Kevingway
2013-11-18, 11:52 PM
This is something I'd like to get actively involved in, more for the sake of fully comprehending the (two?) systems of interpretation that have become somewhat mainstream, based on my readings.
System one (credits here (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=7167)):
Character level is 2. You get enough experience to level up to level 3, but you instead take a Bloodline level. Your character level remains 2, your exp resets, and you level up again through the same level in which you started (2). All of this is due to the word "before," combined with the "do not increase a character’s character level the way a normal class level does" clause; "before" signifies, roughly, that you do not take this Bloodline level "at" level 3, but for the system to make sense, you must take it right before the 3-6-12 intervals in order to have a fair/streamlined system of earning the lost exp back after taking said Bloodline level (so no delaying your ECL 3 for 3 cycles of low 3rd-level exp requirements).
System two (credits here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=208703)):
Bloodline levels count toward your ECL. They can be taken at any time, assuming you want to get them out of the way early or give yourself a ridiculous exp penalty for delaying them. These levels effectively make you 17 X/3 Bloodline by the time you hit level 20, making this interpretation out to be more similar to actual level adjustments with no opportunity to buy them off.
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While the latter interpretation would seemingly make more sense, the specific wording cited in the former interpretation makes the second one (almost) impossible. "Before" could simply imply that you could take these bloodline levels anytime you wanted, but if it doesn't count toward your ECL, you end up with either an unaccounted for exp anomaly where you have to earn more exp than your counterparts to reach the same ECL, or you cheese the system and essentially take every bloodline you can at low levels to only pay a low cost for them as opposed to a higher cost later on.
Now that that's out of the way, what are some others? Are my interpretations of these two interpretations accurate? I'd really like to just look at everything in perspective and become more involved in this so that I can get more of a feel for what I actually believe. My interpretation has changed back and forth considerably in the last few hours.
System one (credits here (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=7167)):
Character level is 2. You get enough experience to level up to level 3, but you instead take a Bloodline level. Your character level remains 2, your exp resets, and you level up again through the same level in which you started (2). All of this is due to the word "before," combined with the "do not increase a character’s character level the way a normal class level does" clause; "before" signifies, roughly, that you do not take this Bloodline level "at" level 3, but for the system to make sense, you must take it right before the 3-6-12 intervals in order to have a fair/streamlined system of earning the lost exp back after taking said Bloodline level (so no delaying your ECL 3 for 3 cycles of low 3rd-level exp requirements).
System two (credits here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=208703)):
Bloodline levels count toward your ECL. They can be taken at any time, assuming you want to get them out of the way early or give yourself a ridiculous exp penalty for delaying them. These levels effectively make you 17 X/3 Bloodline by the time you hit level 20, making this interpretation out to be more similar to actual level adjustments with no opportunity to buy them off.
---
While the latter interpretation would seemingly make more sense, the specific wording cited in the former interpretation makes the second one (almost) impossible. "Before" could simply imply that you could take these bloodline levels anytime you wanted, but if it doesn't count toward your ECL, you end up with either an unaccounted for exp anomaly where you have to earn more exp than your counterparts to reach the same ECL, or you cheese the system and essentially take every bloodline you can at low levels to only pay a low cost for them as opposed to a higher cost later on.
Now that that's out of the way, what are some others? Are my interpretations of these two interpretations accurate? I'd really like to just look at everything in perspective and become more involved in this so that I can get more of a feel for what I actually believe. My interpretation has changed back and forth considerably in the last few hours.