a quick co question - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

a quick co question

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
frost.fire
Aug 02, 2013 18:41:11 Does bloodlines improve you intiator level? Also stikes are a standard action to preform correct (unless written otherwise) , I haven't seen anything contrary to this but am curious if anyone else has
#2
Tempest_Stormwind
Aug 02, 2013 18:59:29
Does bloodlines improve you intiator level?

Yes, but not in the way you think - a bloodline level increases all of your effective class levels. Since initiator level for a given class is your level in that class, plus one-half your level in all other classes (except prestige classes, which add their full level to all initiator levels), this can get kind of bizarre.

This doesn't work with racial hit dice, as far as I'm aware, but then again, bloodlines were written long before the ToB came out and were always intended as a variant, so the "standard" books don't really talk about them at all (and bloodlines certainly weren't considered during game development - similar hijinks occur with the binder's pact magic.)
Also stikes are a standard action to preform correct (unless written otherwise) , I haven't seen anything contrary to this but am curious if anyone else has

...Every single maneuver has an "initiation time" listed in its description already. There isn't a general purpose rule (although almost all strikes are standard actions, unless they involve a full attack or a charge).
#3
daedhaed
Aug 02, 2013 21:12:31 Do they also increase caster level?
#4
Tempest_Stormwind
Aug 02, 2013 21:22:09
Do they also increase caster level?

Caster level is set by class level, so yes.
#5
daedhaed
Aug 02, 2013 21:26:11 Interesting, +1 to 3 CL for free basically. Quite solid if you ask me. If you have PrCs that increase casting would they count for every one?
#6
piggyknowles
Aug 03, 2013 8:29:49
Interesting, +1 to 3 CL for free basically. Quite solid if you ask me. If you have PrCs that increase casting would they count for every one?

Not quite free, as bloodlines do cost XP, but almost so.

However, because of how casting PrCs work, it will boost your general caster level but will not boost it for each PrC, like it does with binders and initiating classes. This is because the "+1 spellcasting" is an actual class feature of PrCs, which bloodlines explicitly don't progress. However, with classes like nar demonbinder, or with feats like Master Spellthief, those bloodline levels will stack for each class. That's because it's only looking at the effective number of class levels you have, which bloodlines DO stack with.
#7
draco1119
Aug 03, 2013 9:20:28
Interesting, +1 to 3 CL for free basically. Quite solid if you ask me. If you have PrCs that increase casting would they count for every one?

This is an example of the crazy stuff that you can do with bloodlines. The Ashardalon Reborn link in Tempest's sig is also an effective example.
#8
Andarious-Rosethorn
Aug 03, 2013 10:26:56 Yeah, the math on things that cost XP is funny... Even XP penalty isn't all that bad (at least 10% isn't). You end up a level behind, get more XP and depending on the encounters you face, you get catapulted ahead a bit each encounter until you're at or above par.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 frost.fire Aug 02, 2013 18:41:11	Does bloodlines improve you intiator level? Also stikes are a standard action to preform correct (unless written otherwise) , I haven't seen anything contrary to this but am curious if anyone else has
#2 Tempest_Stormwind Aug 02, 2013 18:59:29	Does bloodlines improve you intiator level? Yes, but not in the way you think - a bloodline level increases all of your effective class levels. Since initiator level for a given class is your level in that class, plus one-half your level in all other classes (except prestige classes, which add their full level to all initiator levels), this can get kind of bizarre. This doesn't work with racial hit dice, as far as I'm aware, but then again, bloodlines were written long before the ToB came out and were always intended as a variant, so the "standard" books don't really talk about them at all (and bloodlines certainly weren't considered during game development - similar hijinks occur with the binder's pact magic.) Also stikes are a standard action to preform correct (unless written otherwise) , I haven't seen anything contrary to this but am curious if anyone else has ...Every single maneuver has an "initiation time" listed in its description already. There isn't a general purpose rule (although almost all strikes are standard actions, unless they involve a full attack or a charge).
#3 daedhaed Aug 02, 2013 21:12:31	Do they also increase caster level?
#4 Tempest_Stormwind Aug 02, 2013 21:22:09	Do they also increase caster level? Caster level is set by class level, so yes.
#5 daedhaed Aug 02, 2013 21:26:11	Interesting, +1 to 3 CL for free basically. Quite solid if you ask me. If you have PrCs that increase casting would they count for every one?
#6 piggyknowles Aug 03, 2013 8:29:49	Interesting, +1 to 3 CL for free basically. Quite solid if you ask me. If you have PrCs that increase casting would they count for every one? Not quite free, as bloodlines do cost XP, but almost so. However, because of how casting PrCs work, it will boost your general caster level but will not boost it for each PrC, like it does with binders and initiating classes. This is because the "+1 spellcasting" is an actual class feature of PrCs, which bloodlines explicitly don't progress. However, with classes like nar demonbinder, or with feats like Master Spellthief, those bloodline levels will stack for each class. That's because it's only looking at the effective number of class levels you have, which bloodlines DO stack with.
#7 draco1119 Aug 03, 2013 9:20:28	Interesting, +1 to 3 CL for free basically. Quite solid if you ask me. If you have PrCs that increase casting would they count for every one? This is an example of the crazy stuff that you can do with bloodlines. The Ashardalon Reborn link in Tempest's sig is also an effective example.
#8 Andarious-Rosethorn Aug 03, 2013 10:26:56	Yeah, the math on things that cost XP is funny... Even XP penalty isn't all that bad (at least 10% isn't). You end up a level behind, get more XP and depending on the encounters you face, you get catapulted ahead a bit each encounter until you're at or above par.