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

[tsj]

Rian sai:
Ah yes thanks, I did not notice that last time.

As for the "free stuff" at level 1 and 2, if you don't take the bloodline level, you forever after suffer a 20% penalty to XP. What's "free" about that?

You are correct. I did not read that part. So basically the bloodline stuff is bulletproof
As in no free stuff. ..

I still see the actual "bloodline levels" as a kind of LA, the stuff you get at each level in a bloodline is not part of the LA per say.

For a major bloodline i.e.:

If you do not take the LA at levels 3, 6 & 12 you gain no more bloodline stuff and pay for the current stuff by losing 20% of your XP

So yes, you always have these options with bloodline levels:

Major :

benefits at levels 1&2 + 20% XP penalty or

benefits at levels 1&2&3 + LA 1 or

benefits at levels 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
+ LA 1 + 20% XP penalty or

benefits at levels 1-6 + LA 2 or

benefits at levels 1-11 + LA 2 + 20% XP penalty or

benefits at levels 1-20 + LA 3

Same system with the 2 other types of bloodline levels, ie. Minor bloodline you pay just one LA OR 20% XP penalty