Pathfinder Plus: Is this a dumb idea?

[Utgardloki]

I was thinking about a possible Pathfinder setting. My radical idea is that the PCs have a bloodline, maybe as descendants of gods, maybe devils, maybe something unknown, that grants special abilities above and beyond their class abilities.

So in addition to their class abilities, the PCs get a few character points each level to buy extra abilities. I'm not sure how many, maybe four points per level.

Of course, NPCs also might have extra abilities from their bloodlines, too.

[A Man In Black]

Here are some ideas.

[Studpuffin]

I think you need to give us a better idea of what these powers and abilities are. There is no real way to judge from the information you've given.

Edit: Or go with what AMiB says. :D

[Utgardloki]

Studpuffin wrote:

I think you need to give us a better idea of what these powers and abilities are. There is no real way to judge from the information you've given.

Edit: Or go with what AMiB says. :D

I'm still working on the idea. My thoughts are similar to BESM D20, where PCs can buy almost anything with their points: increased stats, abilities from other classes, spell-like abilities, special magic items.

As for cost, I think a +1 Stat increase would be 1 point, a bonus feat 2 points, a spell-like ability 3 x (spell level squared) (minimum 1 or 0-level spells).

Players don't have to spend points when they are available, and can save up to buy more impressive abilities. But many abilities may have prerequisites.

[A Man In Black]

Utgardloki wrote:

As for cost, I think a +1 Stat increase would be 1 point, a bonus feat 2 points, a spell-like ability 3 x (spell level squared) (minimum 1 or 0-level spells).

Players don't have to spend points when they are available, and can save up to buy more impressive abilities. But many abilities may have prerequisites.

Give people a bunch of invisible points equivalent to money, and let them buy magical effects from the magic item book without the need for the items. So a +4 enhancement boost to str is 16000 points, or a once a day dimension door is 18000 points, and so forth.

[Laddie]

Also, the Kingmaker thingus seems to have some Birthright DNA floating around in it, so I wouldn't be surprised if they tied in something similar to the blooded characters.

[Krome]

Maybe combine the idea of Bloodlines with Action Points...

They get some really cool freebies that are always present (use bloodlines and don't require any special costs to for them. They just get the abilities available at their level) and then they have some Action Points they can use on occasion to accomplish extraordinary deeds.

Keeps new rule generation to a minimal, and accomplishes a similar goal. But does provide a limit of the capabilities so they aren't loading up everything in one area. Do you REALLY want a fighter who loads up his STR to max every level and nothing else so he is never missing and one shot kills everything in sight?

[Utgardloki]

I've been thinking that if I want to do what I've been thinking of doing, I might as well run Mutants and Masterminds in an archaic setting or one with a high degree of available magic, because essentially what I've been thinking of is a setting where characters have their own unique set of powers. A system without classes would be more appropriate, I think.

Or I could do what I have long been doing in 3.5, and allow a small number of character points to be used to customize a PC. I introduced this option primarily to handle the issue of character wealth. The starting character wealth rules for new PCs higher than 2nd level become a bit ridiculous if you play a self sufficient character like a monk.