Monk / Cleric Gestalt advice

[Saironthis]

So, I was able to woo my GM into letting me try Gestalting Monk and Cleric for a campaign. However, I have no idea how to really build a class like this, so.. I need some advice. Here's what I have to work with.

Things to know:

Race: Aasimar
Class: Monk/Cleric Gestalt(Derp)
Level 8
Rolled stats: 18, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12

Archeytpes are allowed
Up to 3 Traits are allowed
No Multi/Prestige classing
3.5 stuff allowed pending DM evaluation

Start with 1 Magical item that can be crafted as long as it costs less than 8000 gold

I will probably be facing things with +2 CR because of my "Greater power"

I'd like to go with one of two themes:

"Ki Power can do anything!"

Basically, this revolves up around the various uses of "Ki Power" in story. I'd prefer something that's overall good at doing anything. Frontline combat, Blasting, Healing, you get the idea. (I think they call this a Gish?)

Melee Monster

Focus on offensive buffs and AC. Cast buffs quickly, then just wade into battle, either using Flurry of Blows to beat a single enemy to death or a "devastating" Whirlwind Attack when surrounded. Healing (Which our party needs) waits until after the enemy is pulped.

Focus on archery is out because we already have a Ranger and a hand crossbow based rogue.

Other than that, any suggestions to make this work?

[Sarrah]

All cleric archetypes are worse than the base stat. Divine Vessel is the only one worth looking at if both a) the campaign is evil and b) you are allowed to play a tiefling.

Monk has three amazing archetypes, instead of saying X is the best - here is a question: Do you want to play a mounted character, an archer, or a melee specialist? (the archery role can be done in melee w/o aoos)

Are you allowed to stack archetypes? My table only allows 1 archetype per class.

[Sarrah]

Guide to Traits:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dVQA-uI740Hh8vq-zsnbHV6UwJg-4QKlpmkxBEm CdhA/edit?pli=1#

[Dave Justus]

I would look at getting the growth subdomain. Swift action enlarge for a round is incredible for the things you want to do.

Also, while it is probably weaker than the base cleric in terms of casting, Divine Strategist is a nice cleric archetype if you want to focus on melee. Being able to act in the surprise round can give you a lot of battlefield control.

Monks should always take the qinggong archetype in addition to whatever else you want.

Another possibility is take master of many styles. You lose flurry of blows, but with snake style you can get extra attack by forcing AOA. In addition, since you aren't flurrying you can go with only a moderate wisdom score (15-16 to start probably) and not bother with monk AC bonus either, instead get light armor with the brawling property. This could have really good synergy with the cleric, on your turn you cast a spell and move to provoke, or move to provoke and after moving cast a spell, and take additional attack of opportunities on their turns, playing it more like a reach cleric than a standard monk. You have pretty incredible ability scores though, so you might not need to take this option.

[Saironthis]

I pick Melee specialist for 200, Sarrah!

I like that Growth Domain, Dave. Quingong Monk (Especially for that whirlwind attack I mentioned) is definitely a must.

I like that Divine Strategist gets as huge initiative boost. I always neglect it for my typical playstyle and I've ended up paying for it quite a few times. The loss of Channel Energy as "Backup heals" kinda makes me wary. Do you think taking something like Craft Wand to dole out the healing should I take this archetype?

Armor..That SO goes against the grain of the perceived typical monk. However, if I replace Flurry (Which would be going away anyways), a Master Style monk could be interesting, though it would probably cheese off my DM if I took Snake and Crane style. AC buffs wouold be a little less to worry about then...

+0 KI POWER!
+2 Melee monster

[nate lange]

i'd focus on wisdom...
worship Irori (or some cognate deity) and choose negative energy channeling
take the channel smite and guided hand feats
- now all your unarmed attack rolls are wisdom based and when you don't get to flurry you can use channel smite to make up some of that missing damage. plus your AC should be pretty decent from Wis bonus, you'll have a good amount of ki, and the save DC for stunning fist and/or similar abilities will be good.

[Daniel Turner Zen Archer]

You could also make yourself a Duergar Gray Disciple Monk

[LoneKnave]

What level build are you looking at?

Probably pick up Ki channel from Inner Sea Gods. That more or less gives you infinite Ki. Also consider multiclassing Enlightened (irorian I think?) Paladin instead of, or in addition to Monk.