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I rather like the bloodrager class. Have had fun so far with PFS play using a half orc bloodrager. Got loots of cool tips on a build for one through these message boards.
`tis lotsa fun having a PC what can slice, dice, smash, and trash the opposition! AND life to tell the tale!
So far, I've played my half-orc bloodrager, with the Abyssal bloodline. And I've been tinkering with a Dhampir bloodrager with the (ever so appropriate) Undead bloodline. Just wondering what anyone else might have tinkered with for bloodragers. In particular, what combinations of race and bloodlines do people think make cool bloodragers?
I'm more interested in the mix of race and bloodline than the bloodrager archetypes.
Thanks in advance, all!
Draconic Kobold, Fey Gnome, stuff like that just follows naturally can make for a fine tale. Black Blood Anything is horrifying if you think about it.
For the coolest though, Destined Vanara is a Super Saiyan.
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I hadn't thought of smaller races as bloodragers. Too many stereotypes in my mind, I suppose. But, still, those are cool ideas. I guess not too many people would consider small races to produce bloodragers, so that could be a lot of fun.
Black Blood does look nasty too! The destined looks interesting.
I also guess an elemental bloodrager would also work well with Ifrit, Oread, Sylph, or Undines too.
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Infernal Aasimar, who is descended from a fallen angel.
Aberrant Gillman, who can was experimented more extensively on by the aboleths.
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Yeah its just Suli really has the stats for it and just kinda goes in the right direction for it
That's true. The Suli are one of the few race choices that get +2 STR and CHA. Which makes them good bloodrager candidates. And their elemental powers would make them cool with an elemental bloodline too.
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Infernal Aasimar, who is descended from a fallen angel.
Aberrant Gillman, who can was experimented more extensively on by the aboleths.
Those are interesting!
I guess one flip-side version would be a Celestial Tiefling descended from a Demon. That would be kind of interesting too.
The Aberrant bloodline looks like fun no matter what race you play!
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Destined or Fey Catfolk Primalist
Untouchable Arcane Dwarf or Duergar Primalist
A dexterous bloodrager would be kind of cool.
Normally a a Dwarf or Duergar bloodrager would probably not be the best bloodragers with their inherent lack of charisma. But you're right, an untouchable Dwarf or Duergar bloodrager would be the bane of most any spell caster out there.
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As far as key stats for a 20 point buy, I think these races would make good bloodragers, just because they all get boosts to STR and CHA:
Now that I look at the comments here too, I guess any race with a boost to constitution or charisma, even if they don't get a bost to strength, would make a decent bloodrager too.
All kinds of cool options to play with!
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Yeah its just Suli really has the stats for it and just kinda goes in the right direction for itThat's true. The Suli are one of the few race choices that get +2 STR and CHA. Which makes them good bloodrager candidates. And their elemental powers would make them cool with an elemental bloodline too.
The elemental bloodline is appropriate, but unfortunately from a mechanical standpoint the early powers overlap with the suli's racial abilities - the first level power is a shorter duration elemental assault, and the elemental resistance doesn't stack with your racial resistance. This isn't too big a deal, but it struck me as inelegant - so I chose Destined bloodline for my suli bloodrager. Hoping to use elemental spells to reinforce the theme.
Ifrit has less overlap (Wildfire Heart can trade out your fire resistance for +4 initiative) and +2 Dex +2 Cha is almost as good as +2 Str +2 Cha. The other elemental races don't get good stats for bloodragers since they all have a penalty to Str, Con, or Cha.
Elves.
The well dressed, graceful, and proper elf nobility who snarls and breathes flames or grows claws and becomes large when angered. Also the FCB gives them even better range than normal for charges.
I like the contrast between perceptions.
I was boring and went with a half-elf Aberrant bloodline. He's dumb as a post, but doing the Combat Reflexes build with spring loaded wrist sheathes for Enlarge Person and Fly potions. In 2 levels, I'll threaten 30' (I have improved unarmed and a lucerne hammer).
Being as dumb as he is, he doesn't know that when his mother said she was researching eugenics (which he remembers as huge eunuchs), she meant that she was magically infusing herself with craziness while pregnant.
Nagaji aberrant and/or draconic seems pretty sweet
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Scythia:
Elves as bloodragers would be an interesting contrast; going against the grain sort of thing.
Sort of along those lines, I guess a Drow bloodrager would be a lot more likely. And appropriate somehow. At least a Drow bloodrager would make for some tough opposition, if one's GM doesn't allow Drow PCs.
Just curious, though; what's "FCB"? I haven't seen that PF acronym before. It's probably obvious, but I've not had enough coffee this morning so the little light bulb hasn't come on yet. :P
Just curious, though; what's "FCB"? I haven't seen that PF acronym before. It's probably obvious, but I've not had enough coffee this morning so the little light bulb hasn't come on yet. :P
Favored Class Bonus. The +1 Hit Point, Skill Rank, or special you can get each level you take in the class.
