stupid question: Prestige Class PreReqs.

[Grundle]

Ok, a guy in an upcoming game I'm DMing wants to become a Mage of the Arcane Order (from TaB). One of the requirements of the class is 8 ranks in some skill. To have 8 ranks you must be a 5th level character, correct?

So, can you take a level in the class as a new 5th level character (using skill points from the Prestige Class to fufill the prerequisite), or must he wait until he is a new 6th level character to take the class? I'm pretty sure its the latter, but I've been wrong before.

 

[kreynolds]

So, can you take a level in the class as a new 5th level character (using skill points from the Prestige Class to fufill the prerequisite), or must he wait until he is a new 6th level character to take the class?

When you level, you must pick your class to get your skill points. If you don't have enough ranks to qualify for a class, you can't have it, even if getting that class would give you the skill points needed to qualify.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Yeah, you choose your class before you spend your skill points. Otherwise you don't know how many skill points to spend or which class skill list to use for how much a rank will cost.

Sean K. Reynolds suggests that you follow the order in the PH on pages 145-146 when gaining a level. This should eliminate most questions about when you qualify for a PrC.