Bloodlines General Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bloodlines General Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
jepodol1
11-28-04, 09:36 PM Okay, I went through the 4 pages of this board and have not found this topic.

Can anyone help me out? I'm not quite sure I have the bloodlines rules down. What the heck do they mean that a character has to take a level of bloodline before a specific character level? In reading the charts some characters have a bloodline trait at level 4. Does that mean when my character (or NPC) reaches level 4, they have to take the bloodline level. THEN the next time they level up, they can take class level 4? Does that bloodline level 4 count like a class level, meaning my character will never reach level 20 of his class??

I am very confused because I like the bloodline trait idea and want to use it for a very powerful NPC, and the book doesn't really lay it out in layman's terms.
DrMorganes
11-28-04, 11:12 PM First off, it helps to consider "Bloodline" as a separate class, with a few tweaks. Bloodline levels stack with class levels of various sorts to determine level-based calculations (like caster level or monk level, or to determine maximum skill ranks), but do NOT grant increases to Save or Base Attack Bonuses, Hit Points, Skill Points, or class features of any sort. With that in mind, the PC must "multiclass" (it's not a true multiclass, however, as Bloodlines aren't truly a class. Multiclassing rules do not apply) to the appropriate Bloodline before reaching various character levels or incur various penalties. Exactly when this "multiclassing" must happen depends on the strength of the Bloodline in question.

All characters - PC and NPC - of a specific Bloodline strength (Minor, Intermediate, or Major) share the same level caps for taking the Bloodline levels. They DO NOT have to take a Bloodline level before they gain a specific Bloodline trait. Instead, they gain ALL traits at the character level listed in the Bloodline's description - as long as they take a Bloodline level before reaching the appropriate cap level.

Ferinstance:

I'll assume that the PC in your example possesses a Minor bloodline. Minor Bloodlines gain Bloodline traits beginning at 4th Level and every 4 levels thereafter to Level 20 (when ALL Bloodlines reach their maximum potential), and have a single cap level at Character Level 12.

Your PC will gain the first two Bloodline traits automatically at Levels 4 and 8. However, you MUST take a Bloodline level at some point BEFORE becoming a 13th level character. If you do - and this could be when you reach Level 2, Level 12, or at any point in between - you will gain your other Bloodline traits automatically at Levels 12, 16, and 20. If you don't take your Bloodline level before reaching Level 12, however, you get whapped with a 20% XP penalty AND gain no further Bloodline traits until you take the Bloodline level. This XP penalty stacks with any XP penalties you you may already have (such as excessive multiclassing).

If your PC has a Major Bloodline, you gain Bloodline traits at EACH class level, but have cap levels at 3, 6, and 12. You give up 3 class levels (along with 3 levels' worth of BAB, Save Bonuses, and class features) in exchange for the often-formidable traits of a Major Bloodline.
jepodol1
11-29-04, 12:21 AM Okay, so then according to what you're saying is if I take a major bloodline, at levels 1 and 2 I would automatically gain those abilities, but at level 3 I have to sacrifice a class level in order to continue to receive bloodline traits and avoid the 20% XP reduction.

So just follow the table to say when I would need to sacrifice a class level, right?
strenoth
11-29-04, 12:56 AM Yes, though there may be times when for some strange reason it's more advantageous to take the level before it's required (maybe you'll be able to start a PrC at that level, and youw ant to get into it ASAP or something. I'm just speculating).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jepodol1 11-28-04, 09:36 PM	Okay, I went through the 4 pages of this board and have not found this topic. Can anyone help me out? I'm not quite sure I have the bloodlines rules down. What the heck do they mean that a character has to take a level of bloodline before a specific character level? In reading the charts some characters have a bloodline trait at level 4. Does that mean when my character (or NPC) reaches level 4, they have to take the bloodline level. THEN the next time they level up, they can take class level 4? Does that bloodline level 4 count like a class level, meaning my character will never reach level 20 of his class?? I am very confused because I like the bloodline trait idea and want to use it for a very powerful NPC, and the book doesn't really lay it out in layman's terms.
DrMorganes 11-28-04, 11:12 PM	First off, it helps to consider "Bloodline" as a separate class, with a few tweaks. Bloodline levels stack with class levels of various sorts to determine level-based calculations (like caster level or monk level, or to determine maximum skill ranks), but do NOT grant increases to Save or Base Attack Bonuses, Hit Points, Skill Points, or class features of any sort. With that in mind, the PC must "multiclass" (it's not a true multiclass, however, as Bloodlines aren't truly a class. Multiclassing rules do not apply) to the appropriate Bloodline before reaching various character levels or incur various penalties. Exactly when this "multiclassing" must happen depends on the strength of the Bloodline in question. All characters - PC and NPC - of a specific Bloodline strength (Minor, Intermediate, or Major) share the same level caps for taking the Bloodline levels. They DO NOT have to take a Bloodline level before they gain a specific Bloodline trait. Instead, they gain ALL traits at the character level listed in the Bloodline's description - as long as they take a Bloodline level before reaching the appropriate cap level. Ferinstance: I'll assume that the PC in your example possesses a Minor bloodline. Minor Bloodlines gain Bloodline traits beginning at 4th Level and every 4 levels thereafter to Level 20 (when ALL Bloodlines reach their maximum potential), and have a single cap level at Character Level 12. Your PC will gain the first two Bloodline traits automatically at Levels 4 and 8. However, you MUST take a Bloodline level at some point BEFORE becoming a 13th level character. If you do - and this could be when you reach Level 2, Level 12, or at any point in between - you will gain your other Bloodline traits automatically at Levels 12, 16, and 20. If you don't take your Bloodline level before reaching Level 12, however, you get whapped with a 20% XP penalty AND gain no further Bloodline traits until you take the Bloodline level. This XP penalty stacks with any XP penalties you you may already have (such as excessive multiclassing). If your PC has a Major Bloodline, you gain Bloodline traits at EACH class level, but have cap levels at 3, 6, and 12. You give up 3 class levels (along with 3 levels' worth of BAB, Save Bonuses, and class features) in exchange for the often-formidable traits of a Major Bloodline.
jepodol1 11-29-04, 12:21 AM	Okay, so then according to what you're saying is if I take a major bloodline, at levels 1 and 2 I would automatically gain those abilities, but at level 3 I have to sacrifice a class level in order to continue to receive bloodline traits and avoid the 20% XP reduction. So just follow the table to say when I would need to sacrifice a class level, right?
strenoth 11-29-04, 12:56 AM	Yes, though there may be times when for some strange reason it's more advantageous to take the level before it's required (maybe you'll be able to start a PrC at that level, and youw ant to get into it ASAP or something. I'm just speculating).