Fear gestalt musings

[Avigor]

I'm curious, if one were to make a gestalt focused on fear, what would be the best means of doing so? So far, I'm guessing for the classes:
Zhentarim Fighter 9 / Marshall 1 / not sure the other 10 // Sorcerer 5 / Dread Witch 5 / Nightmare Spinner 5 / Shadowcraft Mage 5
I'm wondering if Warlock might be worth a dip for Frightful Blast (assuming it can be stacked upon) and Beguiling Influence, especially as the Warlock isn't in the Fear Handbook (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?389244-Caedrus-Art-of-War-vol-1-Fear-Handbook) at all.

Haven't even begun trying to put together an optimal feat list, or determine the best race.

What suggestions might the Playground have, all in all? Assume nothing to be set in stone, and know there is no timetable or anything, this is just a musing (albeit I must admit part of me is debating using such a creature as a villain NPC at some point if I can get a 3.5 group together...). Closest to a limit on sources or such would be I don't have a lot of 3rd party access and I'm very unfamiliar with pathfinder...

[Nifft]

You'll ideally end up with a couple more Sorcerer levels, since you'll put them on the Fighter side to cover when you take a dead-casting level like Dread Witch 1 or Nightmare Spinner 1.

Since you're a Charisma caster, you may also want to dip Paladin on your Fighter side (... or Blackguard if you can advance in 2 PrCs at once).

If you take Dragon Disciple on the Fighter side, does that give you more Sorcerer spells? Probably yes, but it's a PrC and your other side is full.

Are you using the Sneak-Attack (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#fighter) + Thug (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#fighterVariantThug) variants, or are you taking feats? If you're using Sneak Attack, you can take Swashbuckler + a feat to continue advancing Sneak Attack. Also, you'll feel better about using an odd number of Fighter levels if you get your perks at odd levels.

With the 2 Sorcerer levels on the Fighter side, you'll still end up at BAB +19, which may be adequate. With 1 level of Marshal, it'll be BAB +18, which is still pretty good.


Levels 1-5: Sorc 1-5 // Zhent Thug SA Fighter 1-5

Level 6: DW 1 // Sorc 6

Levels 7-10: DW 2-5 // Zhent Thug SA Fighter 6-9

Level 11: NS 1 // Sorc 7

Levels 12-15: NS 2-5 // Paladin of Tyranny (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#paladinofTyrannyClassF eatures) 1-4

Level 16: SM 1 // Marshal 1

Levels 17-20: SM 2-5 // Swashbuckler 1-4

[Avigor]

For the purposes of this experiment, I'm kinda wanting to see what could happen either way...

[Boggartbae]

Play pathfinder and gestalt Antipaladin with Dirge Bard. -6 to enemy fear saves.

On a more serious and helpful note, I've always liked the Dread Necromancer for fear builds. The fear aura can be turned on for free after an intimidate check, and you want to pump charisma anyway.

I'm not sure what the other half should be, but I'm sure you've found something that lowers enemy saves VS fear, so pick that, and then rely on your DR to keep you alive as you jump into melee and spook everyone who stands next to you.

EDIT: oh and also I'm sure that in either Races of the Dragon, Dragon Magic, or Draconimicon, there is a character option to gain frightful presence. Stack that with dread necromancer fear aura, and you have instant frightened.