DaCuseFrog:
As for the spell slot progression, I wanted to say it because I was talking about using multiclass rules in the same paragraph. I didn't want someone to think that I meant for a Level 8 Bard/Wizard gestalt to be getting the Level 16 spell slots like a Bard 8/Wizard 8 multiclass character.
I think the more important distinction is where you're two sides of the gestalt have different types. I.e. full caster on one side, and 1/2 or 1/3 caster on the other. There are some spells that are balanced for the 1/2 casters to not get access to until much higher levels (Circle of Power, Swift Quiver among others). I guess the question would be... would 1/2 casters on that side be capable of learning or preparing spells EARLY in level progression? That seems more power skewing to me than any of the feats you've listed. A level 9 Ranger/Sorcerer could twin spell a Swift Quiver spell which would allow him to be making 4 arrow attacks/round (instead of 2 normally) and also let someone else make 3-4 arrow attacks as well depending on if they have Extra Attack. Normally a Ranger has to be 17th level to learn a 5th level spell, same with Paladin. So would those restrictions apply or not?
DaCuseFrog:
I can see what you are saying about the wording on the skills. And for the single class gestalt, I could use the word different instead of distinct? Basically, I just wanted to say that you couldn't use the same subclass twice.
I'd just say "unique subclasses", or just add a note that says "can't select the same subclass twice"
DaCuseFrog:
As for the feats, it might not be a bad idea to shrink it down a bit. But the sites I went to were ranking by power, not popularity. It's just that different people have different opinions of what it powerful. The ones I listed were all the ones thought to be more powerful than the rest. If a feat made the list, it means that it was considered at least by some to be tier 2 or better.
Personally I don't see how any of the feats really unbalance the game outside of Variant Humans. So either don't allow them and give regular humans something else to make them attractive, maybe 2 skills like Half-elves get, or +1 to 5 stats and +2 to 1. Or give everyone a feat (and still get rid of V. Humans) and then it's fairly balanced.