In my personal opinion i say it is arcane. The bonus spells are for the most part great, and no matter what you can do with your spells if the enemy makes all his saves there is no point. Arcane provides bonuses to save dcs so they are the best equipped to make there spells stick.
Would love to hear your opinions.
Mechanically, arcane is king.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), it's also the most boring bloodline thematically. I couldn't ever bring myself to play it.
Mechanically, arcane is king.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), it's also the most boring bloodline thematically. I couldn't ever bring myself to play it.
This.
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I really like the serpentine Bloodline from the APG - a great arcana, a great starting power, and a familiar a few levels in on top of a load of other stuff.
Sylvan from Ultimate Magic looks interesting, for the Animal Companion - but you give up both your arcana and your level 1 power, and are still at -3 druid levels (so also need to blow a feat on Boon Companion to make up the difference), which could be too much of a cost, despite being interesting thematically.
Mechanically, arcane is king.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), it's also the most boring bloodline thematically. I couldn't ever bring myself to play it.
Where's your imagination? A player of mine is an arcane sorcerer who got his powers from a ritual his father performed on his pregnant wife that eventually killed her. The wizard blames the son for her death and is right up there with the murderous lich on the BBEG scale.
I think it depends on what you want to use the Bloodline for. I play an Arcane bloodline Sorcerer and the Spontaneous, standard-action metamagic is awesome. Haven't gotten to the bonus Save DC yet (I'm only 14th level :( ), but that looks great too.
Shadow Well (from the Shadow Bloodline) is great as well. Aberration gets really nasty, really quickly if you specialized in touch spells. A lot of the bloodlines that you may consider lackluster becomes very powerful when you combine them with the Eldritch Heritage feats; for example, a Demonic Bloodline Fighter can take the +6 inherent bonus to Strength, which is awesome.
All bloodlines have a place in the game. Ironically, not all of them are with the Sorcerer class itself xD.
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Where's your imagination? A player of mine is an arcane sorcerer who got his powers from a ritual his father performed on his pregnant wife that eventually killed her. The wizard blames the son for her death and is right up there with the murderous lich on the BBEG scale.Mechanically, arcane is king.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), it's also the most boring bloodline thematically. I couldn't ever bring myself to play it.
I like this concept for making it interesting through character background. I have a similar backstory for a character in a home campaign that involves a couple that was the victim of stillbirth after stillbirth who used magic to help a successful pregnancy. This kind of flavor can make a seemingly dull bloodline interesting.
Where's your imagination? A player of mine is an arcane sorcerer who got his powers from a ritual his father performed on his pregnant wife that eventually killed her. The wizard blames the son for her death and is right up there with the murderous lich on the BBEG scale.Mechanically, arcane is king.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), it's also the most boring bloodline thematically. I couldn't ever bring myself to play it.
Congratulations, you've added an interesting backstory... but it still has the most boring (if, yes, very good) powers and bonus spells.
A player that can manage to make an arcane sorcerer interesting is going to make a verdant (or whatever) sorcerer even more interesting.
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The Orc Bloodline. Why?
First of all, it gives a flat bonus to damaging spells. Not just one type (like the Draconic Bloodline), but +1 per die rolled, which is basically equal to your level. Heck, you play a half-orc with the Orc bloodline, you add +2 damage per die rolled on fire spells.
What's that? Need buffs? NO PROBLEM. We've got Bull's Strength AND Touch of Rage, the later of which is about on par with bard buffery (+5 to-hit/damage at level 10? My fighter LIKES.)
But that's not all. In addition to the above awesomeness, you get an inherent strength bonus, natural armor bonus, an even MORE awesome version of enlarge person for yourself, and fire immunity and DR 5/- at level 20.
Not only is this bloodline great, having the potential for a Sorcerer to become a really, REALLY awesome gish-like class, but the powers are AMAZING for eldritch heritage. Guess what? Inspire Courage is a competence bonus. Wanna make your fighter start freaking out? Pop inspire courage and hit him with a Touch of Rage. Awwwww yeah.
Or, heck, it makes a good pre-charge self buff, so why not make a Paladin and benefit from basically EVERY bloodline power? Need higher strength? DONE. Better armor? DONE. The amazing Power of Giants ability? Heck yeah.
