To put something extra in the mix - my favourite Gish is actually the Bard as a core. You are a full caster and have some flexible spells available to you though relatively few direct attacks; there are some sound-based spells in the core list but you can, of course, get more using Magical Secrets.
For more fighting my personal preference is the College of Swords. The ability to use Bardic Inspiration dice to add to your damage output, defences, or exert some battle field control are excellent, especially once your dice refresh on a short rest. They also get a fighting style and a second attack at sixth level.
The ‘Blade’ kit for 2e Bards was my favourite thing in that edition and this strongly echoes that vibe.
You also have good Charisma for the social pillar of play, and good skills overall with Expertise. Play a Dex-based fighting style and you can typically boost up melee attack and defence while keeping your spell-casting stat good too.
For me personally the best thing about the bard as a base for a Gish is that it doesn’t require multi-classing and so you can be closer to the vision of the character you want to play from first level onwards. There are undoubtedly more powerful builds but I find this the most satisfying from level 1 upwards.
I keep meaning to try a pure Warlock Gish. Again, I am sure there are more powerful options but as long as the character doesn’t suck I don’t feel the need to min-max. Our group all tend to feel similarly on this so it all works out across the PCs; I can see there could be problems if some characters are markedly underperforming compared to the majority.
For more fighting my personal preference is the College of Swords. The ability to use Bardic Inspiration dice to add to your damage output, defences, or exert some battle field control are excellent, especially once your dice refresh on a short rest. They also get a fighting style and a second attack at sixth level.
The ‘Blade’ kit for 2e Bards was my favourite thing in that edition and this strongly echoes that vibe.
You also have good Charisma for the social pillar of play, and good skills overall with Expertise. Play a Dex-based fighting style and you can typically boost up melee attack and defence while keeping your spell-casting stat good too.
For me personally the best thing about the bard as a base for a Gish is that it doesn’t require multi-classing and so you can be closer to the vision of the character you want to play from first level onwards. There are undoubtedly more powerful builds but I find this the most satisfying from level 1 upwards.
I keep meaning to try a pure Warlock Gish. Again, I am sure there are more powerful options but as long as the character doesn’t suck I don’t feel the need to min-max. Our group all tend to feel similarly on this so it all works out across the PCs; I can see there could be problems if some characters are markedly underperforming compared to the majority.
Are they sword-wielding space wizards or psychic warrior monks (PF1 Kineticist/Monk with the Kinetic Blade Infusion)? 
