Bloodlines from UA [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bloodlines from UA [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
nycfarmkid
04-19-05, 03:26 PM Is there a consensus on the bloodline levels from Unearthed Arcana? Are they worth taking? Or are the benefits not worth the drawback through the bloodline levels? Anyone ever use these?
Morwen
04-19-05, 07:39 PM Think of bloodlines as LA races. I think they're generally somewhat weak compared to races with equal "LA", but that is weighed up by the fact you don't have to take all the "LA" immediately.
Lexarius
04-19-05, 07:47 PM Also, having the abilities spread out through normal level gain feels better than the weird "I spend the next 8 levels becoming more vampire-y while not gaining any more HP, skills, feats, or anything else resembling training" that you get from things like Template Class levels. This also applies to a somewhat lesser extent to Monster Class levels.
nycfarmkid
04-19-05, 08:14 PM I'm tinkering around with a character concept for a character that is slowly becoming more and more like a celestial creature as he/she gains levels. An Aasimar taking a lot of the racial feats to improve on celestial abilities as well as the favored soul class which gains some aspects of celestials voer the course of 20 levels. I considered adding a celestial bloodline as well, but im concerned about falling too far behind in spells with the favored soul. I'm also concerned with the lack of hit points. So for me the jury is still out on whether or not the bloodline class levels are good for me. If i was playing any class but a full caster i would probably take them, however right now i am a little leery.
Otto the Bugbear
04-19-05, 08:21 PM Recently, I've been looking them over. Most of them seem to be a bit on the underpowered side, but not extremely so. They're basically an easy way to slowly gain a template.

Look at it this way.
Minor bloodlines are a +1 LA
Intermediate bloodlines are a +2 LA
Major bloodlines are a +3 LA

Then look at everything you gain and decide if the bloodline is worth it. For the most part, there are better templates out there for each LA (mineral warrior far exceeds any of the minor bloodlines for example). However, if the bloodline meets what you'd like to see for your character, then it's easier to ignore the power-level. The level loss is easier to deal with since it's not applied to a 1st level character.

In general, there are a couple of things to think about when considering the bloodlines. Avoid them for full casters, unless it was your intent to lose casting levels anyway. The higher your level gets, the more lame the granted powers seem. Gaining Alertness at level 2 for free isn't so bad, gaining another +2 to bluff your bloodline creatures at ~level 16, not so good. If it fits your character and doesn't hinder your performance in group, then go for it. Consider also the racial substitution levels (found in the Races of books). They may provide the flavor you want for your character without the level loss.

Now, considering that they're basically a template, you might be able to convert existing templates into a bloodline form. Taking the level hit at 3, 6, and 12 for a +3 LA isn't quite so hard to deal with compared to taking it all at level 1. :eek:

Cheers

Otto :)

edit: I see others have beat me to the punch. That's what I get for starting a response, eating dinner, watching TV, then hitting 'submit'. :D
nycfarmkid
04-19-05, 08:26 PM One possible saving grace about bloodline levels is while they dont grant you extra Hit Dice, they do stack when determining level realted abilities and maximum number of skill points per skill. So you wouldnt be losing any caster levels, just spell levels. But still, thats a heavy blow.

Another question that comes up: What do you do for epic levels. The epic level handbook says that you aren't an epic character until you actually have 20 hit dice. Is this an exception? you could be a 20th level character but only have 17 hit dice and 3 bloodline levels. Are you then epic?
CzarGarrett
04-20-05, 08:56 AM Personally, I prefer the Bloodlines over Templates.

Bloodlines give it more flavor and allow for a progression of power. It just seems more 'right' that you start out with minor abilities to your bloodline and eventually work your way up.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
nycfarmkid 04-19-05, 03:26 PM	Is there a consensus on the bloodline levels from Unearthed Arcana? Are they worth taking? Or are the benefits not worth the drawback through the bloodline levels? Anyone ever use these?
Morwen 04-19-05, 07:39 PM	Think of bloodlines as LA races. I think they're generally somewhat weak compared to races with equal "LA", but that is weighed up by the fact you don't have to take all the "LA" immediately.
Lexarius 04-19-05, 07:47 PM	Also, having the abilities spread out through normal level gain feels better than the weird "I spend the next 8 levels becoming more vampire-y while not gaining any more HP, skills, feats, or anything else resembling training" that you get from things like Template Class levels. This also applies to a somewhat lesser extent to Monster Class levels.
nycfarmkid 04-19-05, 08:14 PM	I'm tinkering around with a character concept for a character that is slowly becoming more and more like a celestial creature as he/she gains levels. An Aasimar taking a lot of the racial feats to improve on celestial abilities as well as the favored soul class which gains some aspects of celestials voer the course of 20 levels. I considered adding a celestial bloodline as well, but im concerned about falling too far behind in spells with the favored soul. I'm also concerned with the lack of hit points. So for me the jury is still out on whether or not the bloodline class levels are good for me. If i was playing any class but a full caster i would probably take them, however right now i am a little leery.
Otto the Bugbear 04-19-05, 08:21 PM	Recently, I've been looking them over. Most of them seem to be a bit on the underpowered side, but not extremely so. They're basically an easy way to slowly gain a template. Look at it this way. Minor bloodlines are a +1 LA Intermediate bloodlines are a +2 LA Major bloodlines are a +3 LA Then look at everything you gain and decide if the bloodline is worth it. For the most part, there are better templates out there for each LA (mineral warrior far exceeds any of the minor bloodlines for example). However, if the bloodline meets what you'd like to see for your character, then it's easier to ignore the power-level. The level loss is easier to deal with since it's not applied to a 1st level character. In general, there are a couple of things to think about when considering the bloodlines. Avoid them for full casters, unless it was your intent to lose casting levels anyway. The higher your level gets, the more lame the granted powers seem. Gaining Alertness at level 2 for free isn't so bad, gaining another +2 to bluff your bloodline creatures at ~level 16, not so good. If it fits your character and doesn't hinder your performance in group, then go for it. Consider also the racial substitution levels (found in the Races of books). They may provide the flavor you want for your character without the level loss. Now, considering that they're basically a template, you might be able to convert existing templates into a bloodline form. Taking the level hit at 3, 6, and 12 for a +3 LA isn't quite so hard to deal with compared to taking it all at level 1. :eek: Cheers Otto :) edit: I see others have beat me to the punch. That's what I get for starting a response, eating dinner, watching TV, then hitting 'submit'. :D
nycfarmkid 04-19-05, 08:26 PM	One possible saving grace about bloodline levels is while they dont grant you extra Hit Dice, they do stack when determining level realted abilities and maximum number of skill points per skill. So you wouldnt be losing any caster levels, just spell levels. But still, thats a heavy blow. Another question that comes up: What do you do for epic levels. The epic level handbook says that you aren't an epic character until you actually have 20 hit dice. Is this an exception? you could be a 20th level character but only have 17 hit dice and 3 bloodline levels. Are you then epic?
CzarGarrett 04-20-05, 08:56 AM	Personally, I prefer the Bloodlines over Templates. Bloodlines give it more flavor and allow for a progression of power. It just seems more 'right' that you start out with minor abilities to your bloodline and eventually work your way up.