I'm playing in a real-life gestalt game, and experimenting with different ideas for what class to play. The bard half is a definite, because I've bard before to good reception and was asked into this group to play a charismatic skill monkey again. Due to the higher power level inherent in gestalt, and the fact most people are cheesing for very high-power stuff, I'm looking for a second class that will bring some damage-dealing capacity.
I settled on Sorceror because it's another charismatic spellcaster, which means less MAD issues. Draconic Sorceror/Dragon Disciple specifically because I want to be a damage dealer, both magically and directly. The bard side will be stacked with support spells like buffs and debuffs, since bard spells are best spent on support. Sorceror would be mostly stacked with damage spells, playing the blaster with some intermittent utility spells that seem too good to pass up that bards don't get.
So my question is, would this combination work in practice? Maybe not optimal, but can I at least expect to be a solid enough gestalt choice to not fall too far behind the rest?
EDIT: And any build advice would be cool. I've usually played ranged bards and only ever dabbled in sorceror, so I'm open to tips on where to go with them.
IMO it's ok. You can do everything both classes can do. You will be squishy compared to most Gestalt characters, but the DDs freaking D12 Hit Dice will take care of this later on. So as you said not 100% optimal but still friggin strong.
Maybe you should take mainly long duration buffs with your bard. This way your sorcerer side won't run in trouble with your action economy.
For gestalt my current character is by far the best one to my play style I have made as a mindchymist wizard.
Another potent combo for a more face character would be a plain Word sorcerer with a bard archetype or such to be range. The sorc would give you great action economy with the ability to mix 2 to 3 spells in a cast. The bard brings buffs and face abilities with misc spells for what word spells don't cover.
But honestly most play gestalt due to small party size, then it is pretty important to make sure all skills/roles are covered and that may influence you more.
But honestly most play gestalt due to small party size, then it is pretty important to make sure all skills/roles are covered and that may influence you more.
We're playing in a group of five, so roles aren't really a problem. I used to play in another game of the DM's, and he asked me to join his other group because they needed a skill monkey/party face for the game they were starting. That's why bard is the important part, and why it's simply a matter of nailing down what to pair it with. Between everyone else we have really good class coverage and hit the other roles fine, so there's no pressure to go one way or another.
Maybe you should take mainly long duration buffs with your bard. This way your sorcerer side won't run in trouble with your action economy.
That's currently the plan. One of the things I plan on using to help actions along is the Spellsong feat, which will let me continue concentration-duration spells by spending performance rounds, and then during that turn cast an additional spell. I haven't gone through the whole Sorceror list one by one yet, but I'm guessing the feat becomes far better when being handed that spell list to toy with.