Bloodlines from Unearthed Arcana

[LordBOB]

so i just recently came into the Unearthed Arcana 3.5 and im AMAZED!!!!

I was reading through it and i came across Bloodlines and my jaw hit the floor. Our group recently decided to start our chararacters from the beginning. I am going to be a paladin with the Major Golden Dragon Bloodline ( always wanted to be some kind of dragon)

My question is how exactly does this work. I know that every couple of levels your required to take a lv. in your Bloodline, but from what Ive read it doesnt count as Multi classing so im able to do it right? The Chart said i had to take a lv. by or before 3 levels.

EX. Im a lv.2 paladin and i have enough experience to go to level 3, but im required to take a lv. in my Bloodline. So that means i remain a lv.2 paladin right? Also what happens to the experience i gained.... I would think that it lowered back to the minimum required to be a level 2 character cause it makes sense to me. Some one plz help me out. Thanks in advance!

 

[IcyCool]

EX. Im a lv.2 paladin and i have enough experience to go to level 3, but im required to take a lv. in my Bloodline. So that means i remain a lv.2 paladin right? Also what happens to the experience i gained.... I would think that it lowered back to the minimum required to be a level 2 character cause it makes sense to me. Some one plz help me out. Thanks in advance!

Your experience doesn't change, you still have the same amount, and now you are a Paladin 2/(Bloodline) 1.

 

[LordBOB]

ok so is it considered multi classing? Cause if it is i cant do it

 

[DamionW]

It works like another class. If you were that 2lvl paladin and decided to take a level in cleric, you'd be a 2Pal/1Cl and a 3rd level character overall. So when you take the third level of bloodline, you're a 2Pal/1Gold Dragon Bloodline, level 3 overall. You keep the same XP and when it hits enough for level 4 on the chart for character level, you can pick up that 3rd level of paladin.

 

[IcyCool]

ok so is it considered multi classing? Cause if it is i cant do it

I don't believe so, no. I'll check when I can get ahold of the book.

 

[DamionW]

ok so is it considered multi classing? Cause if it is i cant do it

Is it your DM that says you can't multiclass or is there some other reason? The restriction on paladin mutliclassing is pretty much a non factor here because the gold dragon aspect of him is compatable with the good lifestyle of a paldin, but I'd still just clear it with the DM. For example, there are paladins of Heironeous who also become clerics. They're allowed to advance in both because he doesn't have to lessen his code of ethics to take that class. The bloodline trait is just advancing the gold dragon side of the person while upholding a paladin's ideals. Trying to be a red dragon bloodline paladin wouldn't be as appropriate...

 

[IcyCool]

Unearthed Arcana doesn't state that bloodline levels and paladin levels multiclass freely, so I would assume by default that they can't. However, you should ask your GM if you can do it, it doesn't seem all that unbalancing.

 

[Crothian]

Bloodlines are not a class so its not multi classing

 

[pbd]

The level of bloodline is similar to buying an ecl level, you get nothing for it (no BAB, hit points, saves, etc) al you get is to keep advancing in your bloodline.

My read is that the bloodlines are really underpowered for what you give up; ie. with the major gold dragon bloodlien you trade a level for the feat alertness, +2 on sense motive checks and +1 to strength. That seems poor for an ecl of 1.

Compare what you get at level 12 (the level by which you have to have taken all 3 bloodline levels) with the half-dragon template; even at 20th it still seems not worth the loss of 3 levels.

It works for flavor, but you mayfind your character straggling behind the rest of the group.

 

[Crothian]

Mechancially they are weak, but I'd like to have a party that all had them so it would balance out in the group