PrC requirement

[Scooby]

Let's say that a character has just reached level six and is able to select a feat that qualifies him for a prestige class. Can he take the prestige class at level six or does he have to wait until 7?

 

[Crothian]

you have to wait for level 7.

 

[Caliber]

I don't know about that. I would likely let the PC take the class. What ruling do you have that would indicate otherwise?

 

[kreynolds]

I don't know about that. I would likely let the PC take the class. What ruling do you have that would indicate otherwise?

You must meet all of the requirements before you can take the class. Also, when you level, you must select all feats and place all of your skill points at the time of leveling. So, if you level, you have to pick a class to level, and since you don't have the feat required to take the PrC, well, there you go. I wouldn't allow it, but that's just my silly logic at work.

 

[bret]

Strange, my understanding was just the opposite.

My understanding was that the feats gained from character levels can be chosen either before or after chosing the class. You could choose the feat before in the example given if it was the only requirement remaining to qualify for a PrC. Likewise, you could choose your class and gain the class features (including increased BAB or caster level) that would allow you to qualify for a feat.

Could you give a reference? I can't find anything in the PHB that establishes a clear order with respect to the character level feats and gaining a class.

 

[kreynolds]

Strange, my understanding was just the opposite.

My understanding was that the feats gained from character levels can be chosen either before or after chosing the class. You could choose the feat before in the example given if it was the only requirement remaining to qualify for a PrC. Likewise, you could choose your class and gain the class features (including increased BAB or caster level) that would allow you to qualify for a feat.

Could you give a reference? I can't find anything in the PHB that establishes a clear order with respect to the character level feats and gaining a class.

It's in the DnD FAQ. You must choose your class, feats, skills, ability score adjustments, etc, at the time of leveling. You can't hold onto them. Choosing a feat early on, to prepare for a PrC, otherwise known as "Banking Feats", is a House Rule.

You have to pick your class first. Why? Because if you don't first choose your class, how do you know what class abilities you will get, how many skill points you will get, what hit die will you get, what bonus feats (if any) will you get?

 

[Crothian]

They broke it down and listed the specific steps to leveling. I saw that posted over a yewar ago. Picking the class is the first thing you do.

Look at it this way. You need to be 6th level to get the feat. If your 5th level and you have enough experience to get sixth, you aren't sixth until you gain that level by picking a class. Then you get the feat.

 

[kreynolds]

Picking the class is the first thing you do.

Dammit! You beat me to the punch before I could finish editing my post! You stole my thunder, man.

 

[RogueJK]

It's in the DnD FAQ. You must choose your class, feats, skills, ability score adjustments, etc, at the time of leveling. You can't hold onto them. Choosing a feat early on, to prepare for a PrC, otherwise known as "Banking Feats", is a House Rule.

Um... no. "Banking" Feats is saving them until you meet the prerequisites for them, such as banking your 1st level feat until 2nd level because you want to take an Exotic Weapon Prof., but don't have +1 BAB yet.

It has nothing to do with preparing for a Prestige Class.

 

[kreynolds]

Um... no. "Banking" Feats is saving them until you meet the prerequisites for them, such as banking your 1st level feat until 2nd level because you want to take an Exotic Weapon Prof., but don't have +1 BAB yet.

It has nothing to do with preparing for a Prestige Class.

Um...whatever. It's the same House Rule crap either way you look at it. Kinda sounds like meeting a prereq for, oh, I don't know, a PrC? If you use this house rule, how could you tell someone that you could "bank" before meeting the prereqs for the feat, but not for anything else? I'm not a fan of "banking" because the house rule is totally full of holes.