Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Siduakal 08-06-05, 01:55 PM	I'm considering in my campaign (Keep in mind, I have 2 players.. lol.. Both VERY experienced) allowing bloodlines for free if they pick a core race. Now,. question is.. at what point would you guys say the bloodlines are simply overpowering if free? I know the minor aren't..
Siduakal 08-08-05, 07:43 PM	Anyone? o.O
Nani? 08-09-05, 01:01 AM	Here's an idea off the top of my head. Give them a minor bloodline and make upgrades feats? All the Best, Nani?
Seldriss 08-09-05, 11:26 AM	As a DM, it is your privilege and your responsability to determine if a race or class is accessible to players, if a special race has a level adjustment or not, if bloodlines are free or not. It's all up to you. You're the DM. Anyway, more than any level adjustment, the best way to control powerful races or classes (or bloodlines in this case) is to give responsabilities to the characters, in roleplay terms. You can give them a strong code to follow, duties towards a faction or a superior, or affect the npc reactions according to their appearance or reputation. Little example : Playing a young dragon can look cool, but dealing with npc can be tough. All the peasants will run away when they see the creature. And what about city guards? If you play a monster, expect to be treated as such... Other example: A player wants to play a centaur. Fine. But what is he going to do when the group enters a narrow underground dungeon? Stay outside and wait for them? No XP then... The player should think twice before creating these characters. For bloodlines, the fact is that the appearance is not necessary so obvious. But still, there can be enough hints about the character's nature. Animals will feel something wrong (dogs, horses). Some powerful npc will see "through" the human illusion and consider the creature inside (dragon, demon, whatever). Once again it's all up to you. And up to your players. If you think they can assume such a character, and will play it responsibly, go ahead.
JohnS 08-09-05, 11:54 AM	The minor bloodlines are not too powerful, provided all PCs and NPCs have them. Even if the NPC's don't, though, I don't think it would break the game. In my campaign, I allow sorcerers to have a free minor bloodline. I hasn't made my NPC sorcerers any more survivable against the PCs - just added some flavor, really.
Aurotuli 08-09-05, 05:32 PM	Looking at what you get, taking into consideration the XP cost of the LA buyback (which is basically what the bloodline levels are), and comparing them to the various races, you quickly find that Minor Bloodlines are LA +0, Intermediate Bloodlines are LA +1, and Major Bloodlines are LA +2. Acually it is a little more complicated than this. Dwarves approach the maximum one can be for LA +0 (vs LA +1), and some minor bloodlines might be just enough to push them over the limit, depending on what is gained. However, usually the advantages are gained late enough that other aspects that make them a strong LA +0 race are no longer applicable, leaving them as LA +0 regardless of the advantages. On the other hand, some of what is gained by the major bloodlines is quite significant, perhaps worth a slightly higher LA (+3 instead of +2), but again it would depend on the setting. In a desert setting +2 affinity for Blue Dragons is more significant than in an arctic or woodland setting. And the breath of fire once per day is more damaging in the arctic (where many cold types are) than in the tropics - or near volcanoes (where many fire types are). So, if you are giving Bloodlines for free, limit it to only Minor Bloodlines. If you want to give them a small price to pay, the allow Intermediate bloodlines. Major bloodlines are like drow - several potent abilities, but unlike drow they have to wait numerous levels to get most of them, and some are of questionable worth while others might have been more valuable if they had been gained earlier.