Over-complicated PF Gestalt

 
 
Old Nov 13 '12, 1:02am
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ticky ticky is offline
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Over-complicated PF Gestalt
Twice of Half As Much - Forum
Pathfinder
Ad Closes: Nov 30 '12
Estimated Members Requested: 6

*Please post apps in this thread*

I expect players to post 3x a week.

Contact me if you are interested in Co-DMing.
Game Description:

You've killed the wizard. Your first big quest, and you're not dead. Excellent! Now a quick rest, and then to loot the lab... But now it's all gone pear-shaped. A burst of light, a tinkle of shattering crystal, and you feel wrong. Something's wrong. You don't feel like you anymore. And someone won't stop screaming. Inside your head.

Let's do something different. This game will be a Pathfinder Gestalt game (we'll be using the d20 gestalt rules) with a twist. Each gestalt will be built from two character apps, and will be controlled by two people. I will choose 6 apps, and randomly combine them. I will say that there will be at least 1 ea. arcane, divine, skill monkey, and tank character, but they will be combined randomly (did I mention that it's going to be random?). The only thing I will tweak is if we wind up with a Wiz/Soc, because that's going to get silly fast.

During role-play, it's a FFA. Either player can talk for the character. Assume that NPC's, and to an extent other characters, don't know which half is talking. You've been adventuring together for a short while, so (much like people can learn to tell identical twins apart), you're companions will probably know which half is which most of the time. This sort of thing is not normal in this setting, so you may want to hide it from the outside world (or not).

During roll-play, we will roll d2. That means one of you will be in charge. You can consult with your other half, but one of you has final say that round. If you don't respond within 24 hours, you will be assumed to have 'choked' or 'panicked', and your other half will decide for you. Both halves will have control of all the characters powers.

If one half of your team is way more available to post, we will work something out so you both feel like you are contributing equally.

Each 'team' will have a private thread, which I promise not to read. If you want to collaborate a lot, that is totally cool. If you never want to talk OOC, that is also cool. Assume that 'half-to-half' conversation is private, unless you want to share it. There are still two separate personalities, so keeping secrets from your other half is fine. Also, I think it would be really interesting if we had one char. where the two halves did NOT get along, but I won't force it.

For the gestalting, we will arbitrarily pick one of the races (unless they happen to be human-elf or human-orc, in which case we will go with the half-breed race) if they differ, same with the genders. We will be doing 25 pb. You need to agree with your other half on how to spend points, feats, etc., or, alternately, I can do it for you if you want to go the whole 'I-hate-my-other-halves-guts' route.

Almost anything in the PFSRD is ok, but ask me if you want to use a non-core race, or a really complicated archetype (one that changes the base class a lot). Try not to go with insane builds, and stick to 1 class. You will start at level 3. This game will already have tons of book-keeping.

I'm not going to produce a super complicated setting, but I am going to try to keep the roll and role play aspects equal. My hope is that the interplay between characters keeps things interesting. I will say that we are starting almost immediately with combat.

If one half drops out, I will get someone to take over that half. If both halves drop, I will kill of that character and get two new players.

For your app, include at least a name, race and class. A sheet of who your character was before the 'merge' (or whatever we call it) is optional. Include enough detail to make me WANT your character in my game. Spending a ton of time on appearance is probably a poor choice (because this WILL change).

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If you stop posting, the orc stops dancing. And you don't want the orc to stop dancing.
Last edited by ticky; Nov 13 '12 at 1:10am..
ticky's Avatar

404 Error: Title Not Found
Old Nov 14 '12, 7:55pm

Quote:
Originally Posted by dreadpiratehurley View Post
This is just begging to be asked.

How would you treat a paladin in the case of being combined with anybody that would not follow the paladin code? For example, say a paladin was merged with a serial killer. Is it an insta-fall? There could be some great potential for roleplay there, but also plenty of potential for unnecessary angst and conflict.
Hmmm. Uhhh.... Hmmm.

I think the key words are "willingly commits an evil act." As long as the paladin always acts righteously when in control, falling wouldn't be an issue. The powers that be can look into the paladins soul and discern intent. With that said, however, I'm unlikely to accept a serial killer for just this reason. If you play a paladin, prepare for some angst. Of course, playing a paladin ALWAYS involves angst, so no real loss there.

Edit: Also keep in mind the paladin has already chosen to adventure with this person, so how evil are they likely to be?
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If you stop posting, the orc stops dancing. And you don't want the orc to stop dancing.
Last edited by ticky; Nov 14 '12 at 8:04pm.

ticky's Avatar

404 Error: Title Not Found
Old Nov 14 '12, 8:01pm

Quote:
Originally Posted by KingGoblin View Post
Hm. Yeah, having two people paired only with each other, as a condition of applying, kind of eliminates the whole point of the random pairing idea. And allows said people to effectively meta-game themselves a powerful gestalt, while ensuring that they agree with whatever direction they want the character to go...

