Greetings,

I'm having the most fun ever in a Gestalt game on another PbP forum, was wondering if they ran alot on Rpol aswell or DM's rather not touch it here?

It's hit of miss really. I have several games I run, about half of them are Gestalt. One of the games I play in are Gestalt.

What makes one hit or miss in your opinion?

The benefit of Gestalt is that it allows you to make specific kinds of characters, and also sometimes more interesting kinds of characters, than you can manage in regular 3.5. However, that kind of game can draw power gamers (which may or may not be a good thing, depending on what kind of game you want to run), and a Gestalt party can get away from Dm pretty quickly if they're not careful.

So you are saying it requires an experienced DM who knows 3.5 rules in and out to make it work?

Not necessarily inside and out, but I think an inexperienced DM could run into trouble. Especially if one of more of the players were taking advantage. For me, it's more like Gestalt requires players that aren't jerks. Or into game-breaking combos. And I've only ever made it work with either: a small party (two or three players) or a regular sized party but some kind of story-based restriction (everyone is a Monk on one side of the Gestalt, or a Fighter, or what have you).

But I agree with you. Get the right players, and the right game, and Gestalt is a total hoot.

Players, as a generalization  (obviously, there are exceptions), want to try and "win" the game. That being said, a GM of a game which opens up the possibility for more powerful characters needs to be able to spot and separate players who are simply making characters with the biggest stick for the sake of creating such a character versus players making characters who, through the additional abilities granted by the gestalt format, are fleshing out a very colorful and well thought out story.

Also, the other thing to be mindful of in geatalt is group size. With single-class characters, each of their roles is fairly clear and defined with only minor overlap in some areas. This makes it easier for larger groups to function without anyone feeling like they are simply not needed. In gestalt, it is easy for someone in a larger group to feel put on the back burner because two or three other characters are able to do what they feel the character should be doing. It's usually easier to keep gestalt groups relatively smaller than normal groups. I would recommend no more than 4 or 5 depending on how specialized or general the players make their characters.

That is, of course, my $0.02.
This message was last edited by the user at 00:52, Sun 07 Dec 2014.

Interesting opinions. The reason why I like gestalt in PbP especially is actually the possible smaller groups to speed up posting rate for active players. And the faster level progression due to being able to tackle higher CR encounters. And last, Gestalt for the sake of Gestalt can be ok, but I feel like it gives a DM a cool game angle. For example, in the game I'm playing in, the DM made something happen in the first scene of the story where everyone got a second side of his Gestalt thrusted onto him so the PC's have internal conflicts or have to coop with a monster side. Good stuff! ;)

If this get's off the ground I'm interested as a player.

-powermoose

Still looking for a GM for this?

link to another game
(mature game)

I am currently running a gestalt game and need some one to run with a very specific healer class.

by specific i mean one side of the gestalt is locked and can not changed. this is a high magic, low magic access game. this game is not for the novice player, a thick skin and MATURE attitude is required. a lot of creativity is required to survive.

some game aspects are subject to change based upon player discussion or game balance.

In reply to McAllister (msg # 10):

I'd love a GM to start an interesting game yeah, preferrable with not too many players or the chance to split up in groups quite easily. What is your intent?
This message was last edited by the user at 11:31, Thu 18 Dec 2014.