...
<----- is a little biased.
If I had to pick one, it's the starsoul bloodline. The 15th level power is just too much fun!
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Mechanically, arcane is king.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), it's also the most boring bloodline thematically. I couldn't ever bring myself to play it.
Thirded.
I find the very idea of asking this question from a mechanical standpoint obnoxious. Which is the best mechanically shouldn't even weigh into consideration. This is a decision that ought to be made purely on the role-playing considerations.
Personally I think a Dhampir Sorcerer with the Undead (Sanguinary) Bloodline is an interesting route, but I'm also intrigued by the Rakhasa bloodline (patiently waiting for the errata, if any paizoans are reading) for the sheer why-didn't-I-think-of-that awesomeness of it. I played a Celestial bloodline sorcerer in a Beta test campaign and doubled down by taking the Celestial Bloodline feat from the Dragon compendium -- It was a lot of fun, everything I ever wanted the Flavored Soul to be.
I'm actually playing a tiefling Rakshasa bloodline sorcerer who took the Fiendish Heritage feat to have a literal Rakshasa heritage. Is it the most powerful mechanically? No. But damn if it isn't downright flavorful. Bloodlines are a nice bonus for sorcerers, and should certainly be considered, but they don't completely make or break the class.
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I like Serpentine Bloodline if only because it lets you play Jafar.
I like Serpentine Bloodline if only because it lets you play Jafar.Be prepareeeeeeeeed!
I like Serpentine Bloodline if only because it lets you play Jafar.
Does it give you an arcane bond? You most definitely need a parrot familiar.
Didn't the parrot betray him? Doesn't sound very familiarish to me.I like Serpentine Bloodline if only because it lets you play Jafar.Does it give you an arcane bond? You most definitely need a parrot familiar.
Hmmm, good point. Maybe he lost the bond with an alignment shift from Lawful Neutral to Lawful Evil?
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Wrong movie?I like Serpentine Bloodline if only because it lets you play Jafar.Be prepareeeeeeeeed!
Opps fail on my part, I meant umm I believe its call return of Jafar? or second rate?
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Aberration gets really nasty, really quickly if you specialized in touch spells.
I like Aberrant. The touch spells are only part of the charm; you also get longer Polymorphs, and get protection to sneak attack and criticals over time.
Because of these features, the Aberrant sorcerer is great as an arcane wild-shaper. Polymorphing is where you get your versatility, and you expect to spend more time in melee range. Combat Casting, Still and Silent Spell are big helps here. Don't get Fly, get Beast Shape I and turn into an eagle instead. Or, turn into a deinonychus and then cast Chill Touch or Elemental Touch as you crash through the enemy lines.
I would love to see an optimization guide that talks about each bloodline individually.
Draconic (blaster type) gives the best boost to damage, especially when combined with some of the alternate racial traits of the orc and gnome.
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Arcane is fine for several archetypes. It's kind of hard to beat draconic or it's UM elemental equivalent for pure damage output.
The sorcerer's power comes largely from it's spells, there really isn't a huge amount of power difference between any of them.
Huh...I would have thought the other way around, that you can generally have the same set of spells no matter what bloodline you pick, but that the bloodline arcana and bloodline powers can vary wildly in usefulness. E.g. the fey bloodline's greater invisibility (sort of) and the shadow bloodline's hide in plain sight (sort of) are much more useful than the draconic bloodline's 1/day breath weapon.
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The sorcerer's power comes largely from it's spells, there really isn't a huge amount of power difference between any of them.Huh...I would have thought the other way around, that you can generally have the same set of spells no matter what bloodline you pick, but that the bloodline arcana and bloodline powers can vary wildly in usefulness. E.g. the fey bloodline's greater invisibility (sort of) and the shadow bloodline's hide in plain sight (sort of) are much more useful than the draconic bloodline's 1/day breath weapon.
I always use the bloodline as the theme for the spell choices. Since I'll have a limited selection, figure out how to maximize the synergies your bloodline grants you in your spells.
It's sort of my guiding principle for sorcerer builds: You are not Batman. You are Superman. You use your schtick for your versatility.
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For the most part I'd have to agree with those who find arcane king. More spells and a free spell w/ a familiar's bonus to a single stat is nice.
