[3.P] Optimized Gestalt Character

[starship1]

Hey Playground!

I am DMing for a group of friends but nothing I throw at them seems to do anything to bother them. I want to send a shock through their system and throw them really hard encounter, possibly involving a few character deaths. I need a level 4 gestalt build. It can be any type of character: caster, striker, or fighter. No psionics or TOB, but some mild cheese would be nice.

Almost any type of early entry schemes are appropriate, we use the 3.5 skill system, which allows for early access to pathfinder prestige classes. Prestige classes can be on both "sides" of the gestalt. One of my Characters is a Rogue 3//fighter 2/Assassin 1.

Thanks in advance,
A humble DM

[Jack_Simth]

OK... so...

Pathfinder Ghost is only +2 CR, which, as Pathfinder uses CR=level, means you can fill two levels of the gestalt with it.

So...

Ghost(+2)/Monk-2//Sorcerer-4. Grab Ascetic Mage as your 3rd level feat, and Flyby Attack as your first. Get a Ring of X-Ray vision (you're immune to the drawback).

Now go wild with ducking underground, coming up well away from the party (randomly-chosen square that changes by 20 feet every round) blasting, popping up, blasting, and ducking back underground.

[starship1]

Thanks for the quick feedback.

The idea sounds great, but this setting has a thing against ghosts (they are invariably almost omnipotent). If you had to stick with just the basic classes what would you do?

Note: Flaws, traits, archetypes, and unearthed arcana variant classes are encouraged.

[docnessuno]

Half-elf Paladin (Or antipaladin) 2 / Anything 2 // Summoner (synthesist) 4

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Assuming fear effects work the same in PF as they do in 3.5, I'd go with the following:

Desert Half-Orc (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/environmentalRacialVariants.htm#desertHalfOrcs), use the Half-Humans variant in Races of Destiny p150. Say he visited the Otyugh Hole in CS to get Menacing Demeanor without spending a feat on it. Make him a Quasilycanthrope (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mb/20040721a) with the +1 LA already bought off (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/reducingLevelAdjustments.htm). Make him a Necropolitan who was created by a Dread Necromancer 8+ with all of the Corpsecrafter feats from LM, in the area of a Fell Energy Desecrate with an evil altar present. This gives him all the normal Necropolitan benefits, plus a +4 Enhancement to Str and Dex, +4 initiative, +10 ft. land speed, +2 natural armor, +4 turn resistance, +1d6 cold damage on natural weapons, +10 hp/level, and when he dies he explodes for 3d6 negative energy damage in a 10-ft. radius spread (DC 15 half).

Go 3.5 Savage Bard (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#bardVariantSavageBard) 4// Half-Orc Paragon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/racialParagonClasses.htm#halfOrcParagon) 1/ Magus 2/ Dread Witch 1, and trade his Inspire Courage for Inspire Awe in Dragon Magic. Give him two flaws, probably Insomniac and Bravado (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258440#30), feats are Dreadful Wrath (PGtF), Melodic Casting (CM), Precocious Apprentice (CA), and Bind Vestige (ToM) for Focalor. Give him two traits, Abrasive (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/characterTraits.htm#abrasive) and Unnatural Aura described in the Fear Handbook (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=3809.0). Put max ranks in Perform and Intimidate, with enough ranks in any skills to get a synergy bonus to either of those.

Possessions:
+1 Fearsome (DotU) Chain Shirt, per DMG p282 it requires Intimidate 5 ranks, Perform 5 ranks, and levels in Bard and Half-Orc Paragon to be able to use it. This would normally cost 6,250 gp, but that gets reduced to only 2,631 gp, 4 sp due to the above limitations on its use.
Masterwork two-handed weapon (300gp + weapon price)
368 gp, 6 sp remaining for whatever single-use and mundane gear you think he needs. A Psionic Tattoo (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/items/psionicTattoos.htm) of Force Screen (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/forceScreen.htm) or similar should help, as well as a Spell Component Pouch.

Spells known must include Cause Fear and Scare, I'd probably also include Silent Image, Mirror Image, and whatever else you think he'll need. His Magus spells should include Color Spray.

Tactics: Activate any buffs prior to initiating combat. He should probably be hiding out in the rafters of a ruined theater, and jump down into the middle of the party declaring, "It's curtains for you!" The building should have weak spots in the floor that heavy/armored characters will fall through if they step on them.
1st round: Activate Inspire Awe (standard action), forcing a Will save vs Shaken. Intimidate an adjacent opponent who's Shaken, if any (move action), forcing a check vs escalating their Shaken condition to Frightened.
2nd round: Defensively cast Color Spray on as many targets as possible (standard action), which immediately activates Dreadful Wrath before the spell hits them, forcing a Will save vs Shaken or escalating their existing fear condition one step. Intimidate an adjacent opponent who's Shaken, if any (move action), forcing a check vs escalating their Shaken condition to Frightened.
3rd round+: If any opponents are still capable of fighting, Intimidate an adjacent opponent who's Shaken, if any (move action), forcing a check vs escalating their Shaken condition to Frightened. Attack a nearby opponent, preferably someone with a spell component pouch.
Always keep Inspire Awe going, always try to Intimidate an opponent if any are adjacent or within a 5-ft. step. Possibly use Cause Fear on a shaken opponent who's trying to keep their distance to get rid of them for a while.

[Yorrin]

Unseelie Fey Lesser Aasimar (or your equivalent of Flight + huge Cha score)
Sorcerer 4|Binder 4
Feats:
1- Fell Drain
3- Easy Metamagic (Fell Drain)
4(from Binder)- Improved Binding

Bind Focalor

Strategy:
Have the character be flying. Fell Drain on Magic Missile at this level tosses a negative level on two PCs, no save no roll with a second level spell slot. Chances are he has about 5 second level spell slots, adding up to 10 negative levels while he's staying out of range as much as possible. Focus these negative levels on two PCs at a time until they fall, prioritizing anyone with a ranged attack/long range casting. Use WBL on defenses. If they get too close pop a color spray within Focalor's aura for a high chance of that PC sucking for at least a couple of rounds. I assume your party is level 3-4 with about 4 people? You've already killed 2-3 of them by now. Fall back on Focalor's lightning for damage when you're done debuffing.