Gestalt NPC

[GrazztTheDark]

Okay, I'm working on a new Pathfinder campaign, and I was thinking about making an NPC who is a gestalt character (Fighter/Barbarian) while the PCs are regular characters. Conceiving him as a gestalt character is basically how I want to make him more powerful than normal without resorting to extra magic items or a template, both of which I feel don't fit his character that much. As a bonus, being two classes at once, and uniquely so, might be a good way to highlight him and make him more memorable.

My problem: how do you CR a gestalt NPC in a non-gestalt campaign? I haven't seen any rules for that before, and I'd like the board's opinion on how much extra CR that would be worth (if any). It doesn't just have to be this specific gestalt either: I doubt I'm the first to have this idea, and I'm sure doing specific cases of other gestalts that are more/less powerful would be helpful to any of those other DMs.

[chaosaccountant]

As with many things, how much more powerful a Gestalt character is than normal depends on what you're gestalting. Fighter//Barbarian is essentially Barbarian + Fighter class features, as the Barbarian chassis is the same as or superior too the Fighter one in every way. That's probably worth a +1, depending on the level, but unless you specifically tell people that he's a gestalt character, it's not going to be easy to tell him appart from a Barbarian with a Fighter-dip and some extra feats in play. Comparatively, a Druid//Barbarian would likely be a +2.

[GrazztTheDark]

Remember, it's Pathfinder, so there's also weapon and armour bonuses (or archetype bonuses, if I go with a fighter archetype of some sort). But point taken. I know it's not the combination with the most synergy, but I think it fits the character. Alternatively, I may go with Cavalier/Barbarian. That would probably be a dead giveaway as to his nature, when he rages and challenges one of the PCs.

[Mystic Lemur]

I'm not sure about the CR system in PF, but in 3.5 adding a second creature of the same CR only raised the EL by 2. A Gestalt, while powerful, is not as powerful as adding a second NPC due to hit points and action economy. If it were me, I would only count the Gestalt as +1 CR no matter the combo.

Also, no one ever has to know the NPC stats and abilities. They should always have a trick up their sleeves that the PCs aren't expecting, as long as they are rewarded appropriately when they finally bring it down. An interesting gestalt is a good way to add that "I am not left-handed" surprise mid fight.