A character chooses their favored class at 1st level. You only get the bonus when you take levels in that class.
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Serisan:
Sounds like that Bloodrager would be fun to play. His motto sounds like "I'm not too smart, but I can lift big things!" :D
That Lucerne Hammer is a cool weapon. At the suggestions of others on these message boards, that's what I kitted out my Half-Orc bloodrager with. Since my Half-Orc is not a thicky, though, I've been using the Lucerne Hammer to sweep ahead to trigger traps. Although I do have to try to remember using it's cool +2 armour sundering bonus.
My half-orc also has combat reflexes. Very handy for the opposition closing in when you have that Lucerne Hammer! Even without resorting to bloodrages, he's done decent damage with that weapon. But it sounds like yours is far more impressive than mine with all that reach in addition to the Lucerne Hammer's normal reach!
Serisan:
Sounds like that Bloodrager would be fun to play. His motto sounds like "I'm not too smart, but I can lift big things!" :D
That Lucerne Hammer is a cool weapon. At the suggestions of others on these message boards, that's what I kitted out my Half-Orc bloodrager with. Since my Half-Orc is not a thicky, though, I've been using the Lucerne Hammer to sweep ahead to trigger traps. Although I do have to try to remember using it's cool +2 armour sundering bonus.
My half-orc also has combat reflexes. Very handy for the opposition closing in when you have that Lucerne Hammer! Even without resorting to bloodrages, he's done decent damage with that weapon. But it sounds like yours is far more impressive than mine with all that reach in addition to the Lucerne Hammer's normal reach!
Because he is PFS, his motto is "I will explore, cooperate, and make sure you can report."
I GM credited the character to 3rd level and have only 1 session played so far, but I solo'd an encounter with 12 or so CR 1 opponents (Hall of the Flesh Eaters). 1 of those levels is Brawler, so I can Martial Flexibility in some shenanigans, as well.
Dhampir with undead bloodline. Possibly use primalist and spell eater archetypes.
I made a svirfneblin destined primalist bloodrager bloodrager. Between his terrible stats and his powerfull defensive abbilities he looked quite good and fun.
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An Ifrit bloodrager with Wildfire Heart sounds cool.
Would an Ifrit's Fire Affinity work with a Bloodrager's spells, though? Maybe not, but it would be some icing on the cake if it did!
I don't think so by RAW because it specifies sorcerers with bloodlines, but it really should. It's thematically identical and mechanically less powerful since elemental bloodragers get fewer spells compared to sorcerers and no class abilities based on charisma (sorcerer bloodline has two).
You could also swap it out for fire in the blood and get a little extra healing.
I hadn't thought of smaller races as bloodragers. Too many stereotypes in my mind, I suppose. But, still, those are cool ideas. I guess not too many people would consider small races to produce bloodragers, so that could be a lot of fun.
Friend of mine got lucky rolling stats and played a halfling barbarian (titan mauler) with a starting Str of 16. Surprisingly effective and tons of fun - at higher levels he took to disguising himself as a human child and surprising people. And the gnome bloodrager DominusMegadeus mentioned has better race/class synergy than a halfling barbarian.
Interestingly, the gnome alt trait Pyromaniac does work with the elemental bloodrager bloodline: "Gnomes with this racial trait are treated as one level higher when casting spells with the fire descriptor... using the bloodline powers of the fire elemental bloodline"
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Serisan:
Sounds like that Bloodrager would be fun to play. His motto sounds like "I'm not too smart, but I can lift big things!" :D
That Lucerne Hammer is a cool weapon. At the suggestions of others on these message boards, that's what I kitted out my Half-Orc bloodrager with. Since my Half-Orc is not a thicky, though, I've been using the Lucerne Hammer to sweep ahead to trigger traps. Although I do have to try to remember using it's cool +2 armour sundering bonus.
My half-orc also has combat reflexes. Very handy for the opposition closing in when you have that Lucerne Hammer! Even without resorting to bloodrages, he's done decent damage with that weapon. But it sounds like yours is far more impressive than mine with all that reach in addition to the Lucerne Hammer's normal reach!
Because he is PFS, his motto is "I will explore, cooperate, and make sure you can report."
I GM credited the character to 3rd level and have only 1 session played so far, but I solo'd an encounter with 12 or so CR 1 opponents (Hall of the Flesh Eaters). 1 of those levels is Brawler, so I can Martial Flexibility in some shenanigans, as well.
