blood lords player’s guide
Blood Lords is a gripping Pathfinder 2nd Edition Adventure Path set in the dark, gothic nation of Geb, a land ruled by the undead and the living who navigate its shadowy politics. Players take on the roles of ambitious characters aiming to rise to power within this macabre world. The campaign blends elements of horror, intrigue, and strategy, offering a unique experience for those who enjoy both combat and social manipulation. The Blood Lords Players Guide provides essential, spoiler-free advice for character creation, including alignments, ancestries, classes, and backgrounds tailored to the setting. It prepares players to navigate Geb’s treacherous landscape and forge their own path to dominance.
Character Creation
Character creation in Blood Lords is a pivotal process, allowing players to craft unique individuals suited to the dark, gothic world of Geb. The Players Guide offers tailored advice for building characters that thrive in this undead-dominated nation. It introduces six new backgrounds, such as the Corpse Stitcher and Money Counter, which add depth to your character’s backstory. Feat access and archetypes are also highlighted, enabling players to customize their abilities for the challenges ahead. Recommendations for ancestries, classes, and skills ensure that characters are well-suited to navigate Geb’s treacherous political and undead-infested landscape, making every choice meaningful and aligned with the campaign’s themes.
Alignments and Ethos
In the Blood Lords Adventure Path, alignments and ethos play a crucial role in shaping your character’s identity and behavior within the dark, gothic world of Geb. The Players Guide provides detailed recommendations for alignments that align with the campaign’s themes, ensuring your character fits seamlessly into the story. While evil alignments are prominent in this undead-dominated setting, the guide also offers guidance for neutral and good alignments, allowing players to explore a wide range of moral perspectives.
The ethos of your character is deeply tied to their alignment, influencing how they interact with the world and its inhabitants. For example, a lawful evil character might seek power through structured manipulation, while a chaotic neutral character could embrace a more unpredictable, self-serving approach. The guide emphasizes the importance of understanding your character’s moral compass, as it will shape their relationships with factions, NPCs, and even their party members.
Players are encouraged to consider how their character’s alignment impacts their goals and motivations. Will they strive to maintain order in Geb’s chaotic underworld, or will they embrace the anarchy of the land? The Blood Lords Players Guide also introduces unique ethos options tailored to the campaign, such as “Might Makes Right” for those who believe in ruling through fear and strength, or “Pragmatic Survival” for characters willing to do whatever it takes to thrive in Geb’s unforgiving environment.
Ultimately, the alignment and ethos choices in Blood Lords allow for rich role-playing opportunities, enabling players to craft characters that are both morally complex and deeply embedded in the campaign’s lore. By aligning your character’s values with the dark, political landscape of Geb, you can create a compelling narrative that resonates throughout the adventure.
Ancestries and Heritages
In the Blood Lords Adventure Path, your character’s ancestry and heritage are fundamental to their identity and role in the dark, gothic world of Geb. The Blood Lords Players Guide provides detailed recommendations for ancestries and heritages that thrive in this undead-dominated nation, ensuring your character is well-suited to the campaign’s themes and challenges. Whether you choose to play a living character striving to survive among the undead or an undead character seeking power, the guide offers a wealth of options to craft a compelling backstory and mechanical foundation.
One of the unique aspects of Blood Lords is the opportunity to play as an undead character, a rare option in many Pathfinder campaigns. The guide includes rules and advice for creating undead PCs, such as ghouls, skeletons, or even vampires, each with their own abilities and challenges. These options allow players to explore the morally complex world of Geb from a perspective that is both personal and unsettling. For living characters, the guide recommends ancestries like humans, who are well-suited to navigating the political intrigue of Geb, or goblins, whose resourcefulness and cunning can be invaluable in this unforgiving environment.
Heritage options in Blood Lords are deeply tied to the lore of Geb and its surrounding regions. For example, a character with the “Cemetery Born” heritage might have a natural affinity for the undead and the mysteries of death, while a “Noble Born” heritage could grant them ties to Geb’s powerful undead aristocracy. These heritages not only provide mechanical benefits but also rich role-playing opportunities, allowing you to weave your character’s backstory into the fabric of the campaign.