So, I'm not DM or anything, but I can't picture that working. Not with the game as presented.

I'm trying to think of something to apply with, but I am curious. Are there any skill-monkey classes other than Rogue and (possibly) Bard? I was looking at the statement that you want to accept at least one arcane, one divine, one tank, and one skill-monkey, but I don't know how many different class combinations that makes for that last role.
Yeah, I'm trying to figure out how to make it work, but it just doesn't jive....

For anyone who wants to play as a matched pair, I will keep you in mind for any re-seeding that I need. There a matched pair would be easier and arguably better. I might handicap you a bit though.

I would say a skill-monkey is anyone who gets at least 6+int SP, so Inquisitor, Bard, Ranger, Rogue. This is pathfinder, where you can train a cross class skill and not be helpless at it, so the Ranger can still pop traps if needed.
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If you stop posting, the orc stops dancing. And you don't want the orc to stop dancing.

KingGoblin's Avatar

the Goblin King
Old Nov 14 '12, 9:24pm

Hm. Never played an Inquisitor. I'll try that, then...

Name: Tranta the Flighty
Race: Gnome
Class: Inquisitor of Sivanah (Madness Domain)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Tranta, like most gnomes, has always been a bit of a prankster, a bit tricky in her dealings with others. For most of her childhood, she was the the girl that everyone liked, but nobody could stand; she was popular with everyone, but close with nobody. And that was simply because she is undeniably entertaining, even if her personality tends to become a bit irritating with close familiarity.

All that was exacerbated slightly when she realized that her purpose in life was to represent Sivanah. She took on the job of spreading a little madness, a little illusion, everywhere she touched; this, understandably, made her even less popular in her home village. So she left. And she left the next one. And the next one...

At this point, she has realized the importance of behaving herself, when others are involved. Tranta is loyal, in her fashion, to her friends; and although Chaotic Neutral in alignment, she could be said to be bordering on Good. Her life's purpose has shifted, to oppose those who would oppress people, whether for good or ill; and she had been traveling with the group simply to destroy the evil wizard who sought to control the local population. Now... Who knows what will happen.
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noobiegameplayer's Avatar

Creating Artistry of the Mind ...
Old Nov 15 '12, 2:06pm

Quote:
Originally Posted by ticky View Post
Hmmm. Uhhh.... Hmmm.

I think the key words are "willingly commits an evil act." As long as the paladin always acts righteously when in control, falling wouldn't be an issue. The powers that be can look into the paladins soul and discern intent. With that said, however, I'm unlikely to accept a serial killer for just this reason. If you play a paladin, prepare for some angst. Of course, playing a paladin ALWAYS involves angst, so no real loss there.

Edit: Also keep in mind the paladin has already chosen to adventure with this person, so how evil are they likely to be?
Bah ... Paladins don't always suffer angst

My Paladin is bright, funny and other then living in Cheliax, a place run by a Demon Lord -- she's fine with it

Anyways ... my app is up ... looking for a random partner
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NoobieGamePlayer since 1979

Divinity's Avatar

Ascended in Grace
Old Nov 16 '12, 4:11pm

Rogue, Ranger, Inquisitor and Bard can be skill monkeys, and also Alchemist, since Int is a main stat that you would want high anyway for that class.

and I see I am late, as Goblin went with inquisitor.
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ticky's Avatar

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Old Nov 16 '12, 9:18pm

Ah yes, I'd forgotten about Alchemist.

Post MOAR apps!
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If you stop posting, the orc stops dancing. And you don't want the orc to stop dancing.

coreal's Avatar

Great Wyrm
Old Nov 21 '12, 4:01am

Name: Crog the Cruncher
Race: Human
Class: Barbarian
Alignment: CG

Crog is a bit far from home, traversing to different lands, drinking strange ales, beating on unfamiliar heads. It's not that he's a wandering spirit at heart, no, he really did just want to stay home and be a part of the usual pillaging and ravaging his tribe tended to take part in out in the wildlands. But he got a little too touchy feely with the war-leader's daughter and was sent packing. Not so much that he was exiled or anything... he just managed to get on a horse faster than the war-leader got hold of his battle axe. He learned one important lesson from that... make sure protective fathers don't own battle axes.
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coreal the feeble


Young Adult Dragon
Old Nov 22 '12, 4:54am

Name: Pari Urhdana
Race: Elf
Class: Bard

Before the merge Pari was an Elven Woman with a talent for playing the harp. When she was young her father taught her the art of swordsmanship (Or swordswomanship in this case) which she didn't enjoy as much as her mother teaching her to use her voice and her fingers to handle the strings of a harp. With these two skills she came to play in taverns making a small amount of money until she accompanied a group of adventurers to move safely to another city. Unfortunately she did not make it, the last thing she remembered was a glass shattering and a flash of light.
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My Characters:
Iryani




 

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