So I just got into D&D beyond recently and am trying to encourage my players into coming over and using it. However we are playing in a gestalt game which is causing some issues with the character builder. I was hoping I could solve it just by using the multiclass rules but that doesn't seem to be working the way I was hoping since characters are capped at level 20.
Does anyone have a solution for this? Is there a way to just add class features to a character that I'm not seeing? Or does anyone have any other suggestions?
I ended up making a feat and an item to emulate one of the classes abilities and just having the character be a single class. It wasn't the best solution. But it worked.
I actually am currently doing this. The best solution I found was to make a custom subclass.
I'm playing a Battlemaster - College of Glamour Bard. I created a custom subclass for Bard using the College of Glamour template and just added every single Fighter Ability from 1-20. I also added some modifiers to give relevant proficiencies and relevant health bonus per level.
The only thing I couldn't get to work correctly is the hit die change. I just remember that I have d10 instead of d8 for my hit dice
The lack of gestalt builds is literally the only thing keeping me as both a player and a DM from using DnD Beyond. I run a group for 3 players who have long played games and I play in a group of two, for smaller groups of players looking for more to work with or challenge them, gestalt is wonderful, I wish it was more widely embraced.
I actually am currently doing this. The best solution I found was to make a custom subclass.
I'm playing a Battlemaster - College of Glamour Bard. I created a custom subclass for Bard using the College of Glamour template and just added every single Fighter Ability from 1-20. I also added some modifiers to give relevant proficiencies and relevant health bonus per level.
The only thing I couldn't get to work correctly is the hit die change. I just remember that I have d10 instead of d8 for my hit dice
So I have been using this method, and it works great for adding solely martial classes to others. The issue I have run into is when adding spellcasting classes together. Any ideas?
The best(*) way to run gestalt characters in DDB is actually to have two character sheets. Have "Joe Gestalt (Fighter)" and "Joe Gestalt (Bard)", treat them as two different documents for the same character. Clone your equipment and HP between the two, and/or treat one of them as the 'primary' character sheet and the other as a supporting document for the primary sheet that keeps track of your extra class features. It's a hassle and a half, but it's also the best way to make sure you have access to all of the appropriate abilities, spells, and information for your gestalt character.
Beyond does not have gestalt because gestalt does not work with 5e. This isn't the fault of the 5e books for not including gestalt nor an issue with class balance.
The problem is that mobs in 5e are way too weak. Having a gestalt character means that instead of completing CoS (a 1-10 campaign) within 6 levels, you could beat it in 3 levels. Even mobs that should be extremely challenging, like mind flayers, are trash mobs compared to earlier versions. The mob vs player balance in 5e is terrible, so 5e will never have gestalt because it's too OP for this edition.
Combat balancing is an easy thing to fix, Rez. If you're not feeling particularly challenged by your game, ask your DM to crank the CR up a few levels, or to stiffen up the stat blocks on key critters.
Gestalt is not meant to generate ultra-overpowered characters, it's meant to expand the options of an unusually small PC party. Remember - Joe Gestalt having Fighter and Bard levels is strictly inferior in almost all cases to have a Fighter and also a Bard, each of which able to use an action in combat and contribute to the enemy's demise.
While I agree with you, I feel like 5e mobs are so weak that you have to at least triple their CR for a properly challenging campaign, and when you gestalt you need a challenging campaign. The DMG gives CR changes up to 30, but not up to 60, so it only helps for campaigns up to level 10. Plus the CR balance chart isn't as efficient as it could be since there are so few factors to balance with it.
In this case... If you reversed your process, start with the Fighter class (larger hit dice) and clone the Fighter Subclass, adding all the Bard features.
A DM is encouraged to test the party with a CR balanced, 'medium difficulty' battle, and gauge the response.
That is what helps you to balance future battles, for easy medium hard deadly etc, once you know how hard your party hits, how much they can survive, what is too much for them... When to warn them an enemy 'appears terrifyingly OP'
Make them scramble and run for their lives sometimes. Make them hit impassable barriers sometimes. Stuff they need to problem solve to avoid...
Use weak mobs in waves to burn off AoE spells, while resistant tanky captains tie up players, use battle control spells like flaming sphere of circle of blades, or humble wind wall...
Use fog clouds, and enemies with blindsight. Mess with the PCs.
Use conjure Animals, early, and throw 16 giant wolf Spiders at the party
well so, if you build a character with this method, start with the higher hit die class and add the lesser hit die subclass and it should resolve that issue?