The guide also emphasizes the importance of considering how your character’s ancestry and heritage align with their alignment and ethos. For instance, a dhampir (a half-vampire) with a chaotic neutral alignment might struggle with their dual nature, torn between their living and undead sides. Conversely, an undead character with a lawful evil alignment might see their immortality as a justification for ruthless ambition. These intersections create a rich tapestry of possibilities for character development.
Ultimately, the ancestries and heritages in Blood Lords are designed to immerse players in the dark, gothic world of Geb while offering a wide range of customization options. Whether you choose to play a living character navigating the dangers of an undead nation or an undead character seeking to rise through the ranks of Geb’s aristocracy, the Blood Lords Players Guide provides the tools you need to create a character that is both mechanically effective and narratively compelling.
Classes and Archetypes
In the Blood Lords Adventure Path, selecting the right class and archetype is crucial for navigating the dark, gothic world of Geb. The Blood Lords Players Guide provides extensive guidance on which classes and archetypes are best suited for this undead-dominated setting, ensuring your character is both mechanically effective and thematically fitting. Whether you prefer spellcasting, martial prowess, or a mix of both, the guide offers tailored advice to help you craft a character that excels in this macabre campaign.
Spellcasters, particularly those who wield occult or necromantic magic, are naturally at home in Geb. Classes like the Occultist and Shaman are highly recommended, as they can leverage the mysterious and often unsettling forces that permeate the land of the dead. The guide suggests focusing on spells and abilities that complement the campaign’s themes of death, decay, and manipulation. For example, the “Construction Occultist” archetype allows you to craft and control undead minions, making it a powerful choice for those who wish to embrace the darker aspects of Geb’s society.
Martial classes, such as the Champion, Rogue, and Fighter, also have their place in Blood Lords. These classes can represent living characters who rely on their physical skills to survive in a world dominated by the undead. The “Corpse Stitcher” archetype, for instance, is perfect for a Rogue who specializes in stealth, sabotage, and the dark art of reanimating corpses. This archetype provides unique abilities that allow you to blend into the shadows and manipulate the undead, making it a versatile choice for players who enjoy a mix of stealth and strategy.
The Blood Lords Players Guide also emphasizes the importance of choosing archetypes that align with your character’s backstory and alignment. For example, a Cleric who worships a deity associated with death or rebirth might choose the “Undead Scourge” archetype, granting them powerful abilities to smite undead foes. Conversely, a Sorcerer with a bloodline tied to the undead might find the “Vampire” archetype appealing, allowing them to embrace their vampiric heritage and wield its dark powers.
One of the unique aspects of Blood Lords is the opportunity to play as an undead character. The guide provides specific advice for undead PCs, including recommendations for classes and archetypes that complement their unnatural state. For example, a Ghoul character might excel as a Barbarian, using their heightened senses and ferocity in combat to devastating effect. Meanwhile, a Skeleton or Zombie character might find the “Undead Warrior” archetype ideal, as it enhances their resilience and combat prowess.
Ultimately, the Blood Lords Players Guide encourages players to think creatively when choosing their class and archetype. The campaign’s dark, gothic setting offers countless opportunities for unique character builds, and the guide provides the tools you need to bring your vision to life. Whether you prefer to wield dark magic, master the art of stealth, or charge into battle with unholy might, Blood Lords offers a wealth of options to suit your playstyle and immerse you in its haunting world.
Backgrounds and Feats
When creating a character for the Blood Lords Adventure Path, backgrounds and feats are essential tools for shaping your character’s identity and abilities. The Blood Lords Players Guide provides a wealth of options to help you craft a character that is both mechanically robust and thematically fitting for the dark, gothic world of Geb. Whether you’re a living character navigating the treacherous politics of the undead nation or an undead character seeking to reclaim your place among the living, the guide offers tailored advice to help you make informed decisions.
The guide introduces several new backgrounds specifically designed for the Blood Lords campaign, each with unique skills, abilities, and roleplaying hooks. For example, the “Construction Occultist” background is perfect for characters who have a knack for crafting and animating undead constructs, while the “Corpse Stitcher” background is ideal for those who specialize in reanimating and controlling corpses. These backgrounds not only provide mechanical benefits but also immerse your character in the dark, macabre themes of Geb, where the line between life and death is constantly blurred;
Feats are another critical aspect of character creation in Blood Lords, and the Players Guide provides detailed recommendations on which feats are most effective in the campaign. For example, if your character is undead, the guide suggests feats like “Stitch Flesh” or “Undead Resilience,” which enhance your character’s ability to survive and thrive in the harsh environment of Geb. For living characters, feats like “Corpse Stitcher” or “Occult Scholar” can help you navigate the world of necromancy and dark magic that permeates the setting.
