Exalted Gestalt

[Eloel]

Is there a good class to combine with monk for an exalted (VoP) gestalt build?
If you have any other build for a VoP gestalt, go ahead and post it please :)

[brant167]

If you can convince your dm that alignment restrictions are not a big deal I would suggest druid. However if not then you could go with swordsage for the martial arts moves. Oathsworn from Arcana Evolved would make a cool gestalt with a monk. If you want to go caster cleric would be good for the wisdom synergy. There is always the Totemist or Psi warrior if you want to be "more human then human" type of feel. It really depends on what direction you want to take your kung-fu master.

[imperialspectre]

Druid 20//Unarmed Swordsage 20. Alternatively, Druid 20//Monk 2/Unarmed Swordsage 8/Shadow Sun Ninja 10. Get Touch of Golden Ice as one of your exalted feats.

Swordsage should get Tiger Claw and Shadow Hand maneuvers, particularly Tiger Claw, because the unarmed attacks synergize well with wildshaping.

Also, convince your DM to say that the unarmed swordsage variant gets WIS to AC unarmored. Then see if you can get your Wisdom bonus to AC twice, if playing a Monk/Swordsage combination.

Edited: Oh right, the dumb alignment restrictions mean you can't have a LG Monk/Druid. That's one more reason not to ever be a monk.

[Eloel]

How would Druid help Swordsage, or vice versa?

[imperialspectre]

They're both WIS classes; Swordsage gets you a lot of passive bonuses, like WIS to AC and damage, initiative bonuses, and stances, while Druid gets you full (WIS-based) casting and wildshape. You have all good saves and 6+INT skill points, with two good lists of class skills that don't entirely overlap. You can either wildshape and buff yourself pre-combat, then use your Swordsage maneuvers in combat, or pick mostly passive maneuvers and emphasize summoning.

[Eloel]

any PrCs that could prove useful? Druid 8 already gives me full-day wildshape, although going up helps it, some PrCs could be more useful right?

[imperialspectre]

Lion of Talisid, from BoED, progresses druid casting, animal companion, and most of wildshape (so, you know, everything) and gives you pounce (full attack on charges), plus scent and a haste (Su) ability. The requirements are exalted feats and Knowledge (Nature) and Survival ranks, all of which you will have as a VoP druid. Druid 10/Lion of Talisid 10 is pretty nice for you. Tiger Claw Swordsage only makes it better.

[Eldariel]

Well, Druid itself is impossible without alignment tweaks, since Exalted Druid can only be NG and Exalted Monk can only be LG and you can't be both at once. If you get that to work out though, Druid 20 is the simpliest way to go, and probably the best too. Melee Cleric is also a very decent option, and doesn't have the alignment issues. Again, both would benefit of max. 11 levels of Monk though; after that, you just don't get anything spells don't do better. Monk 2/UA Swordsage 8/Shadow Sun Ninja 10 is awesome.