When a new feat becomes effective ?

[Alader]

Hi. My wizard is getting a new feat at level 9. Suppose she picks "Extra spell": is this immediately effective, so she learns three spells rather than two entering level 9 ?
Thanks

 

[Piratecat]

Gosh, I'd certainly let her. It seems much too harsh to make her wait an entire level before she got the benefit of the feat.

By the way, welcome to the boards!

I don't have my books nearby. Does 3.5 still detail the order in which you level up, like 3e did? That would give the 'rules as written' answer.

 

[Alader]

Thanks to the welcome. To my knowledge neither the ed.3 is precise in this respect.
One can assume that levelling up, getting new skills/feats/spells is synchronous.
But in case of "Extra spell" (as well as "Extra slot") this becomes important.
I am asking because our DM usually tend to disfavour the party.

 

[Space Coyote]

I recall seeing a listing in the 3.5 PH (I cant find this in the SRD 3.5 online and do not have my PH book with me, so I cannot confirm right now) that listed, in what order, you do things when your character levels up. It was a numerical listing that stated in what order you incresed hit points, then skill points, then selected feats, etc. It was near the beginning of the book.

I, myself, as a DM would have no problem with letting a player benefit from a feat that they selected at the same level.

 

[Askaval30]

I'd certainly allow it, as it is not an unreasonable feat, especially considering your level.

Oh, and nice to see a countryman post here... it happens so rarely

 

[Infiniti2000]

I recall seeing a listing in the 3.5 PH (I cant find this in the SRD 3.5 online and do not have my PH book with me, so I cannot confirm right now) that listed, in what order, you do things when your character levels up. It was a numerical listing that stated in what order you incresed hit points, then skill points, then selected feats, etc. It was near the beginning of the book.

You won't find it in the SRD because levelling up is one of those rules that are strictly NOT open gaming content (OGC).

Fwiw, I think that you can and should be able to take advantage of the feat upon levelling up. You certainly can in every other situation. It's a character-level feat, not a class-level feat, so you gain the feat before choosing the class. In fact, in some cases, the feat might actually allow you to take a class (like a prerequisite for a Prc). I urge you to mention this to the DM if she gives you a hard time about it.

 

[irdeggman]

You won't find it in the SRD because levelling up is one of those rules that are strictly NOT open gaming content (OGC).

Fwiw, I think that you can and should be able to take advantage of the feat upon levelling up. You certainly can in every other situation. It's a character-level feat, not a class-level feat, so you gain the feat before choosing the class. In fact, in some cases, the feat might actually allow you to take a class (like a prerequisite for a Prc). I urge you to mention this to the DM if she gives you a hard time about it.

the one restriction is specifically for prestige classes. You must meet all the requirements prior to taking the class and this quote might actuallly get you into trouble.

From the SRD:

Prestige classes offer a new form of multiclassing. Unlike the basic classes, characters must meet Requirements before they can take their first level of a prestige class. The rules for level advancement apply to this system, meaning the first step of advancement is always choosing a class. If a character does not meet the Requirements for a prestige class before that first step, that character cannot take the first level of that prestige class. Taking a prestige class does not incur the experience point penalties normally associated with multiclassing.

 

[shilsen]

Thanks to the welcome. To my knowledge neither the ed.3 is precise in this respect.
One can assume that levelling up, getting new skills/feats/spells is synchronous.
But in case of "Extra spell" (as well as "Extra slot") this becomes important.
I am asking because our DM usually tend to disfavour the party.

Check pg.58-59 of the 3.5 PHB. Picking your feats is no.7 on the list of things to do and gaining more spells is no.8.

Personally, I would definitely let a PC benefit from the Extra Spell feat the level that he gained it.

 

[Mistwell]

Thanks to the welcome. To my knowledge neither the ed.3 is precise in this respect.
One can assume that levelling up, getting new skills/feats/spells is synchronous.
But in case of "Extra spell" (as well as "Extra slot") this becomes important.
I am asking because our DM usually tend to disfavour the party.

Yes, you should be able to gain the benefit immediately.

Your DM sounds like he or she needs to relax a little bit and focus on everyone having fun.