Rakshasa blooline sorcerer could help, also ideas
there's already a handful of gestalt threads, including this one with almost 500 posts. some of those ones use 3rd party material or 3.X stuff so you'll have to sort through it, but there are tons of great combos in there.
figuring out the tastiest ones requires knowing what you'd like to do, plus what rules exactly you are using... some GMs allow some but not all prestige classes, some allow none, some only let you take 1 PrC at any given level, and some just let you do whatever you want. plus point buy can be even more significant in a gestalt campaign- two MAD classes might be amazing in a really high point buy game but in low point buys you really want to focus on classes that use the same stat(s)...
a couple combos i like:
ranger/witch (full BAB, all good saves, crazy skills, bonus combat feats, full caster, great resource management with hexes, an animal companion and a familiar for action economy... just all around really solid, it is kind of MAD though).
wizard/kensai magus (everything a magus can usually do only after 6th level, when you get Broad Study, you can do them with full wizard casting)
monk/empyreal sorcerer (full caster, no need for armor, all good saves, full BAB while flurrying, great Wis synergy... good way to make a caster with better defenses and more options for when casting isn't a good choice)
paladin/sorcerer/dragon disciple (awesome Cha synergy and a solid gish... depending on how your GM works PrCs/multiclassing you might even end up with full casting and full BAB)
I think my personal favorite is Paladin/Sound Striker Bard. Be the voice of your god and destroy your enemies with naught but a word... or 10.
I think they errata'd weird words so it has to effect different targets.
there's already a handful of gestalt threads, including this one with almost 500 posts. some of those ones use 3rd party material or 3.X stuff so you'll have to sort through it, but there are tons of great combos in there.
figuring out the tastiest ones requires knowing what you'd like to do, plus what rules exactly you are using... some GMs allow some but not all prestige classes, some allow none, some only let you take 1 PrC at any given level, and some just let you do whatever you want. plus point buy can be even more significant in a gestalt campaign- two MAD classes might be amazing in a really high point buy game but in low point buys you really want to focus on classes that use the same stat(s)...
a couple combos i like:
ranger/witch (full BAB, all good saves, crazy skills, bonus combat feats, full caster, great resource management with hexes, an animal companion and a familiar for action economy... just all around really solid, it is kind of MAD though).
wizard/kensai magus (everything a magus can usually do only after 6th level, when you get Broad Study, you can do them with full wizard casting)
monk/empyreal sorcerer (full caster, no need for armor, all good saves, full BAB while flurrying, great Wis synergy... good way to make a caster with better defenses and more options for when casting isn't a good choice)
paladin/sorcerer/dragon disciple (awesome Cha synergy and a solid gish... depending on how your GM works PrCs/multiclassing you might even end up with full casting and full BAB)
glad to see my thread made an impression.
I have always liked the idea of a ranger/ master of many styles-hungry ghost monk. The idea is to use ranger TWF to replace flurry (and armor, spells, and an AC), and then use master of many styles for the style feats (if your through in qinggong as well, you might get enough spells and SLAs together to get something of a half-caster)
The style feats I focus on for my general theme would be boar style (with dragon style afterwards...because come on). The over all idea here is that boar style allows you to tear people apart with your bare hands (generally reflecting something similar to the natural attack style for rangers). Hungry ghost monk archetype also works its way in since you steal (or eat) the ki from others, which combines with the other elements to make a rather monstrous character.
Whether you actually try to make the character a 'monster' or just someone who is brutal is up to you and your game.
I think they errata'd weird words so it has to effect different targets.
There's no mention of it on the Ultimate Combat FAQ so it seems like its still all unclear.
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Paladin/Bard is indeed ridiculously awesome. Charisma-based as hell.
As is Barbarian/Druid. Raging Tiger is go, and scary as hell. Monk/Druid also has serious potential with Feral Combat Training.
Paladin/Ninja basically lets you be a superhero ala Batman.
Alchemist/Master Chymist/Barbarian does the same with being the Hulk.
Barbarian/Oracle/Rage Prophet actually makes Rage Prophet good.
Paladin/Monk/Champion of Irori is all kinds of ridiculous. Especially if you throw in a level of Oracle on the Monk side to enable Dex-ditching. Oracle of Lore is even thematically appropriate.
Gunslinger/Paladin is right out of a Western and murders things dead with Smite Evil + Touch Attacks. Could be combined post-5th level with the Paladin/Monk idea above and be utterly ridiculous.
Ranger/Cleric is pretty solid, with all good saves, two domains, an Animal Companion, stat synergy, full BAB, full casting, and 6 skill points per level. This is almost as true of Ranger/Druid, but not quite.
Cavalier/Magus actually sounds like a lot of fun. You get Magus casting, a full Animal Companion, 4 skill points per level, Tactician plus high Int (which seems logical) and Challenge + Spellstrike, which seems like it could get vicious real quick.
Paladin/Oracle actually works out really well. You could throw in Mystery Cultist and do the High Oradin of Arshea thing if you feel like it, while still being a fully leveled Paladin.
Combining two full casters, especially with stat synergy, will always be ridiculous.
And so on and so forth.
A half-elf Crossblooded sorcerer (serpentine/fey)/summoner (wild caller) with a serpentine eidolon. Fun, flavorful, powerful without being overpowered (IMO), but grab a cloak of resistance as quick as you can.