Unfortunately I tend to find myself surrounded by luchadors (my god, 2 grapplers in 1 part is SO not cool) and rogues who are too afraid to sneak attack because they are squishy (these rogues also do d6+1 damage) so I now use the blasty type sorcerers. I just made a new sorcerer for PFS and he is as follows.
Gnome - Pyromaniac (+1 to all fire spell levels)
Trait - Havoc of society (+1 total damage w/ spells)
Crossblooded - Orc (+1 damage per dice rolled)/ Elemental Fire (Primal archetype - +1 damage per dice rolled for fire spells only.)
You start out as a level 1 sorcerer who can:
Produce flame for 1 minute a day dealing d6+3 damage
Elemental Ray for 3+cha times a day for d6+3
I took spell focus so I could take spell specialization (+2 to one spell's level)at level 3 (which can be changed every even level) so that at level 4 I have a scorching ray that is level 7 (+1 level from pyromaniac and 2 from spell specialization) doing 8d6+16 damage.
I'm actually playing a tiefling Rakshasa bloodline sorcerer who took the Fiendish Heritage feat to have a literal Rakshasa heritage. Is it the most powerful mechanically? No. But damn if it isn't downright flavorful. Bloodlines are a nice bonus for sorcerers, and should certainly be considered, but they don't completely make or break the class.
Yeah, I can't wait for Advanced Races to play a Rakshasa Teifling with the Rakshasa Bloodline...in PFS =D
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The sorcerer's power comes largely from it's spells, there really isn't a huge amount of power difference between any of them.Huh...I would have thought the other way around, that you can generally have the same set of spells no matter what bloodline you pick, but that the bloodline arcana and bloodline powers can vary wildly in usefulness. E.g. the fey bloodline's greater invisibility (sort of) and the shadow bloodline's hide in plain sight (sort of) are much more useful than the draconic bloodline's 1/day breath weapon.
Sure, I don't disagree that some of the bloodlines are more powerful than others.
But regardless of what bloodline you choose you are still a sorcerer and 80-90% of your character's power is based on your spells. The bloodlines are all just an incremental bump.
So if you want to do blasting pick a bloodline that fits well with that concept rather than chasing after the most powerful bloodline. Maybe the shadow bloodline power is more powerful but it's not complementing the sort of things you like to do, nor is it particularly thematic with your character.
If you like to do illusions you would pick the shadow bloodline, etc.
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I'm actually playing a tiefling Rakshasa bloodline sorcerer who took the Fiendish Heritage feat to have a literal Rakshasa heritage. Is it the most powerful mechanically? No. But damn if it isn't downright flavorful. Bloodlines are a nice bonus for sorcerers, and should certainly be considered, but they don't completely make or break the class.Yeah, I can't wait for Advanced Races to play a Rakshasa Teifling with the Rakshasa Bloodline...in PFS =D
It will be interesting to see if/ how many of the new races are legalized in PFS. I don't think they are going to blow the race options wide open or allow all the tiefling content from the Council of Thieves book into PFS.
Hmmm, good point. Maybe he lost the bond with an alignment shift from Lawful Neutral to Lawful Evil?
You can take arcane bond by either the Eldrich Heritage Feat (LOL) or being cross blooded.
I also really don't think Iago was his familiar, more like a Magical Beast Cohort.
Also, I think Jafar was always LE, just that he never could materialize his power plays because of hereditary systems in the kingdom.
@Doran: There's a character in my friends stable of lvl 10s for the purpose of one-shots that's a fey bloodline sorceress. That character has been able to either neuter, or just flat out finish whole encounters with charm spells.
I've never played a sorcerer before but I just started a serpentine one for Serpent's Skull. So far all I have been able to do is slither in some good serpentine vocab into our role playing.
I have read all the post and have seen some people mention things like the orc bloodline and other unique bloodlines. I only have the core, advanced players guide, and the ultimate magic. Do these other unique bloodlines exist somewhere else if so please tell me where.
I have read all the post and have seen some people mention things like the orc bloodline and other unique bloodlines. I only have the core, advanced players guide, and the ultimate magic. Do these other unique bloodlines exist somewhere else if so please tell me where.
