The new FAQ and armor proficiency

[Iku Rex]

FAQ: http://wizards.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wizards.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1396

Can a Fighter with a 12 Constitution still use scale armor?

The Armor Proficiency (Scale) feat requires a 13 Constitution, but all fighters gain proficiency with scale armor for free (regardless of the prerequisites).

Problem: The answer is missing the point.

From the feats chapter:

If you ever lose a prerequisite for a feat (for example, if you use the retraining system to replace training in a prerequisite skill with training in a different skill), you can’t use that feat thereafter.

Yes, the Con 12 fighter is proficient with scale armor. But can he use it? As far as I can tell the PHB says "no".

Am I missing something?

 

[Falling Icicle]

Am I missing something?

Yes. The fighter isn't getting his armor proficiency from a feat. It's a class feature and has no prerequisites. Just because there is a feat which happens to also offer this proficiency doesn't affect the fighter in any way.

 

[TimeOut]

Am I missing something?

Yes. The fighter never gains the feat in the first place. His armor proficiency is a class attribute, not a feat.

Edit: Ninja'ed

 

[Zurai]

Technically, and pedantically, speaking - you can't lose what you never had. As long as the fighter never meets the pre-reqs for the feat, he can't lose the pre-reqs, and thus never loses the use of the feat.

 

[Iku Rex]

Yes. The fighter isn't getting his armor proficiency from a feat. It's a class feature and has no prerequisites. Just because there is a feat which happens to also offer this proficiency doesn't affect the fighter in any way.

Except it's a class feature that counts as a feat (PHB 52).

 

[TimeOut]

Except it's a class feature that counts as a feat (PHB 52).

That is weird.

But the FAQ says that you "gain proficiency with scale armor for free (regardless of the prerequisites)". So I assume these are ignored for all purposes.

 

[Falling Icicle]

Except it's a class feature that counts as a feat (PHB 52).

Hmm, I didn't notice that. That was a poor choice of wording on their part.

 

[hong]

This thread makes the baby bag of rats cry.

 

[TimeOut]

This thread makes the baby bag of rats cry.

Most "rules can only be used exactly as written" threads tend to do that.

 

[Iku Rex]

Most "rules can only be used exactly as written" threads tend to do that.

I've never seen such a thread. Can you post link to one?