Something that Sorcerers lack is something that is unique to them and not an Arcane Wizard knock-off spell.
I like the idea of the Bloodlines but I think that this idea can be taken further with something that I am calling 'Sorcerous Expressions'.
Conceptually, it is similar to what they can currently do.
Currently, a Sorcerer has a list of known spells that they are granted.
Sorcererous Expressions would be more like feats like the Divine Feats that Clerics use with the Turn Undead Battery or Barbarians use with their Rage Points.
Sorcerous Expressions though would allow a Sorcerer to sacrifice a spell slot to gain an immediate ability.
Some of this idea already exists in feats that allow a Sorcerer to do things like sacrifice a slot to apply a metamagic feat without spending a full round or to sacrifice a certain number of lower level slots to cast a higher level spell.
What I am thinking more with Sorcerous Expressions are that some things that Sorcerous should not have to 'learn' a spell to be able to channel magic to occur.
For example, an Elementalist Sorcerer should not have to learn a spell to be able to channel magic into a damaging field that surrounds them with their element. This should just be a special feat choice that they can do to make a 1d6+1/2 levels damaging aura in a 5' area around the sorcerer lasting a number of rounds equal to the caster. Fortitude save for half damage with a DC of 10+1/2 level+Cha of Sorcerer. This would be one sample feat or Sorcerous Expression.
BTW thematically, I do not like the idea of Sorcerers wearing armour. I think that they should be able to shape magic into something better than hunks of metal strapped to their arms.
The Sorcerous Expressions would thematically sound like they were the mind of the Sorcerer shaping the raw nature of magic to fit their own outlook.
I might compare the effect to the Warlock's or Dragonfire Adept's pools of abilities though the Sorcerer would use their spell slots to activate the abilities. More powerful abilities would take higher level slots to activate the abilities.
Thus, for example, a Draconic Sorcerer might choose Breath of the Wyrm as something that requires a level 5 slot to activate. Breath of the Wyrm would be a blast of an appropriate type of wyrm doing 1d6 damage per level of the Draconic Sorcerer with the characteristics of effect of a Huge Dragon.
While something like Wings of the Wyrm might only take a level 3 pick like a fly spell known would require.
It could work if it was like shadow magic: you blow a slot to use any lower level spell of a certain school.
For example, a Fire Elementalist Sorcerer could blow a 4th level slot to cast any [fire] effect spell of 3rd level or below and an Undead sorcerer would do the same with any damaging Necromancy spell.
Mmmm, I think I like that. A lot. It combines sorcererous creativity with a nice mechanic.
Any spell of a lower level would be more flexability then I was thinking.
I was thinking more of things like the Wild Feats and Divine Feats.
I was thus thinking that you might use up a slot to either
1> Use a particular spell like talent (I gave examples like the Elementalist Aura or Dragon Breath)
or
2> Enhance an existing sorcerous casting like maximize damage or apply a metamagic feat without paying the full round cost.
Any spell of a lower level would be more flexability then I was thinking.
I was thinking more of things like the Wild Feats and Divine Feats.
I was thus thinking that you might use up a slot to either
1> Use a particular spell like talent (I gave examples like the Elementalist Aura or Dragon Breath)
or
2> Enhance an existing sorcerous casting like maximize damage or apply a metamagic feat without paying the full round cost.
That has already been tried with the various Heritage feats. At the end of the day, its no different from getting an extra spell.
Sure, it is similar to heritage feats. The reason for the suggestion is to be something similar to what people are used to using.
Sure, it is little more than giving an extra known spell to the Sorcerers.
There are some differances though that make it attractive then giving an extra spells.
1> Flavour - the selection can be based along the bloodlines to provide flavour to the person playing the sorcerer.
2> Listing the abilities as Sorcerous Expressions and not as spells keeps them unique to the Sorcerers. It avoids the constant fighting between the any spell a Sorcerer might choose a Wizard can already choose. Now the sorcerer would have things that they could point to and say that they can do these abilities and the wizard can not open up their spell book and say they can do the identical thing.
3> Gaining them through feat selection allows the sorcerer to choose between more choices for usage of their slots or other feat choices. Each is a unique way to power which I think is a good idea.
4> With the unique identification to the Sorcerer with these choices, you can change the level of gain of some of them. Sorcerers that are Elementalists can gain a damaging aura maybe at level 1 while a Draconic could gain a rage like surge of power at level 1. Wizards could look at their spell lists and know that the Sorcerer clearly had access to some abilities faster or of different types then they could do. An Undead might have an ability that they can command undead or recruit undead earlier or better than a Wizard placing them possibly somewhere between a Cleric and a Wizard as a Necromancer.