Sounds like a good bit of fun. As luck would have it, my half-orc bloodrager just went through the Hall of the Flesh Eaters just yesterday and made it to level 2 now. We'll see how much more fun he gets as time goes on. Managed to use the good old Lucerne Hammer to good effect, hitting the opposition as they closed in.
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Dhampir with undead bloodline. Possibly use primalist and spell eater archetypes.
I've been tinkering with one of those. Don't know if I'll ever get to use it. But what I've got is a Svetocher (Moroi-born) Dhampir bloodrager with these 20 point buy stats:
That could be interesting in a campaign, I think!
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I made a svirfneblin destined primalist bloodrager. Between his terrible stats and his powerfull defensive abbilities he looked quite good and fun.
That would sure put a bit of an interesting wrinkle in things! Especially since svirfneblin have pretty good stealth too. It would be pretty nasty being caught unawares by a bloodrager!
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An Ifrit bloodrager with Wildfire Heart sounds cool.
Would an Ifrit's Fire Affinity work with a Bloodrager's spells, though? Maybe not, but it would be some icing on the cake if it did!
I don't think so by RAW because it specifies sorcerers with bloodlines, but it really should. It's thematically identical and mechanically less powerful since elemental bloodragers get fewer spells compared to sorcerers and no class abilities based on charisma (sorcerer bloodline has two).
You could also swap it out for fire in the blood and get a little extra healing.
I hadn't thought of smaller races as bloodragers. Too many stereotypes in my mind, I suppose. But, still, those are cool ideas. I guess not too many people would consider small races to produce bloodragers, so that could be a lot of fun.Friend of mine got lucky rolling stats and played a halfling barbarian (titan mauler) with a starting Str of 16. Surprisingly effective and tons of fun - at higher levels he took to disguising himself as a human child and surprising people. And the gnome bloodrager DominusMegadeus mentioned has better race/class synergy than a halfling barbarian.
Interestingly, the gnome alt trait Pyromaniac does work with the elemental bloodrager bloodline: "Gnomes with this racial trait are treated as one level higher when casting spells with the fire descriptor... using the bloodline powers of the fire elemental bloodline"
I guess a fire elemental Ifrit would make an interesting bloodrager in any event. The Wildfire Heart and Fire in the Blood alternate race traits would make it interesting. It would be colourful at the very least!
A small race as a bloodrager would be interesting too. I'm sure most wouldn't expect that!
Genetically engineered human super soldiers with barcode identification tattooed to the backs of the necks. They are rumored to be grown in Alliance breeding labs as a top secret military project on one of the Rim world planets, since galactic law prohibits eugenics engineering.
A small race as a bloodrager would be interesting too. I'm sure most wouldn't expect that!I hadn't thought of smaller races as bloodragers. Too many stereotypes in my mind, I suppose. But, still, those are cool ideas. I guess not too many people would consider small races to produce bloodragers, so that could be a lot of fun.Friend of mine got lucky rolling stats and played a halfling barbarian (titan mauler) with a starting Str of 16. Surprisingly effective and tons of fun - at higher levels he took to disguising himself as a human child and surprising people. And the gnome bloodrager DominusMegadeus mentioned has better race/class synergy than a halfling barbarian.
Interestingly, the gnome alt trait Pyromaniac does work with the elemental bloodrager bloodline: "Gnomes with this racial trait are treated as one level higher when casting spells with the fire descriptor... using the bloodline powers of the fire elemental bloodline"
Halfling with the risky striker feat could work out pretty well. It gives power attack level bonuses when you are hitting things 2 sizes bigger than you. So eventually, you will be hitting a lot of the melee threats for a ton of damage. The penalty of -1 AC is a bit strange, since it does seem to scale (unlike the attack penalty for power attack), but it makes sense with the size restriction thing.
Going strength based is not even that hard on a 20 point buy actually. Since you have a size bonus to attack, the strength penalty does affect accuracy much. Since the class has a slight bit of MAD due to the casting stat, it usually only means a loss of 1-2 damage as well.
You can also grab arcane strike later on, since the class does not immediately appear to have much use for swift actions. Overall, you can usually keep up with a big beefy half orc barbarian once you start getting thing set up.
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A Halfling Destined Bloodrager with the Adaptable Luck racial feature gets all the luck. :p
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Elven Curve Blade? You don't have to (and probably shouldn't) finesse it, but it's probably the most elegant two-handed weapon around and elven bloodragers are proficient. Power Attack and go for crits. EDIT: Arcane Strike is also good.
Take the Arcane Bloodline. Thematically appropriate, represents training to counter fellow elven casters, and increases your own speed and evasive abilities.
Consider an AoO build: Combat Reflexes (bloodline feat!) and maybe Elven Battle Training. Use Enlarge Person or Long Arm for reach. Be a Primalist and if you have enough AoO to satisfy you trade the 12th level power for Come and Get Me and one more power (probably Improved DR or Flesh Wound for durability, though you could even go for Quick Reflexes for one more AoO).
