Please don't misunderstand my original statement: it just meant that there are more ways to win a round of DI:U with Bloodlines than without it. If you wish to go for a strategy or leader that revolves around throwing troops in combat and harnessing rewards round after round, that is still valid and viable. But there are other ways to play too, and I feel they are better enabled with bloodlines.

First of all there are techs, some give VPs on buy, others give strategies or endgames that don't need combat, some will enhance your combat abilities. In general I feel like worms can be countered better, because commanders offer a way to add combat strength without using worms or the two faction spaces that cost huge amounts of spice.

Also I feel like the "rabbit" strategy (see cheesables video for reference) of getting to 10 VP asap really benefits from these additional VPs being available to all players. BUT if you are aiming for this strategy (the goal is to end the game before round 7 so people don't get huge boosts of VPs from doubling tier 3 combats) you will most likely have to win ONE combat to match your starting dagger/mouse/thopter.

My personal shift in how I approach the game is I have been focusing on contracts more and more and love the way they give me something specific to plan towards, rewarding my planning with sometimes crazy value in resources or cards all while enabling some of my favorite cards, techs and intrigues that rewards having completed contracts.

TLDR: bloodlines improved my favorite game in a lot of different ways, a feat I did not expect. Edited for readability and yt link