I'm probably gonna end up making it so Baq rarely uses his bloodbending. With him I kinda want to explore the healing nature of bloodbending anyways (getting rid of bloodclots, preventing blood loss, maintaining wounds, etc.) Also I'm thinking of having him use his own blood in the way a waterbender will use their own sweat? Like he would launch drops of blood as projectiles or something like that.

But yeah, I agree. I kinda want Baq to stay away from the whole puppeteering thing a lot of bloodbenders have. He definitely wouldn't have the same expertise as Naotak. Tarrlok? Maybe. But I think he'll basically be on the same level as Katara when it comes to that stuff. Maybe his powers still sort of rely on the strength of the full moon? That way he won't be able to use his puppeteering abilities unless nature allows it.

Plus, I would think it would be easier to manipulate something within yourself than something that belongs to outside influences.