I've had a player come up with some really strange ideas lately, and has been asking alot of questions about the Eldritch Heritge Feat and how it interacts with alternative ways to gain bloodlines. The feat says this:
Eldritch Heritage
You are descended from a long line of sorcerers, and some portion of their power flows in your veins.
Prerequisites: Cha 13, Skill Focus with the class skill of bloodline selected for this feat (see below), character level 3rd.
Benefit: Select one sorcerer bloodline. You must have Skill focus in the class skill that bloodline grants to a sorcerer at 1st level (for example, Heal for the celestial bloodline). This bloodline cannot be a bloodline you already have. You gain the first-level bloodline power for the selected bloodline. For purposes of using that power, treat your sorcerer level as equal to your character level – 2, even if you have levels in sorcerer. You do not gain any of the other bloodline abilities.
So here's the questions began. Note the sentence I bolded. I understand that if you are a sorcerer and already possess a bloodline, that you can't take this feat to get abilities faster. I've got that.
But how does this feat interact with the Dragon Disciple prestige class's Blood of Dragons ability? Like, say for instance that I began as a Bard and chose Skill Focus (Perception) as my first level feat and Eldritch Heritage (Dragonic) at level 3. Then, after reaching 6th level took levels in the Dragon Disciple Prestige class? Would this mean that to determine the potency of my claws, that I add my levels in Dragon Disciple to my total character level -2? Does it make the Eldritch Heritage feat void, since I now possess the same bloodline as the feat is giving me? Or should I make a common sense house rule and simply go with my levels of Dragon Disciple plus my levels of non-Dragon Disciple -2? Or is there a better answer that I'm just not seeing?
Now here's where it gets a bit more confusing. Let's assume I'm playing the Cabalist Magus and I took the Eldritch Heritage (Draconic) feat at 3rd level. What happens at 7th level when I gain the Boodline Power ability? Am I eligible to take the Draconic Bloodline then, or not? Do I have two separate sets of abilities - like having claws twice, one from the feat and a second from the class ability? Because I didn't already have the bloodline when I took Eldritch Heritage, I came upon the abilities of a bloodline later, not an actual bloodline itself.
While I'm on the subject, how does the Cabalist Magus of 7th level or higher that chose the Bloodline Power (Draconic) interact with the Dragon Disciple Prestige Class's Blood of Dragons ability? Do I add my levels of Magus and Dragon Disciple together to determine the effectiveness of my powers? Or do I simply have two sets of the same powers (as I mentioned above)?
But what if I combine all my above questions? What if I began as a Cabalist Magus, then at 3rd level took the Eldritch Heritage (Draconic) feat, then waited until 7th level to pick up the Bloodline Power (Draconic) class ability, then just dove right into the Dragon Disciple class at level 8? What happens then? Is this even possible? Does that mean I could have three sets of draconic abilities? Or that I combine my Magus + Dragon Disciple + CL -2 to determine my bloodine abilities? Or is it some other combination?
As you can see, it's alot of gray and murky areas to have machinegunned at me by a player. Any help would be appreciated.
But how does this feat interact with the Dragon Disciple prestige class's Blood of Dragons ability?
Your effective sorcerer level for the powers would remain your character level - 2.
Your base sorcerer levels are your level - 2, then you'd add your Dragon Disciple levels on top of that for your level -2 + DD levels. However, the feat specifically ignores sorcerer levels you have from other sources, thus resetting it back to your level -2.
Now here's where it gets a bit more confusing. Let's assume I'm playing the Cabalist Magus and I took the Eldritch Heritage (Draconic) feat at 3rd level.
This is a 3rd party product, and so you're probably better off asking their own forum how it works.
That said, if you did this using regular methods (not taking your first Sorcerer level until 4th or later), if you took the Draconic bloodline, you'd lose the benefits of the feat, as you'd no longer meet its requirements (i.e. that the bloodline be one you don't already have).
While I'm on the subject, how does the Cabalist Magus of 7th level or higher that chose the Bloodline Power (Draconic) interact with the Dragon Disciple Prestige Class's Blood of Dragons ability?
Again, 3rd party, so you should ask them, but it should interact fine, with the Dragon Disciple levels stacking with the Magus levels to determine your bloodline's effective level.
Do I add my levels of Magus and Dragon Disciple together to determine the effectiveness of my powers? Or do I simply have two sets of the same powers (as I mentioned above)?
Under no circumstances do you get multiple sets of the same powers.
But what if I combine all my above questions? What if I began as a Cabalist Magus, then at 3rd level took the Eldritch Heritage (Draconic) feat, then waited until 7th level to pick up the Bloodline Power (Draconic) class ability, then just dove right into the Dragon Disciple class at level 8? What happens then? Is this even possible? Does that mean I could have three sets of draconic abilities? Or that I combine my Magus + Dragon Disciple + CL -2 to determine my bloodine abilities? Or is it some other combination?
You'd have one set of powers (at an effective level equal to Magus levels + Dragon Disciple levels), and a wasted feat.
Thanks for the advice. That's pretty much how I figured everything worked. At least this way, I have something I can point my player to for answers. Thank you.
I would say it would not be wasted feat. You would magus add 7 ,then DD add 1 and your feat adding CL -2 or 6 for a total of 14. Then look at what that power dose at level 14 so in the case of the claws it would be
Claws (Su): Starting at 1st level, you can grow claws as a free action. These claws are treated as natural weapons, allowing you to make two claw attacks as a full attack action using your full base attack bonus. Each of these attacks deals 1d4 points of damage plus your Strength modifier (1d3 if you are Small). At 5th level, these claws are considered magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming DR. At 7th level, the damage increases by one step to 1d6 points of damage (1d4 if you are Small). At 11th level, these claws deal an additional 1d6 points of damage of your energy type on a successful hit. You can use your claws for a number of rounds per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier. These rounds do not need to be consecutive.
By doing this you get power 11 power of the claws at level 8th this is not new. The APG put out a items that dose the same thing.
Robes of Arcane Heritage
Aura moderate necromancy; CL 9th
Slot body; Price 16,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.
Description
These elegant, dark purple and royal blue robes are usually decorated with gold stitching depicting a sorcerer bloodline, though some indicate a family tree. The stitching changes to match the sorcerer bloodline of the wearer. The wearer treats her sorcerer level as 4 higher than normal for the purpose of determining what bloodline powers she can use and their effects.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, speak with dead, creator must be a sorcerer; Cost 8,000 gp