[Hivemind] Through the looking glass

[Crothian]

Bad English mainly... quick question, just so I get this right; Ability scores shouldn't be used as a requirement for prestige classes, right?

Correct, if possible use a feat that has an ability requirement in it like Expertise and Power Attack. The reason being that feats are character choices and attributes are not.

 

[Eternalknight]

Correct, if possible use a feat that has an ability requirement in it like Expertise and Power Attack. The reason being that feats are character choices and attributes are not.

Thought I wasn't imagining things. Thanks.

 

[Crothian]

Thought I wasn't imagining things. Thanks.

Not a problem, I'm pretty good at the Game Mechanics stuff. I hang out in the Rules forum too much.

 

[Eternalknight]

Not a problem, I'm pretty good at the Game Mechanics stuff. I hang out in the Rules forum too much.

Hehe, so am I normally, had a mental block on this one though

 

[Carnifex]

Correct, if possible use a feat that has an ability requirement in it like Expertise and Power Attack. The reason being that feats are character choices and attributes are not.

I disagree with this - attributes can be used as prestige class requirements, if its in the flavour of the PRC (for instance, IMC, each order of Hawk has a minimum stat in a particular ability to get the PrC, since they don't take just anybody - ie Flame Hawks are min strength 12, since you need to show you are strong and capable in combat. Wind Hawks nede Dex 12... and so on.

I agree that sometimes feats are a better way of doing it, but since there are no rigid rules of making PrC's, I don't see why stats cannot be used as prerequisites where suitable.

 

[Crothian]

Hehe, so am I normally, had a mental block on this one though

It happens to the best of us. I'm sure there are times when Monte and Mike Mearls have to go doublecheck things.

 

[Eternalknight]

I disagree with this - attributes can be used as prestige class requirements, if its in the flavour of the PRC (for instance, IMC, each order of Hawk has a minimum stat in a particular ability to get the PrC, since they don't take just anybody - ie Flame Hawks are min strength 12, since you need to show you are strong and capable in combat. Wind Hawks nede Dex 12... and so on.

I agree that sometimes feats are a better way of doing it, but since there are no rigid rules of making PrC's, I don't see why stats cannot be used as prerequisites where suitable.

Actually, it was in an old issue of Dragon, I just couldn't remember which issue.

 

[Dungannon]

Whew, back after a reboot. Looks like I didn't miss much, though.

 

[Carnifex]

Actually, it was in an old issue of Dragon, I just couldn't remember which issue.

This may sound harsh, but I wouldn't consider a Dragon article as necessarily a very good source for guidelines, especially about PrC's... I can think of many, many instances where, in designing a PRC, you might want to use an attribute as a reprequisite.

 

[Eternalknight]

This may sound harsh, but I wouldn't consider a Dragon article as necessarily a very good source for guidelines, especially about PrC's... I can think of many, many instances where, in designing a PRC, you might want to use an attribute as a reprequisite.

Still, can you name any Wizards of the Coast prestige classes that use ability score requirements?