[3.5] Bloodlines. After a week of research, I still don't get them.

[Rijan_Sai]

Alright, so both sides have been argued, debated, bullet-pointed, and whatever else to death and back again. Multiple times. For many years.

The way I see it, (and this is just my view strictly from reading through this thread,) is that there are two ways to look at it:

(Assuming no LA/RHD; using the Exp formula rather then the table.)

Option 1:
0xp: Class Level 1 (ECL 1, feat)
+1000xp: CL 2 (ECL 2)
+2000xp: Bloodline Level 1 (ECL 3, no feat)
+3000xp: CL 3 (ECL 4, feat, no stat)
+4000xp: CL 4 (ECL 5, stat)
etc.

Option 2:
0xp: CL 1 (ECL 1, feat)
+1000xp: CL 2 (ECL 2)
+2000xp: CL 2 + BL 1 (ECL 2)
+2000xp: CL 3 + BL 1 (ECL 3, feat)
+3000xp: CL 4 + BL 1 (ECL 4, stat)
etc.

Option 1 does weird things to the feat and stat gains, Option 2 does weird things to the Xp amounts.

You're the DM. You choose to allow Bloodlines in your game. Choose the option that works best for you, go with it, have fun.
You're the player. The DM has allowed Bloodlines in his/her game. Respect his/her decision, go with it, have fun.

I see nothing about a 20% XP penalty anywhere?

Bloodline Levels, third paragraph:

if he reaches 3rd character level and has no bloodline levels, he does not gain the bloodline trait due him at 3rd character level (Strength +1) and must take a 20% reduction on all future XP gains.