Magic Items as Pre-Reqs for prestige classes?

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Let's say you need the ability to turn in order to take a prestige class. If you get a magic item that allows you to do that, do you qualify for the class?

 

[hong]

Yes. Don't lose the item.

 

[Hypersmurf]

It's very, very dangerous.

Remember, if you lose access to a PrC requirement, you lose all class features except for hit dice, BAB, and base save bonuses.

A pickpocket can destroy your character.

-Hyp.

 

[JBowtie]

I'd consider it in the same vein as the ranger's virtual two-weapon fighting; as long as the character is wielding the item and they meet the other prerequisites, there's probably nothing unbalancing about it.

The catch, of course, is that they should lose access to the prestige class abilities if they are *not* wielding the item. "Swords of Our Fathers", for example, presents several blade scion classes that require special blades to get any benefit. If you're not wielding the blade, the scion class abilities are completely useless.

Make sure the player understands the conditional nature of things before they sign up for the prestige class; otherwise they will be very upset when their precious item is melted by a bolt of lightning or sundered by a nemesis and they lose half their powers as a result.

 

[Tetsubo]

The Master At Arms book has a martial PrC that is based around the Immovable Rod. So you sort of need one...

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Wow, I'm a little surprised by that. But I guess it's balanced since you lose it all if you lose the item.

Thanks for the help!

 

[CRGreathouse]

Wow, I'm a little surprised by that. But I guess it's balanced since you lose it all if you lose the item.

Thanks for the help!

It can be a fine thing to do, if you intend to pick up the ability on your own later, but it's much too risky (IMO) otherwise.

 

[Ovinomancer]

I would make the contention that you must qualify for the PrC without any abilities granted by the PrC. IE having an item that grants you the ability to turn undead qualifies you for a PrC. The PrC also gives you the ability to turn undead. If you allow the PrC granted ability to qualify for the PrC itself, I think that causes a major paradox that might just unravel the space-time-magic continuum. IMHO.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

This prestige class doesn't grant turning, so no paradox here

I guess the next question is are there any items that grant the ability to turn undead?

 

[Hypersmurf]

I would make the contention that you must qualify for the PrC without any abilities granted by the PrC. IE having an item that grants you the ability to turn undead qualifies you for a PrC. The PrC also gives you the ability to turn undead. If you allow the PrC granted ability to qualify for the PrC itself, I think that causes a major paradox that might just unravel the space-time-magic continuum. IMHO.

I don't see a problem with it.

If you don't have the item, you can't take the first level in the PrC, since until you take the PrC, you can't turn undead, and until you can turn undead, you can't take the PrC.

But with the item, you acn turn undead, so you qualify... so you can take the PrC, and gain all the benefits of the PrC... including the ability to turn undead.

Now, if you give the item away, you can still turn undead, so you don't lose access to the abilities of the PrC.

Where you have a problem, now, is if you lose access to a second requirement - say, the ability to cast Divine spells (your Imbue with Spell Ability wore off). Even if you regain that requirement (someone casts Imbue with Spell Ability on you again), you still don't regain your PrC abilities, because you can't turn undead.

But if you pick up the item again, then you qualify for the PrC, you regain your class features, and you can then drop the item again with no ill consequences.

-Hyp.