As the title says, what is the usual CR of a gestalt character? I'm not sure how you would calculate that.
The combo matters a lot. As KahnyaGnorc said, the default is +2 but it really does vary a huge amount. For example, a fighter/wizard isn't as bad as you'd think being that in any given round the fighter will be behaving as a fighter OR a wizard. Mostly he's just getting extra utility. Some classes however get a lot more from their combos as specific class abilities synergize a lot more.
Also feel free to say 'no' to some gestalt combos.
For instance a full BAB class gestalted with rogue or ninja is very synergistic. A fighter/wizard isn't.
It depends on the kind of game you are looking to play. Do you want super characters or just ones that are more powerful due to the number of available options that they have.
Also watch out for multiclassing. If you do allow it then you will want to fractional BAB increases to stop certain exploits like fighter 1/wizard 19 gestalted with sorcerer 20 for full BAB. You will also have to watch out for saves that get inflated when multiclassing.
Fgt 1/wiz 19 sorc 20 dont give full BAB...
In other news gestalt is +2
I hope this isn't too off-topic, but:
What is the general opinion on multiclassing gestalt characters?
I've heard some people say that it becomes too complicated, allows too many exploits, and that gestalt should essentially fill the role of multiclassing. Is it more common to allow gestalt characters to multiclass, or not?
Indeterminable. Things vary so much by what you're combining, and the CR system is a loose guideline at best, so it's impossible to just give a flat answer.
Also feel free to say 'no' to some gestalt combos.
For instance a full BAB class gestalted with rogue or ninja is very synergistic. A fighter/wizard isn't.
It depends on the kind of game you are looking to play. Do you want super characters or just ones that are more powerful due to the number of available options that they have.
Also watch out for multiclassing. If you do allow it then you will want to fractional BAB increases to stop certain exploits like fighter 1/wizard 19 gestalted with sorcerer 20 for full BAB. You will also have to watch out for saves that get inflated when multiclassing.
If these things are giving you pause then you shouldn't run a gestalt game. Fighter/ninja or fighter/rouge are pretty tame compared to other possibilities.
Indeterminable. Things vary so much by what you're combining, and the CR system is a loose guideline at best, so it's impossible to just give a flat answer.Is it really that much worse than comparing a rogue 16 to an arcanist 16 to a CR 15 dragon?
No, it is pretty much exactly like that.
I hope this isn't too off-topic, but:
What is the general opinion on multiclassing gestalt characters?
I've heard some people say that it becomes too complicated, allows too many exploits, and that gestalt should essentially fill the role of multiclassing. Is it more common to allow gestalt characters to multiclass, or not?
Personally I say that you can multiclass within a gestalt character. Depending on how much bookkeeping you want, you can go with two methods.
a)Total up the full BaB/Saves for both sides, utilize that final comparison.
b)Take the better at each level, recording the levels.
Not sure which I'm planning to use, depends on what happens. I'm also fine with the extreme level of power gestalt can create, and I will attempt to scale to match. The campaign I'm planning to use is a possible god-killing campaign, so the power level is no issue.
|
Multiclassing is fine, and really no more complicated than with a standard character as long as you avoid taking the same things on both sides of the gestalt. (For example, trying to figure out the Sneak Attack dice of a Rogue|Vivisectionist.) Just remember you always take the best PROGRESSION from each side, so a Ftr1/Wiz19|Sor20 has a +10 BAB, +8 Fort, +6 Reflex, +12 Will and 1d10+19d6 for hit dice.
I've even used Monstrous races with Gestalt with some success, by treating the race as one "side" of the gestalt until the total character level was equal to the Level Adjustment of the creature. Now that Level Adjustment isn't a thing, you kind of have to wing it, though.