It kind of bothers me, for a few reasons, that Sorcerers get their Bloodline spells a level behind other spells of the same level. In addition to sorcerer spells already being delayed a level beyond wizard spells, you'd think the sorcerer would be no worse with, and indeed might be better with, their bloodline spells than with other spells.
I was considering making Sorcerers get their bloodline spells at the same level as other spells of that level (like an Oracle's mystery spells), and asked James Jacobs what he thought about that; His reply included that getting a new level of spells is already a big deal, and that putting them at the same level would result in some emptier levels. I have mixed feelings about the emptiness of some of its levels anyway, but that feedback gave me another thought: What if they got their bloodline spells a level early (at the same time wizards get spells of that level)? It'd take a tweak to the spells per day chart, giving them one use, for it being a taste, or two, so that it fits smoothly into the progression of spells per day, and I'm not sure if bonus spells per level from high ability scores would modify that number.
So, what do you all think about the idea of lowering the level that sorcerers get their bloodline spells to the same level as other spells of that level or even the level before? Would it be helppful? Enjoyable? Would it have negative implications on game balance?
I personally would allow it in the following way. They get to cast ZERO spells naturally at the same level a wizard would gain a new level of spells. They know the bloodline spell and no other spells of that level. They get to cast that spell 0 times per day plus whatever bones spells they get at that level from a high ability score. (Like how paladins and rangers get spells only if they had a high ability score.)
That way they have no access to levels faster than a wizard, still have to be talented to get a spell early, and are limited to only one casting per day in most cases of a spell that matches their bloodline. A minor change that really would help the feel of the character without taking the stick of a wizard.
I don't see anything harmful about spontaneous casters in general getting access to their spells at the same rate as prepared casters.
However, I think it would be extremely disappointing to a great many bloodlines to do this.
The thing of it is, at least 50% of bloodline spells are garbage, and another 30-40% are spells that have their uses for sure, but that you probably wouldn't take if they weren't given to you. I consider the free spells from bloodlines to be the least useful aspect of said bloodline.
"Hooray! I get spells when a wizard does!"
"Congratulations! Have fun casting Darkvision at 3rd! Or Deep Slumber at 5th! Ooh, how about Power Word: Stun at 15th!"