Helping Hoof: A review of "Bloodlines" · 10:30pm Mar 31st, 2014
I have more then dabbled in game design. Board games, card games, video games, tabletop RPGS... I consider myself to be a minor expert when it comes to these sorts of things. Enough of one, in fact, that my current training is intended to lead me into the industry proper. And yet, I am ashamed to say that I know next to nothing about Pathfinder.
That's what made me so hesitant to review Bloodlines. That and the whole "they're human" aspect... but the story itself is certainly quick to justify the change.
The story begins with a daring robbery gone wrong, a bar brawl catching the attention of the guards, and two prisoners getting bailed out by a noblewoman. Subsequently the three of them get wrapped up investigating a conspiracy of thievery, arson, and murder, while having to deal with each other's wildly disparate personalities. Of course, anyone who's seen the show will be able to quickly identify the characters and the direction the plot is headed, but that isn't the point of this fic. It's the integrated world-building that makes Bloodlines incredible, the way details about this particular setting are incorporated right into the action of the story without slowing it down at all. There are a few surprises along the way, regarding canon characters and where they've ended up, which add a few more twists and turns to this already deep tale.
All in all... I'd give it a four out of five. It wants to be an epic and it could easily be one... but the story is still fairly young.
Pathfinder is basically Dungeons & Dragons v.3.75. It's pretty awesome. You can make a barbarian who bursts into flame (or cold, or electricity) when enraged and uses his enemies as bludgeons.
1969986 It definitely is fun. I'm playing a paladin in my current campaign, with a sorcerer as back-up in case my paladin dies.
I've been enjoying Pathfinder since a few friends (Including 1970095 (<This guy) and the author of Bloodlines) introduced it to me as DnD 3.5 2: Electric Scootaloo
Thanks for the review, and the praise and all. Its wonderful to see, especially from an author I enjoy reading. Since you favourited Bloodlines, I hope that means you'll be reading on and see if the story lives up to your expectations, as does the world I'm trying to create through this story which has so much left to be discovered by readers. I certainly hope so, and if you ever have any constructive criticism or advice to share as the story goes on, please do so. Everything helps, in the end, and Bloodlines wouldn't be what it is without the things I've learned myself, from my editors (Web of Hope and Nealend86) and from commentors willing to share their thoughts on my other works.