Bloodline balancing. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bloodline balancing. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Einvaldurinn_mikli
12-14-06, 07:09 PM In my upcoming campaign I want to try something different so I decided to give every character a bloodline, randomly determined. Not all of them will have the same kind of bloodline, that is minor intermediate or major. To make up for this I am going to give the ones that get less then major a higher point buy. What would be appropriate for minor and intermediate?

Side note, they will not have to take "Bloodline levels".
Archmage Atrus
12-14-06, 10:12 PM Why make it be randomly determined?

I really have nothing constructive to add, except for that one question. As a player, I hate to have my DM randomly determine things about my background that'll have a mechanical benefit/penalty later on in the game.

"Oh, by the way, I rolled a 3, your character was born a deaf/mute!"

(Ok, extreme example. Just make sure it doesn't turn into that.)
ashcat_lt
12-14-06, 11:06 PM I'm wondering why you don't make the bloodlines into templates and give them LA's based on the relative benefits. Or is it not that major a benefit.
Manyfist
12-14-06, 11:26 PM I'm wondering why you don't make the bloodlines into templates and give them LA's based on the relative benefits. Or is it not that major a benefit.

Because you can buy off LA, and WotC got smart and said...
"Hmm... whats a good way to make sure they're getting all these bonuses without buying it off?" "Make them take Bloodline levels in which if they don't take they loose out on gaining more stuff from their bloodlines."
ashcat_lt
12-15-06, 12:02 AM well, okay, that means taking levels of the bloodline. same basic thing as LA, except maybe you get HD, skillpoints, feats(?).

A major bloodline would require more levels to get all the good stuff than a minor, no?
RiOrius
12-15-06, 12:38 AM Sorry for the tangent, but what books are Bloodlines in? I don't recall seeing them...
Magnus_the_Mad
12-15-06, 01:17 AM Sorry for the tangent, but what books are Bloodlines in? I don't recall seeing them...

They are in "Unearthed Arcana". Good book IMO, but not for everyone. I was very hesitant to buy this book for a long while and decided to pick it up a couple of weeks ago after a player asked about playing an Urban Ranger in my next campaign. I'm glad I got it :D
tsuyoshikentsu
12-15-06, 01:32 AM If you're going to use bloodlines, watch out for Hellfire Warlock.
GoofsterStud
12-15-06, 02:01 AM I personally wouldn't be happy as a player.

I like to fully creat my characters and taylor them for both plot and coolness.

Granted I'm a power gamer by nature, not munchkin.

I also am probably the most background driven, personality influenced, players you will ever see. My characters have motives and accents and hidden agendas that I made, that nobody else noes about that I will act out on. My group loves me for this, as I have a characters that don't always do what you would expect.

That would ruin that aspect for me.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Einvaldurinn_mikli 12-14-06, 07:09 PM	In my upcoming campaign I want to try something different so I decided to give every character a bloodline, randomly determined. Not all of them will have the same kind of bloodline, that is minor intermediate or major. To make up for this I am going to give the ones that get less then major a higher point buy. What would be appropriate for minor and intermediate? Side note, they will not have to take "Bloodline levels".
Archmage Atrus 12-14-06, 10:12 PM	Why make it be randomly determined? I really have nothing constructive to add, except for that one question. As a player, I hate to have my DM randomly determine things about my background that'll have a mechanical benefit/penalty later on in the game. "Oh, by the way, I rolled a 3, your character was born a deaf/mute!" (Ok, extreme example. Just make sure it doesn't turn into that.)
ashcat_lt 12-14-06, 11:06 PM	I'm wondering why you don't make the bloodlines into templates and give them LA's based on the relative benefits. Or is it not that major a benefit.
Manyfist 12-14-06, 11:26 PM	I'm wondering why you don't make the bloodlines into templates and give them LA's based on the relative benefits. Or is it not that major a benefit. Because you can buy off LA, and WotC got smart and said... "Hmm... whats a good way to make sure they're getting all these bonuses without buying it off?" "Make them take Bloodline levels in which if they don't take they loose out on gaining more stuff from their bloodlines."
ashcat_lt 12-15-06, 12:02 AM	well, okay, that means taking levels of the bloodline. same basic thing as LA, except maybe you get HD, skillpoints, feats(?). A major bloodline would require more levels to get all the good stuff than a minor, no?
RiOrius 12-15-06, 12:38 AM	Sorry for the tangent, but what books are Bloodlines in? I don't recall seeing them...
Magnus_the_Mad 12-15-06, 01:17 AM	Sorry for the tangent, but what books are Bloodlines in? I don't recall seeing them... They are in "Unearthed Arcana". Good book IMO, but not for everyone. I was very hesitant to buy this book for a long while and decided to pick it up a couple of weeks ago after a player asked about playing an Urban Ranger in my next campaign. I'm glad I got it :D
tsuyoshikentsu 12-15-06, 01:32 AM	If you're going to use bloodlines, watch out for Hellfire Warlock.
GoofsterStud 12-15-06, 02:01 AM	I personally wouldn't be happy as a player. I like to fully creat my characters and taylor them for both plot and coolness. Granted I'm a power gamer by nature, not munchkin. I also am probably the most background driven, personality influenced, players you will ever see. My characters have motives and accents and hidden agendas that I made, that nobody else noes about that I will act out on. My group loves me for this, as I have a characters that don't always do what you would expect. That would ruin that aspect for me.