Prerequisites, and not meeting them, for Feats

[mattcolville]

I could swear I read something in the FAQ last week about being able to take a feat, even if you don't meet the prerequisite for it. Like Combat Expertise, that requires Dex 13. And then gaining the benefit of the feat, if you magically boost your dex so that you qualify for it.

But now I can't find it and I'm forced to wonder if I was smoking rope!

 

[frankthedm]

Some writers of the FAQ seem more likly to be guilty of rope smoking. I could picture that having being said on the FAQ. Here is what actually matters.

Prerequisites
Some feats have prerequisites. Your character must have the indicated ability score, class feature, feat, skill, base attack bonus, or other quality designated in order to select or use that feat. A character can gain a feat at the same level at which he or she gains the prerequisite.

A character can’t use a feat if he or she has lost a prerequisite.

However magic items count to satisfy prerequisite. Loose the item and you are hosed however.

BTW, Combat Expertise has 13 INT as a prerequisite.

 

[irdeggman]

I think this is what you are thinking of.

pg 24 of most recent FAQ (8/16/06)

A feat sometimes requires you to have a certain ability score, which is the case with Two-Weapon Fighting (it requires Dex 15). A character has, say, Dex 13, but wears an item, in this case gloves of Dexterity +2, and now her Dex score is 15. Can she take the feat and have it be active only when she wears the item?
Actually yes, she could take the feat, but she would lose the use of the feat if, for whatever reason, she loses the bonus from the item.

They never said you could take a feat without meeting the prerequisites they did say that you could use magic items to meet those prerequisites though.

There are however class abilities that allow a character to take the feat even if they don't meet the prerequisites like the rangers combat style chain. They usually have restrictions on being able to use those feats though - like only when wearing light armor or the like.

 

[pawsplay]

Yes, and the epic rules clarified that something had to be "semi-permanent" in some fashion to meet those requirements. Continuous items okay; most spells not okay; spells with durations longer than 24 hours, questionable, probably not okay.

 

[Hypersmurf]

There are however class abilities that allow a character to take the feat even if they don't meet the prerequisites like the rangers combat style chain. They usually have restrictions on being able to use those feats though - like only when wearing light armor or the like.

Combat Style doesn't allow you to take the feat; with Combat Style, you are treated as though you have the feat.

The monk's Bonus Feat class feature is an example of taking a feat without being required to meet prerequisites.

If a ranger wishes to take the Two Weapon Fighting feat, he must meet the Dex 15 prerequisite. If he chooses the Two Weapon Combat Style, however, he is treated as having the Two Weapon Fighting feat even if he doesn't meet the prerequisites. He loses the benefits of the combat style if he wears Medium or Heavy armor; this is not a restriction on using the feats, but a restriction on the benefits of the combat style (namely, being treated as having the Two Weapon Fighting feat).

-Hyp.

 

[moritheil]

Indeed; if memory serves, the language formerly used for combat style was "virtual feats."

 

[irdeggman]

Point well made Hyp.

I still think that the intent is wrong, but the text supports your argument and I haven't found anything else to counter it. The way it is written causes all kinds of game mechanics issues - like the feat chain issue listed.

This will just have to be a house-rule in my game.