Hmm... is that really the way its supposed to work?
Edit: It really sounds like it counts as a class level to me. A bloodline level grants no increase in base attack bonus or base save bonuses, no hit points or skill points, and no class features. It counts as a normal class level (with no class skills) for the purpose of determining maximum skill ranks. Levels of bloodline never result in XP penalties for multiclass characters.
If it wasn't a class level, then why would they mention XP penalties?
ADMG can tell me to go away if I'm cluttering his thread (I'm trying to help optimize it honestly)
, but I actually didn't know people read it the other way at first. I have the rather annoying (handicap?) habit of reading exactly what something says even if it obviously should mean something different.
The funny thing is that quote seems to me to support that it is a 'virtual' class level, not a normal one that offers BaB, saves, HP, skills, or class features. It just happens to raise max ranks (all cross-class of course). If you recall there is text that has to mention that level adjustments and racial HD don't count against XP penalties too. Otherwise there might be some poor guy he thinks it does.