D&D (2024) What happens when a multiclass character loses a prerequisite?

[ECMO3]

So for example a Paladin-Rogue with a 13 Charisma who lost a point in Charisma permanently.

Now what? Lose all Paladin levels, can't advance in Paladin levels any more, nothing you had the minimums when you first multiclassed so you can keep getting Paladin levels.

 

[ezo]

I would prevent further levels in Paladin until CHA is increased to 13 again, but I am old school and like to be mean.

Otherwise, you can level as you want once you have the new class. You only need the prerequisite to take the first level, after that all bets are off.

 

[TwoSix]

So for example a Paladin-Rogue with a 13 Charisma who lost a point in Charisma permanently.

Now what? Lose all Paladin levels, can't advance in Paladin levels any more, nothing you had the minimums when you first multiclassed so you can keep getting Paladin levels.

Personally, I would just let them keep going. Never been a fan of the MC prereqs.

 

[cbwjm]

Nothing happens, they're still able to take levels since they've already started taking the class.

There's been similar questions asked since back in ADnD times, what happens if a paladin loses a point of Charisma, do they staty a paladin? The answer was yes since that 17 was just what was needed to qualify, it didn't need to be retained.

 

[ezo]

There's been similar questions asked since back in ADnD times, what happens if a paladin loses a point of Charisma, do they staty a paladin? The answer was yes since that 17 was just what was needed to qualify, it didn't need to be retained.

Do you have any citation for that?

Because IME that was never the case. If your ability scores dropped below a minimum required for a class, you retained your class and level to that point, but could not progress further.

I know there is a citation if the paladin in AD&D ever performs a willinging/knowingly evil act--you're a fighter of equal level at that point and forever more. I thought there was a similar rule in the DMG about ability scores for classes and not being able to advance, but it could easily have just been the way we played and not a "rule".

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I would prevent further levels in Paladin until CHA is increased to 13 again, but I am old school and like to be mean.

Otherwise, you can level as you want once you have the new class. You only need the prerequisite to take the first level, after that all bets are off.

Yeah if you're using prereqs I'd do this. I don't use them, but this is the logical approach. You don't get disqualified from levels you already have - that'd be messy and dumb and 5E isn't equipped to handle it.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I know there is a citation if the paladin in AD&D ever performs a willinging/knowingly evil act--you're a fighter of equal level at that point and forever more.

Yeah I was thinking about that, and this is different, not least because classes in 5E are never "lesser" versions of another class in the way Fighter was seen to be vs Paladin, and hell, you might not have the prereqs for the "lesser" class anyway!

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

The rules are clear:

To qualify for a new class, you must have a score of at least 13 in the primary ability of the new class and your current classes.

This is the only mention of prerequisites, so they only matter when you want to take the first level in a new class.

 

[Zardnaar]

The rules are clear:

This is the only mention of prerequisites, so they only matter when you want to take the first level in a new class.

I would go with this.

 

[LordEntrails]

I think the rules are clear with @Sorcerers Apprentice approach. But I would be comfortable with @ezo 's approach too.