The guide also emphasizes the importance of choosing feats that complement your character’s background and class. For instance, a character with the “Construction Occultist” background might benefit from feats like “Craft Construct” or “Animate Dead,” which allow them to create and control undead minions. Similarly, a character with the “Corpse Stitcher” background might find feats like “Reanimate” or “Undead Mastery” invaluable for their ability to command and manipulate corpses. By carefully selecting feats that align with your character’s background and class, you can create a cohesive and powerful build that excels in the world of Blood Lords.
One of the unique aspects of Blood Lords is the opportunity to play as an undead character, and the guide provides specific advice for selecting backgrounds and feats that complement your character’s undead nature. For example, a Ghoul character might benefit from the “Corpse Stitcher” background and feats like “Reanimate” or “Undead Resilience,” while a Skeleton or Zombie character might find the “Construction Occultist” background and feats like “Craft Construct” or “Animate Dead” more appealing. The guide also provides tips for roleplaying as an undead character, helping you to fully immerse yourself in the dark, gothic world of Geb.
Ultimately, the Blood Lords Players Guide offers a wealth of options for customizing your character’s backgrounds and feats, ensuring that you can create a character that is both mechanically effective and thematically fitting for the campaign. Whether you’re a living character seeking to navigate the treacherous world of the undead or an undead character hoping to reclaim your place among the living, the guide provides the tools you need to bring your vision to life in the haunting world of Blood Lords;
Skills and Languages
Skills and languages are crucial elements in the Pathfinder 2nd Edition system, and the Blood Lords Players Guide provides tailored advice to help you choose the most effective skills and languages for your character in the dark, gothic world of Geb. Whether you’re a living character navigating the treacherous political landscape of the undead nation or an undead character seeking to reclaim your place among the living, the guide ensures that your character is well-equipped to face the challenges of this macabre setting.
The Blood Lords Adventure Path emphasizes the importance of social skills, as characters must navigate the intricate web of alliances and rivalries between the undead and the living. Skills like Diplomacy, Deception, and Intimidation are particularly valuable, as they allow you to manipulate others, forge alliances, and maintain power in a world where the undead rule. The guide also highlights the importance of skills like Stealth and Perception, which are essential for surviving the dangers of Geb’s haunted landscapes and avoiding the roving undead patrols that threaten both the living and the undead.
When it comes to languages, the Blood Lords Players Guide recommends choosing options that align with your character’s background and role in the story. The most common languages in Geb are Necril, the language of the undead, and Geb, the language of the living who serve the undead rulers. Speaking Necril is particularly useful for undead characters, as it allows them to communicate with other undead beings and navigate the political intrigues of the nation. For living characters, learning Geb is essential for interacting with the living inhabitants of the nation and navigating the complex social hierarchies of the land.
In addition to the core languages, the guide suggests optional languages that can add depth to your character’s identity and role in the campaign. For example, characters who have a background in necromancy or the occult may benefit from learning Ancient Geb, a forgotten language that holds the secrets of the land’s dark history. Similarly, characters who have dealings with other nations or factions may find it useful to learn languages like Abyssal or Draconic, which are spoken by powerful beings who exert influence over Geb’s affairs.
The Blood Lords Players Guide also provides advice on how to balance your character’s skills and languages with their overall build. For example, a character who focuses on social skills like Diplomacy and Deception may want to prioritize feats that enhance their ability to manipulate others, while a character who focuses on survival skills like Stealth and Perception may want to choose feats that enhance their ability to avoid danger. By carefully selecting your character’s skills and languages, you can create a well-rounded and effective build that excels in the world of Blood Lords.
Ultimately, the Blood Lords Players Guide offers a wealth of options for customizing your character’s skills and languages, ensuring that you can create a character that is both mechanically effective and thematically fitting for the campaign. Whether you’re a living character seeking to navigate the treacherous world of the undead or an undead character hoping to reclaim your place among the living, the guide provides the tools you need to bring your vision to life in the haunting world of Blood Lords.