Why do Combat Reflexes without reach and/or the Aberrant bloodline?
I mean, I'm using slws Enlarge pots and a Lucerne hammer currently and 20' reach doesn't quite do it for me. Looking forward to 30' in 2 levels.
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Why do Combat Reflexes without reach and/or the Aberrant bloodline?
Use Enlarge Person or Long Arm for reach.
10ft reach, of 15ft with both, is not as good as what you can get with the Aberrant Bloodline but it's sufficient. I've been playing a martial artist suli barbarian with a naginata for 7 levels and 10ft reach lets me smack approaching characters, and hassle casters by getting in their face so they can't 5ft step away (which works well with the Arcane Bloodline's disruptive abilities). If you take CaGM that's also probably triggering against foes within 10ft.
EDIT: Also the arcane bloodline's defensive abilities - Blur and Displacement - are important because an elven bloodrager is likely to be rather fragile.
A Halfling Destined Bloodrager with the Adaptable Luck racial feature gets all the luck. :p
It would make a fantastic dragon slayer, which goes well with the semiestablished image of the halfling knight.
Plus, on the elf issue- I know that in setting, the Mwangi empire likes to shake things up with established racial stereotypes. So the elves are practically feral (they have a similar backstory to drow- they stayed behind during starfall).
So seeing them as barbarians seems fairly natural, and then adding that bit of magic to have their rage burn on the outside as well....
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The correct answer is all of them. Cause you're a bloodrager and bloodragers are awesome.
Actually, you don't necessarily need a race that grants a CHA bonus. You probably want to avoid a race that has a CHA penalty, but you really only need a CHA of 14 or so.
So a race that grants +STR is good. Another physical stat would be awesome, but I don't see any Paizo race that gives a STR bonus and either a DEX or CON bonus. But a race like human, half-orc, or half-elf is still good.
Male Lashunta gets +2 STR and WIS and -2 INT. That's not bad.
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Scythia:
Elves as bloodragers would be an interesting contrast; going against the grain sort of thing.
Not really, Elves are chaotic and passionate, as well as touched with magic. Bloodrager would be extremely appropriate.
Their race however should influence their style and weapon choice.
That does make sense, when you put it that way.
I guess the race should also influence the (likely) bloodline. So, I guess the Fey or Celestial would be more likely for Elves (it doesn't have to be, of course), while a Drow Bloodragers would be a natural with the Abyssal bloodline. To my mind, anyway.
There's an idea for a villain! A drow bloodrager, with an Abyssal bloodline.
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Why do Combat Reflexes without reach and/or the Aberrant bloodline?
I mean, I'm using slws Enlarge pots and a Lucerne hammer currently and 20' reach doesn't quite do it for me. Looking forward to 30' in 2 levels.
As I've found out already, the Combat Reflexes works some nice with a reach weapon!
With the 4th level Enlarge self with the Abyssal bloodline, that will add to the reach a wee bit too!
That should be fun!
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⋮ (skipping a bit)
EDIT: Also the arcane bloodline's defensive abilities - Blur and Displacement - are important because an elven bloodrager is likely to be rather fragile.
I can see how those would help a bit with the lack of starch for most elves. Much the same problem the Dhampir would have as a bloodrager.
Although I still like the idea of a Svetocher bloodrager, like the stats I posted already. Although both the regular elves and dhampir could make things interesting as bloodragers because of their higher dexterity too.
- ragebred abyssal. Not the best stats but 5 natural attacks at level 1
- any dextrous race, for example a halfling, archer/ranged guy. Start with a sling until you can afford an adaptive bow. Several bloodlines are good. But I would go arcane
- orc abyssal. Be a spell eater, ignore cha, you do not get spells but you still get spell slots to eat
Dwarves, my friend. Dwarves, set on vengeance and the reclamation of lost homeland/honor/treasure/etc.
beards.
I am sure you could do a real Captain Ahab story by having a dwarf hunt down the man that cut off his beard.
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Actually, you don't necessarily need a race that grants a CHA bonus. You probably want to avoid a race that has a CHA penalty, but you really only need a CHA of 14 or so.
So a race that grants +STR is good. Another physical stat would be awesome, but I don't see any Paizo race that gives a STR bonus and either a DEX or CON bonus. But a race like human, half-orc, or half-elf is still good.
Male Lashunta gets +2 STR and WIS and -2 INT. That's not bad.
My half-orc bloodrager has been fun so far. I built him with a strength of 16. I didn't want to have any one stat below 10, at the expense of having one especially good stat. But a strength of 16 has been serving him well enough so far!