So I just got into D&D beyond recently and am trying to encourage my players into coming over and using it. However we are playing in a gestalt game which is causing some issues with the character builder. I was hoping I could solve it just by using the multiclass rules but that doesn't seem to be working the way I was hoping since characters are capped at level 20.
Does anyone have a solution for this? Is there a way to just add class features to a character that I'm not seeing? Or does anyone have any other suggestions?
Honestly I'm looking for the same, but it's for running a solo player through some adventures like lost mines.
I ended up making a feat and an item to emulate one of the classes abilities and just having the character be a single class. It wasn't the best solution. But it worked.
I actually am currently doing this. The best solution I found was to make a custom subclass.
I'm playing a Battlemaster - College of Glamour Bard. I created a custom subclass for Bard using the College of Glamour template and just added every single Fighter Ability from 1-20. I also added some modifiers to give relevant proficiencies and relevant health bonus per level.
The only thing I couldn't get to work correctly is the hit die change. I just remember that I have d10 instead of d8 for my hit dice
The lack of gestalt builds is literally the only thing keeping me as both a player and a DM from using DnD Beyond. I run a group for 3 players who have long played games and I play in a group of two, for smaller groups of players looking for more to work with or challenge them, gestalt is wonderful, I wish it was more widely embraced.
Unfortunately not sorry
For spellcasting, shouldn't adding a feat in addition to the custom subclass work?
The best(*) way to run gestalt characters in DDB is actually to have two character sheets. Have "Joe Gestalt (Fighter)" and "Joe Gestalt (Bard)", treat them as two different documents for the same character. Clone your equipment and HP between the two, and/or treat one of them as the 'primary' character sheet and the other as a supporting document for the primary sheet that keeps track of your extra class features. It's a hassle and a half, but it's also the best way to make sure you have access to all of the appropriate abilities, spells, and information for your gestalt character.
Please do not contact or message me.
Beyond does not have gestalt because gestalt does not work with 5e. This isn't the fault of the 5e books for not including gestalt nor an issue with class balance.
The problem is that mobs in 5e are way too weak. Having a gestalt character means that instead of completing CoS (a 1-10 campaign) within 6 levels, you could beat it in 3 levels. Even mobs that should be extremely challenging, like mind flayers, are trash mobs compared to earlier versions. The mob vs player balance in 5e is terrible, so 5e will never have gestalt because it's too OP for this edition.
Combat balancing is an easy thing to fix, Rez. If you're not feeling particularly challenged by your game, ask your DM to crank the CR up a few levels, or to stiffen up the stat blocks on key critters.
Gestalt is not meant to generate ultra-overpowered characters, it's meant to expand the options of an unusually small PC party. Remember - Joe Gestalt having Fighter and Bard levels is strictly inferior in almost all cases to have a Fighter and also a Bard, each of which able to use an action in combat and contribute to the enemy's demise.
Please do not contact or message me.
While I agree with you, I feel like 5e mobs are so weak that you have to at least triple their CR for a properly challenging campaign, and when you gestalt you need a challenging campaign. The DMG gives CR changes up to 30, but not up to 60, so it only helps for campaigns up to level 10. Plus the CR balance chart isn't as efficient as it could be since there are so few factors to balance with it.
In this case... If you reversed your process, start with the Fighter class (larger hit dice) and clone the Fighter Subclass, adding all the Bard features.
CR in 5e is at best a guideline.
A DM is encouraged to test the party with a CR balanced, 'medium difficulty' battle, and gauge the response.
That is what helps you to balance future battles, for easy medium hard deadly etc, once you know how hard your party hits, how much they can survive, what is too much for them... When to warn them an enemy 'appears terrifyingly OP'
Make them scramble and run for their lives sometimes. Make them hit impassable barriers sometimes. Stuff they need to problem solve to avoid...
Use weak mobs in waves to burn off AoE spells, while resistant tanky captains tie up players, use battle control spells like flaming sphere of circle of blades, or humble wind wall...
Use fog clouds, and enemies with blindsight. Mess with the PCs.
Use conjure Animals, early, and throw 16 giant wolf Spiders at the party
Twice.
Get creative, and enjoy it.
what character builder were you using before
well so, if you build a character with this method, start with the higher hit die class and add the lesser hit die subclass and it should resolve that issue?
Sure would be nice if we had an optional feature for the character sheet you could toggle on for it.
Is this solved yet? My DM wants to run through D&D Beyond but I can't see a way to play Gestalt characters