Bloodline Rules in your Game?

[FreeXenon]

You could try a mechanic akin to Racial Paragon Levels which would prevent the level adjustment problem. You would gain the blood line ability which could grow with level, and the Bloodline Levels could stack with a primary core class or all core classes.

 

[Jraynack]

I again call attention to Birthright for a concept that captures what you want. The setting was about rulership with bloodlines.

I did try to access the link, however I did not have permission to access the .pdf even though I signed up to the site. Needless to say, I am familiar with Birthright and looking to "borrow" some elements without being too blatant.

Dragon magazine (I think it was #315, but I could be wrong there) had a system of using feats to capture this.

There are many ways to handle this but the basic concept I beleive is the same as what you are trying to capture.

"Elaine - to my archives." - J. Peterman.

You could try a mechanic akin to Racial Paragon Levels which would prevent the level adjustment problem. You would gain the blood line ability which could grow with level, and the Bloodline Levels could stack with a primary core class or all core classes.

That is definitely an option. Originally, we thought to use the paragon levels as levels of people of particular country, but have mixed feeling about that. The paragon levels might work.

 

[FreeXenon]

That is definitely an option. Originally, we thought to use the paragon levels as levels of people of particular country, but have mixed feeling about that. The paragon levels might work.

A not so well thought out example (not having any idea as to how you are modeling it):

Least Antisar Bloodline
Requisites: from a special region or something, must be take at first level.
Benefit: Class Affinity: When taking this Least Bloodline the character must select a base class which will be associated with this Least Bloodline. The Saves, BAB, skills for this level of Least Bloodline are the same as the class chosen for Class Affinity, and this level stacks for the purposes of determining that classes special abilities.

Bloodline Skills: the following list of skills are gained as class skills:

Bloodline Ability: Special Bloodline Power
character level
1-5 1/d
6-10 2/d
11-15 3/d
....


Taking a blood line would not put them so far behind of class abilities. The class level would stack for determining ability to get fighter specialization, caster levels, bardic music as selected for Class affinity.

It will almost play out as combination of Substitution/Paragon Levels, but not.

 

[irdeggman]

I did try to access the link, however I did not have permission to access the .pdf even though I signed up to the site. Needless to say, I am familiar with Birthright and looking to "borrow" some elements without being too blatant.

Try the attached pdf of Ch 2.

I have an "in" with the editor-in-chief of the project

 

[Jraynack]

Try the attached pdf of Ch 2.

I have an "in" with the editor-in-chief of the project

Thanks, that did it - I will look over it tomorrow (just finished my gaming session and its 3 in the morning).

 

[taferial]

Our Gm is a RAW kinda guy, but theres rules and then theres rules letting a 6 foot fighter hit people with a telegraph pole...

One quick balance solution I have been toying with this week, would be letting the bloodline pc buy off the level adjustment with his 6th 9th and 12th level feats (depending on strength of bloodline of course).

A fighter would probably soak the feat loss quite easily, but the loss of BAB and hit-die/ level seems to hit a fighter hardest.

Just chucking ideas out, it seems a shame not to use a good premise just because of the crappy level adjustment mechanic.

 

[javcs]

Treat it like LA, and use LA buyoff. (also from Unearthed Arcana)

 

[moritheil]

Our Gm is a RAW kinda guy, but theres rules and then theres rules letting a 6 foot fighter hit people with a telegraph pole...

More like a structural column.

Even without that one poorly worded example, though, in the last campaign I ran, bloodlines were considered pretty powerful. (Not random ones, but the ability to pick one that suited one's build.) I find it interesting that everyone says they are underpowered.

 

[nittanytbone]

Bloodlines are intentionally underpowered. They are basically LA races or ECL templates that you purchase later in your career.

First, note that most non-core races are somewhat underpowered (compare a Goblin to a Gnome). This is to discourage people from playing too many wacky, non-standard things.

Next, note that most template are fairly expensive. Again, this discourages folks from choosing to become lycanthropes.

Finally, note that in the case of a bloodline, there is NO cost at all until you hit a certain level. If you never get to that point, the cost doesn't affect you at all. This means that a bloodline is like a template with a somewhat reduced cost. That means the benefits should also be somewhat reduced.

I think they're just fine -- they give you a way to customize your character if you really want to, but it won't make a powergamer very happy. Just like being a half-dragon or playing a drow might really get someone going, bloodlines are out there for the character customization crowd, not the powergaming folks.

 

[Jraynack]

I think they're just fine -- they give you a way to customize your character if you really want to, but it won't make a powergamer very happy. Just like being a half-dragon or playing a drow might really get someone going, bloodlines are out there for the character customization crowd, not the powergaming folks.

I think there are just fine as well, which is why in our upcoming Feudal Lords Dwarven Guide, I developed bloodlines for each of the major dwarf clans in the world. Therefore, players that have a dwarf character can either can say:

a). I am a dwarf of X clan (without taking the bloodline)

or

b). I have a dwarf of X clan and have the bloodline to prove it (along with powers from that particular clan). This is for those players wishing to customize their characters further.

But my question is do people use bloodlines in their game and if people don't (for one reason or another) is there a better system to represent bloodlines?

I would like to produce a product that players and GMs might consider using rather than expanding on existing rules (i.e. bloodlines) that people, on the most part, don't use or even allow in their game.

I am fine with the existing bloodline rules, but it doesn't help the setting if no one uses it. If that is the case, their is no point expanding on those rules.

Nittanytbone, I think you hit the nail on the head with your quote, since initially the bloodlines I developed for the dwarven clans appeal to those players wishing to customize. However, I also want to reach the power gamer crowd as well without being overbalanced.

I also think that most of the rules in the UA were hardly playtested if not at all so we have to have a keen eye when developing new or using rules from another company - even if it is WOTC. To be quite frank, I believe roughly 10% of the rules produced by them are either broken or broken by the virtue that the rules aren't explained well (someone is playing a crusader in my game and it nearly gave me a headache reading the rules for that character) - but that is for another forum.

Thanks for the comment.