestalt rules allow you to take a smaller number of base classes and produce a much wider variety of character types and archetypes with them, and allow for more multifaceted characters without the role dilution that comes from multiclassing.
Common soldiers can be Warriors or Fighters. Heroic Fighters are also inspiring commanders, shock troopers, or esoteric swordsaints. Clerics of war gods should be accomplished warriors without losing effectiveness as Clerics, and Clerics of gods of thievery should be effective thieves. A Monk's rigorous training can lead him down a multitude of other martial or spiritual disciplines.
Almost all of the problems with Gestalt come from classes designed to cover those gaps in a single class environment-- Duskblade, Psychic Warrior, Spellthief, about a thousand PrCs-- or from people who take all of the opportunities for depth and flexibility and choose to hyperspecialize instead-- Warmage/Evokers, Paladin/Clerics, Fighter/Dragon Devotee//Barbarian/Dragon Disciple, Druid//Monk/Master of Many Forms/Warshaper, to use a handful of examples.
Ugh. Bard//Sorcerer/Divine Oracle/Virtuoso.
But for every one of those horrors, there are dozens of beautifully multifaceted characters that can spring from the interaction of a couple of different base classes.
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Why not quote a couple of those examples that you're thinking of? And I really hope that one of them is not Barbarian/Wizard :)
But for every one of those horrors, there are dozens of beautifully multifaceted characters that can spring from the interaction of a couple of different base classes.
There was the Rage Mage prestige class...
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I actually enjoy using Gestalt classes in games with limited numbers of players. Typically if I'm running a game with 2 players, or 1 player and myself as DMPC, I will allow gestalt classes. This accomplishes a few things without overloading PCs with levels/magic items:
1) Fills the 4 iconic roles, or at least most of them depending on choices. A party of 2 at least has a chance to get through any type of challenge.
2) Increases available healing so that the player who wants to fight can fight and then heal the party later.
3) Toughens up characters. The wizard player doesn't have to worry about not having 3 players to protect him, he has d10 hit points.
4) Prolongs adventuring day (always good) - characters still have economy of actions, but much more daily resources.