Gestalt options

[rungok]

Is it possible to gestalt a hunter/druid? I figure if anything it would just keep one animal companion and progression of other abilities. IF it does work, can you still use your aspect abilities while wildshaped?

[kestral287]

Is it possible: Yes, though the default Gestalt rules would grant you only one animal companion. My solution to this was to let the player (running Wild Child Brawler//Hunter) apply the bonuses that the Divine Hunter grants if it picks up a second companion; either two +1 stat boosts or a single +2 for the AC.

Aspect and Wildshape: Should work. You may need to re-apply the Aspect after you Wildshape, if your GM considers it form-dependent, but that's going to be up to them.

[ShroudedInLight]

Ok, I am going to sound really dumb...but what is Gestalt and where would I find the rules?

[The Cube of Rubix]

Its an old 3.5 setting, Unearthed Arcana if I am remembering right,

[kestral287]

Gestalt is a concept from 3.5-- Unearthed Arcana I think?

It's sort of like 2nd edition's multiclassing rules. You have one character with two classes simultaneously.

For example, I have a character who is a gestalt Magus//Sorcerer. At character level 3, she's a level 3 Magus and a level 3 Sorcerer. She has 3/4ths BAB, and Good Fort and Will saves, because that's the better BAB between the two and the better of each save. She has a Magus' Spell Combat, Spellstrike, arcanas, etc., as well as a Sorcerer's bloodline abilities, and two separate casting lists. Lot of stuff to play around with.

It's a fun way to play-- I honestly prefer it over standard games I think, because it lets everybody have a little more fun with what they want. Diehard roleplayers have their concepts come together more easily, diehard optimizers have new toys to play with, and those that are both get, well, both.

[rungok]

Yeah it's a throwback from 3.5 content.

Speaking of throwbacks, I remember there used to be a way to get a dragon as a follower of some kind (companion/cohort I think). Is there a way to pull that off in pathfinder?

[kestral287]

Monstrous Cohorts

Dragons are an option there. 3.5's feat for it was just a mildly tweaked Leadership/Improved Familiar/Monstrous Mount, but fundamentally functioned the same way.

Getting your GM to allow Leadership may be a feat on its own though.

[Oakbreaker]

Honestly gestalt is amazing...I would love it if it became the standard because it's just great for bringing concepts alive without dipping into uselessness

[Zaboom!]

Gestalt can be fun, and it can be amazing... Or it can be a total pain in the rear if you play with people who want to multi-class both sides to hell and back. I've seen one guy practically do out a progression spreadsheet to make sure he was getting BAB and all saves increased at every level.

[Lord Mhoram]

Zaboom! wrote:

Gestalt can be fun, and it can be amazing... Or it can be a total pain in the rear if you play with people who want to multi-class both sides to hell and back. I've seen one guy practically do out a progression spreadsheet to make sure he was getting BAB and all saves increased at every level.

Yeah - that is why I use the fractional BAB/SAVES - that was in the original for just that reason. :D

The wife GMs me solo, so pretty much everything I play is Gestalt. It can be really fun, making certain concepts really interesting, and taking weaker classes, and fitting them with a perfect other half is really a blast.

Or taking two classes that have a complementary theme but approaching them from different angles. A Vizier/Aegis (using DSP classes) for example.

[Gambit]

Whenever we do gestalt we play it similar AD&D multiclassing, in that you take two classes at level 1 and those are locked in for the rest of that characters career, no multiclassing, no PrCs. This isn't as big of a deal in Pathfinder as it was in 3.5 but it still makes things simpler and neater.

Im running a normal campaign in Rise of the Runelords right now, but I'll be doing a gestalt campaign when I get around to running Rappan Athuk. One of my buddies is already itching to play a Soulknife/Stalker.