I would like to gain some clarification on what exactly the Bloodrager trades for the Alternate Capstone
When a character reaches the 20th level of a class, she gains a powerful class feature or ability, sometimes referred to as a capstone. When a character reaches 20th level in this class, the following new ability can be selected instead of the standard 20th level class ability which would normally be gained. In some cases, a capstone specifies what ability it replaces. A character can’t select an alternative capstone if she has previously traded away her class capstone via an archetype. Clerics and wizards can receive a capstone at 20th level, despite not having one to begin with.
Now the Bloodragers normal Capstone ability is Mighty Bloodrage and their level 20 Bloodline Power
Mighty Bloodrage (Su)
At 20th level, when a bloodrager enters a bloodrage, the morale bonus to his Strength and Constitution increases to +8, and the morale bonus on his Will saves increases to +4. Furthermore, the spell he can apply to himself at the beginning of a bloodrage due to the greater bloodrage class feature is not limited to only spells of 2nd level or lower.
Now the Bloodrager specific alternate capstone is
Empowered Bloodrage (Su)
At 20th level, the bloodrager is as much spell as mortal flesh. When the bloodrager enters a bloodrage, he can apply two spells to himself rather than one.
and of course the Bloodrager is entitled to some of the other generic capstones. My understanding is that this is a simple trade. Mighty Bloodrage for X, whereas my DM is saying it is Mighty Bloodrage+Bloodline Power for X because the
Barbarian gives up Mighty Rage and the Sorcerer has to give up their Level 20 Bloodline Power so therefore the Bloodrager should give up bothSo what exactly does a Bloodrager give up for an Alternate Capstone
I'm 99% sure your GM is wrong.
Personally I think Mighty Bloodrage is more powerful than Empowered Bloodrage, so losing Mighty Bloodrage AND your Bloodline Power wouod be a terrible trade.
Having said that, I don't know if there's actually a definition of "Capstone" anywhere.
Does anyone have a copy of Chronicle of Legends to check if there's a definition?
Chronicle of Legends describes a capstone as the ability (singular) that a single classed character receives at 20th level, and it mentions that clerics and wizards can select an alternate capstone despite not having a standard capstone ability to swap for it.
Note that wizards do get a bonus feat at 20th level that is apparently not counted as a capstone. On the other hand, the capstone ability of a sorcerer can only be the 20th level bloodline power. A couple of items near the end of the section in question suggest that the 20th level grand discovery of an alchemist and the 20th level grand hex of a witch are their capstones. The brawler's capstone is stated to be the 20th level improvement to Martial Flexibility.
Anyway, for the case of the bloodrager, the capstone would have to be either the 20th level bloodline power or Mighty Bloodrage but not both -- and I would lean towards it being Mighty Bloodrage since that is formatted as a new unique ability whereas the 20th level bloodline power isn't.
Awesome, that's how I read it too, but I don't actually have the book.
Another example is the Fighter, who gets Weapon Mastery and a Bonus Feat at 20th level. Weapon Mastery would be lost if you take an alternate Capstone, but the Bonus Feat would be kept.
I'm 99% sure your GM is wrong.
Personally I think Mighty Bloodrage is more powerful than Empowered Bloodrage
I fully agree, I used Empowered Bloodrage just for the example. I'm personally going for
Perfect Body, Flawless Mind (Ex)
At 20th level, the character’s endless training and study has resulted in an unmatched mastery of the self. The character increases her ability scores by a collective total of 8. For example, she can increase one score by 8, or one score by 5 and another by 3, or four scores by 2, and so on. Characters of any class can select this ability.
As I can have all those stat boosts (STR+CON+WIS) as Mighty Bloodrage but permanently as well as an extra +2 somewhere (STRENGTH).
And all I'm giving up is
greater bloodrage class feature is not limited to only spells of 2nd level or lower
Oh right, yeah.
Personally I'd probably still take Mighty Bloodrage, having more options is more fun than a permanent +1 to hit and damage. Having said that we're potentially comparing it to a permanent +4 to hit and +6 damage, so that's a bit if an unfair comparison (and less HP/etc, but you get the idea).
But I'd take that because more options is more fun. Alternate capstones are more options. Ergo the player should be able to choose their capstone even if it's not one I like.
Still I'm pretty sure the GM is wrong.