They are in varied books put out by paizo. If you're like me, then D20pfsrd.com is your friend, good sir. If you look down at the list of bloodlines and see one you don't know, then click the link and see what it does. The site also cites where it came from at the very bottom, for example- Orc Bloodline appears in Orcs of Golarion.
Hope I helped.
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I have read all the post and have seen some people mention things like the orc bloodline and other unique bloodlines. I only have the core, advanced players guide, and the ultimate magic. Do these other unique bloodlines exist somewhere else if so please tell me where.
The two big alternate sources are the Advanced Players Guide and Ultimate Magic (Links go to the sorc bloodlines from those books). Someone mentioned the Orc Bloodline which is from the Orcs of Golarion player companion. It's a solid book if you have a lot of half orc/ orc love but it's very much oriented towards the role of orcs in Golarion so if you use a largely homebrew world it's maybe a bit less useful.
There is also the pestilence bloodline from the council of thieves(mother of flies) AP that is nasty. I remember it grants you immunity and I think control of swarms and many abilities with diseases.
I love the Arcane, Celestial, Draconic, and Fey bloodlines from the base book.
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PFSRD is my personal preference for all things Pathfinder-y. There you'll find all of the sorcerer bloodlines in print, as well as... well basically everything you need. It's AWESOME.
Also, to all you people saying that the Draconic bloodline is awesome for damage... really? Because the Orc bloodline gives you a +1 per die for ALL damage spells, not just relevant elemental ones.
The elemental bloodline allowing you to shift a spell's element to yours is super useful and nifty, which is why I mentioned it, but I really do believe that Orc stands as king (if not a close second to Arcane, depending on character preference).
@Ogre: Yeah, it's from Orcs of Golarion, but the only thing really preventing the usefulness of the bloodline is if your homebrew world doesn't have orcs... which is usually a bit of a stretch (though not unheard of).
So I created a x-blooded draconic/orc sorceror. My character got the stat boosts by the orc bloodline and took the dragon diciple prestige class for another +4 stat boost to strength, +3 boost to natural ac and +2 boost to con. The dragon diciple raises both of your bloodlines so as you gain levels in diciple, both your sorceror bloodlines go up as well. you can have both wings and giant form. That is a total of permanent +10 to strength, +14 to strength when you have bull strength active. When you use your power of the giants special ability as well, an additional +6 is added to your score for a total of +20 to your strength. your total bonus to AC is +4 from the 3rd level power from draconic, +3 diciple, +4 giant size for a total of +11 to your natural AC. Also you get a +6 bonus to your con with everything added together. That makes for a massive melee machine. Not to mention you can still shapeshift into a dragon as well.
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If you happen to get lucky and play a campaign where you don't wind up with too many outsiders or what not... I happen to really, really love the idea behind a x-blooded Envenomed/Pestilence sorcerer. Envenomed being the Wild Blooded variant of Serpentine.
The basic idea is based entirely around inflicting as many afflictions as mechanically possible. Debilitating, debuffing, and just destroying the poor fools that cross him. Poisonous bite, give a weapon a dosage of black adder venom for an attack or an hour, instant disease with pestilential breath, immune to disease and poison, and transform into a HUGE snake (that still has a disease cloud breath weapon).
Gets particularly interesting in political games. Diplomacy and Heal become class skills, and Acrobatics, Climb, and Stealth get a small +2 bonus. Come late enough levels you can wipe out entire villages, towns, and maybe a city. Plaguestorm is horrendously fun, Plague Carrier is nice, Contagion simple and easy.
Beyond that, an X-blooded Pit-Touched (Wild Blooded Infernal)/Abyssal gets you a hell of a boost to both Strength and Constitution. Makes for a nice combat caster :).
Edit: Fixed the Infernal/Abyssal bloodlines. Mixed up Brutal and Pit-touched.
Arcane Bloodline+Human Alt Favored Spells for the sorcerer who wants to play Batman.
Orc Bloodline for any Fighter who wants to do cool stuff and be better at hitting things. (Quicken SLA on Touch of rage for self buff, anyone?)
Orc is king for gish types. The Heritage feats are great for fighters and barbarian types.
Crossblooded Draconic/Orc for blasters can also be amazing for adding 2 points of damage per dice rolled.
Arcane is also amazing as stated before.