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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mistwell" data-source="post: 2686884" data-attributes="member: 2525">I think what you quoted is most of the issue.  I'll add more if that will help.Here are the Core Rules:PHB:The general rule:"The Class abilities from a character's different classes combine to determine a multiclass character's overall abilities...As a general rule, the abilities of a multiclass character are a sum of the abilities of each of the character classes."The exception to the general rule:"Ex-Members: If, for some reason, a character is forced to give up this class, these are the rules for what happens.  Unless otherwise noted in the class description, an ex-member of a class retains any weapon and armor proficiencies he or she gained."So, the Core PHB rule is clear - In general you have all the abilities of all of your classes.  if there is an exception to this general rule, it will be mentioned in the class itself under the "Ex-Members" section.  There is a general rule mentioned for all such exceptions as well (the weapon and armor proficiencies are retained).You also have various rules for advancement in a class.  None of those rules mention losing all class abilities and features (I mention this because of the DMG rule below).DMG:"Unlike the basic classes, characters must meet Requirements before they can take their first level of a prestige class. The rules for level advancement apply to this system, meaning the first step of advancement is always choosing a class. If a character does not meet the Requirements for a prestige class before that first step, that character cannot take the first level of that prestige class. "So, the Prestige Class rules are clear in the Core books.  Requirements are important for the first level of that prestige class.  All class abilities of all classes apply, unless otherwise noted in the class itself under the "Ex-Members" section.A group playing with just core does not have this rule "lose class abilities" general rule for prestige classes.  And yet, general qualifications for prestige classes is a core issue.  It's raised in the Core rulkes, it's explained in the Core rules, there is no FAQ or errata adding to or changing or explaining any of those issues, and any group playing just core has no issue there.Complete Warrior changes the Core rule for this issue.  It does does not state it is specifically adding to or changing what was said in the Core Rules for all Prestige Classes.  It's under The Martial Prestige Classes (and that fact that this is for Martial Prestige Classes is emphasized in the section...in fact emphasized right before the "Meeting Class Requirements" section starts).  The gist of the changed rule says you retain the things that just so happen to be of most value to a martial-oriented character: hit dice and base attack bonus and armor and weapon proficiencies.Next, it says: "An alignment change, levels lost because of character death, or the loss of a magic item that granted an important ability are examples of events that can make a character ineligible to advance further in a prestige class." (empahsis added).That rule is new, but it is fairly consistent with the rule for many of the Core classes, as pointed out earlier by another poster.  Stopping advancement while retaining abilities makes sense.  You check requirements as you enter the class, you follow the general advancement rules, and it makes sense that you check them each time you enter the class again.The NEXT paragraph is the one that says: "If a character no longer meets the requirements for a prestige class, he or she loses the benefit of any class features or other special abilities granted by the class.  The character retains Hit Dice gained from advancing in the class as well as any improvements to base attack bonus and base save bonuses that the class provided."This second paragraph is not repeated in the other Complete books (that I can recall at least), is not included ever in the FAQ as explaining the Core general rules (which differs from this one), is not included in the errata for the Core Rules.  That rule is less consistent with the Core rules as well.  As explained, in the Core, it will tell you IN THE CLASS ITSELF if you lose specific abilities for failure to meet requirements.  It's unprecedented that you lose all abilities for failure to qualify AS A GENERAL RULE as opposed to a specific one reserved for specific classes or types of classes.  Indeed, it's directly contrary to the Core Rules which say you will be told in the class itself under a section titled "Ex-Members".  It would make more sense, however, if it was a new rule being applied to a specific sub-set of classes.  Martial-oriented Classes.  Who retain their hit dice and base attack bonuses and saves and armor and weapon proficiencies.  All things emphasized by Martial-oriented classes more than the non-martial ones (except perhaps the saves).Is this the correct intepretation?  I have my doubts.  But I lack certainty on this one.  I feel like this is the sort of important rules change that you tend to find in errata or the FAQ, not as a side note in a mis-labelled section title in a single expansion book.  When WOTC changed the rules to create swift and immediate actions, they made sure to stuff it into every single new book they published, and specified that it changed the Core rules, so it was clear we had a general rules change happening.  No such thing happened with this rule.  There is a vagueness that I am not fully confident is dealt with sufficiently to judge what the actual general rule is for Prestige Classes.  Combined with it not making a lot of logical sense to me as a general rule for all Prestige Classes instead of just a subset, and I think it's an issue worth debating.</blockquote>

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