I think that thread is more for power gaming combos, while this one is asking for thematic combos.
My favorite combos:
Hospitaler Paladin/Life Oracle- Amazing healer who doesn't even need to focus on healing (due to them being free/move actions).
Oracle of flame/Marid bloodline sorcerer- Master Fire and Ice. Also having resistances to 2 elements that you can aoe around you...
Inquisitor/Ranger- Hunting down your favored enemy as if it was a divine calling.
Ranger/Druid- Getting boon companion to get 2 full strength animal companions. A pack master, probably using wild shape to join them.
synthesist summoner /monk (pounce with ALL of the arms/fist and multi arm combat...think asuras wrath)
i'm also a big fan of the ranger/inquisitor (though try to pick archetypes that will reduce overlap from things like both classes getting track normally)
double casters seem awesome (and thematically are pretty great) but from a functionality standpoint they retain most of the weaknesses of their separate classes and don't gain much versatility... the extra spells are nice but how often do you really run out of spells even with just 1 casting class? they do get better after 10th when the extra 5th+ level spells let you make good use of quicken spells.
fighter/bard is a nice combo (full BAB, all good saves, good skills, spell support, party buffs) and I've seen an urban barbarian/dawnflower dervish bard that was pretty awesome...
also- i apologize if that link was for a thread that wasn't quite what you're looking for, but here's one that might be closer, or maybe this one instead? i don't have time to hunt for them but there are definitely others too...
monk/warpriest is a match made in heaven. full bab all the time, 6th level casting with a buff based spell list, and of course the swift action buffing doesn't hurt either.
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Inquisitor/Tome of Magic Binder: In addition to both classes being able to benefit extensively from most ability scores, this is one HELL of a roleplaying experience - think of a sort of variation on The Torment of Tony Jay, or the Magneto of Marvel 1602, or...how does Pact Magic NOT explain these guys' behavior?
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I'd go Monk/Empyreal Bloodline Sorcerer. The stat synergy is great and using buff spells you can be a seriously scary melee combatant. Plus various utility spells. You're a full caster who can mix it up in melee, and that's pretty solid.
Alternately, Monk/Samurai has less stat synergy but some great thematic synergy, and Challenge + Flurry will potentially do seriously ridiculous damage. If you don't want a mount, the Sword Saint Archetype does away with it, and you can go Temple Sword (or Sohei and a Naginata...which is what I might do) and still be solid both mechanically and thematically.
Brawler could work then.
Edit: the fighter archetype.
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Azata Blooded Aasimar
Dawnflower Dervish Bard/Flame Mystery Oracle
Lots of nice synergy in the abilities and great thematically as a follower of Sarenrae.
Garuda Blooded Aasimar
Zen Archer Monk/Empyreal Sorcerer
Abundant Ammunition, Gravity Bow, Versatile Weapon, Mage Armor, Shield, Fly, Greater Magic Weapon, etc... Besides the great power boost, there is also excellent theme here as a Divine herald archer type. Or be a very devout sniper, ala Barry Peppers' character in "Saving Private Ryan".
Dwarven
Zen Archer/Inquisitor
Wear a broad brimmed hat, chomp a cigar, be the "Dwarf with no name"... and dispense some righteous justice.
Human
Synthesist Summoner/Sorcerer of a blaster type.
Humanoid Eidolon. Looks like a Battlesuit, can fly, is tough, is strong. Has sorcerer blasts... I. AM. IRON. MAN.
You probably don't want the Crane feats anymore. It got a hurt is nerf.
How are you doing stats?
For your standard monk and rules sets you've stated, fighter is really strong. I find it's kind of boring, but strong. If you don't need to get improved feats you could easily find yourself not knowing what to spend the next feat on.
Ranger will give you more skill points to spend and with favored enemy you could deal even more damage than the fighter. Also you don't need as many feats as the fighter is going to give you if you get them all for free due to house rules. You could even take an archetype that gives up flurry and get it back with twf feat(s).
Paladin could be great with smite added into the mix. But, you then want higher charisma. Only look at this rout if you have a really high point buy or rolled stats.
Barbarian (with martial artist)- Is really strong. You kind of have to reflavor rage to make it make sense for you (calling upon inner strength or what not). Barbarians also has synergy with not wanting armor as much as some others. Honestly, I think this is your strongest option.
Sorcerer(wisdom based)- If you want a heavy caster, this is your best bet. You will be giving up your turns to cast spells rather than flurry though. So, if flurry is what you are looking for, skip this one.
what nerf is that?
Crossbowman Fighter//Myrmidarch Magus... with focused shot and spellstrike and vital strike it is the magical sniper of one shot=one kill. Ready an action, dex mod+int mod+spell equals fun. Also it has a lot of fighter weapon training... and armor training.
Add in either Arcane Strike or, if you have the feats/levels for it, Kirin's Path.
Kirin's Path is especially nice. On a normal light crossbow that's Dex to damage from Crossbowman, Int once from Focused Shot, Int two more times from Kirin's Path, and then Vital Strike for 2d8.
Might better fit the 'theme' vs the 'power': Warpriest of Nethys/Staff Magus......fight like Gandalf with your sword in one hand and your staff in the other