Armor Proficiency prereqs?

[mlund]

Proficiency is the Effect of taking such a Feat or Class.

If you gain Proficiency without taking a Feat that awards it to you (such as with Class Training or perhaps a Magic Item or Spell) then the prerequisites of the Feat that you didn't take don't matter in the slightest.

However, what the rules do say is that a character who is Proficient with an Armor or Shield Category counts as having that Feat. This means that whenever something asks "Do you have [Feat Name]?" you can say, "Yes," without actually having to qualify for, take, or implement that Feat in any way.

Effectively this is, "Counts as having [X]" even when you don't actually have [X] - just like "Counts as an Elf" works even though you don't gain any Elf racial features.

- Marty Lund

 

[cdrcjsn]

So everyone is saying that "counts as having the feat" means that we can use the positive aspects of the virtual feat, and not the potential negative aspects like prereqs and such?

What's the point of having Str/Con prereqs for armor anyways?

Because they're heavy to wear and require Strength and Endurance to use? If this is the reason, then I don't see how an 8 Str anybody can use/learn heavy armor proficiency, even from class abilities.

If it's for game balance reasons, then is it balanced allowing characters to ignore the Str/Con requirements of heavier armor?

I see what everyone is saying.

I just don't think it makes internal sense from a realism aspect (paladins get to ignore Str/Con requirements that the rest of the universe has to abide by because they're paladins?), and I'm concerned that it might be tweaking some rules if the Str/Con requirement was placed there for balance reasons (to force everyone in the 13 ability range like they do for spell casters and not min/max everything into just one score without significant drawbacks).

 

[Blackbrrd]

The pregen dragonborn paladin in KotS wears plate with 12 con.

Which is quite sensible

stat requirements for armor

 

[cdrcjsn]

Going by pregen examples though is a little iffy. Quite a bit of them are riddled with errors.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Well, the new FAQ answers the question:

http://wizards.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wizards.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1396

Can a Fighter with a 12 Constitution still use scale armor?

The Armor Proficiency (Scale) feat requires a 13 Constitution, but all fighters gain proficiency with scale armor for free (regardless of the prerequisites).

 

[mach1.9pants]

Well, the new FAQ answers the question:

http://wizards.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wizards.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1396

ZOMG common sense!

 

[cdrcjsn]

ZOMG common sense!

One man's common sense...

I never imagined that Fighters could trigger OAs off other people's marks, but apparently that's how it works.

My gnome paladin with warlock MC is glad for the clarification of the armor rule. I can now freely dump Str with very little consequence and maximize my Cha/Int.