Alignment change and class restrictions? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alignment change and class restrictions? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
anacrucis
02-26-04, 03:13 PM The PHB is pretty clear on what happens to a Barbarian that becomes Lawful, a Monk who becomes non-lawful, a Paladin who becomes non-LG, or a Druid who becomes non-neutral. (I don't remember off the top of my head what it says for bard).

The secondary books are a little less specific though.

What happens if my Hexblade becomes good? What happens if my Assassin or Blackguard become non-evil? Do they lose their option to advance in those classes? Do we think they should lose their special abilities?

I could definitely see a Blackguard losing his evil powers if he ceased to be evil (just as a Paladin loses them for ceasing to be Good), but an Assassin's skills (for example) could conceivably be turned towards more neutral, if not 'good' uses.

And I don't know what to make of the Hexblade.
Pumpoei
02-27-04, 04:29 AM Apparently...

In 3.0 one needed to meet PrC requirements throughout their advancement in that class. Failure to meet the requirements would bar further advancement.

In 3.5 PrC requirements are only for entry into the class. Once at least one level is taken, the original requirements become irrelevant.

Regarding loss of powers or abilities; it is generally mentioned specifically in the PrC description if this is the case.
Heron_Marked_Blade
02-27-04, 09:11 AM Any way you look at it, killing someone in cold blood (i.e. Assassin) is an Evil act. If an Assassin who has somehow become Good continues to practice his trade, he won't remain Good for long. He's free to use those skills in combat, however.
BenjCano
02-27-04, 02:08 PM Check out page 16 of Complete Warrior.

It's possible for a character to take levels in a prestige class and later be in a position where the character no longer qualifies to be a member of the class. An alignment change, levels lost because of character death, or the loss of a magic item that granted an important ability are examples of event that can make a character ineligible to advance further in a prestige class.

If a character no longer meets the requirements for a prestige class, he or she loses the benefit of any class features or other special abilities granted by the class. The character retains Hit Dice gained from advancing in the class, as well as any improvements to base attack bonus and base save bonus that the class provided.

Meaning that Assassins or Blackguards who become good loose their prestige class abilities, as does an elven arcane archer reincarnated as a human.

Interestingly enough, they did make one change to 3.5 along these lines I like. It used to be that if you hit a Blackguard with ray of enfeeblement, you'd rob him of his class features due to a loss of Power Attack due to a low strength score. Now, however, "A character can't use a feat if he or she lost a prerequisite. For example, if your character's Strength drops below 13 because of a ray of enfeeblement, he or she can't use the Power Attack feat until the prerequisite is once again met. (PHB, page 87).

This is different in kind from saying that loss of a feat prereq meant the loss of the feat. The Enfeebled blackguard still has access to their class package, because they still have Power Attack, even if they don't have access to it.

What this does mean, however, is that a mage's familiar is still an on/off switch to any prestige class that requires Alertness. The Alienist, for example. Then again, that also makes it doubly dangerous for a Mage who entered a prestige class through the familiar/Alertness door has to be doubly careful, since a "class feature" of their prestige class was an increase in caster level. If that familiar should die, it could seriously suck for the next year and a day.

Edit: By the way. It's very clear what happens to a Hexblade that becomes good. Check out page 8 of Complete Warrior, first paragraph in the second column.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
anacrucis 02-26-04, 03:13 PM	The PHB is pretty clear on what happens to a Barbarian that becomes Lawful, a Monk who becomes non-lawful, a Paladin who becomes non-LG, or a Druid who becomes non-neutral. (I don't remember off the top of my head what it says for bard). The secondary books are a little less specific though. What happens if my Hexblade becomes good? What happens if my Assassin or Blackguard become non-evil? Do they lose their option to advance in those classes? Do we think they should lose their special abilities? I could definitely see a Blackguard losing his evil powers if he ceased to be evil (just as a Paladin loses them for ceasing to be Good), but an Assassin's skills (for example) could conceivably be turned towards more neutral, if not 'good' uses. And I don't know what to make of the Hexblade.
Pumpoei 02-27-04, 04:29 AM	Apparently... In 3.0 one needed to meet PrC requirements throughout their advancement in that class. Failure to meet the requirements would bar further advancement. In 3.5 PrC requirements are only for entry into the class. Once at least one level is taken, the original requirements become irrelevant. Regarding loss of powers or abilities; it is generally mentioned specifically in the PrC description if this is the case.
Heron_Marked_Blade 02-27-04, 09:11 AM	Any way you look at it, killing someone in cold blood (i.e. Assassin) is an Evil act. If an Assassin who has somehow become Good continues to practice his trade, he won't remain Good for long. He's free to use those skills in combat, however.
BenjCano 02-27-04, 02:08 PM	Check out page 16 of Complete Warrior. It's possible for a character to take levels in a prestige class and later be in a position where the character no longer qualifies to be a member of the class. An alignment change, levels lost because of character death, or the loss of a magic item that granted an important ability are examples of event that can make a character ineligible to advance further in a prestige class. If a character no longer meets the requirements for a prestige class, he or she loses the benefit of any class features or other special abilities granted by the class. The character retains Hit Dice gained from advancing in the class, as well as any improvements to base attack bonus and base save bonus that the class provided. Meaning that Assassins or Blackguards who become good loose their prestige class abilities, as does an elven arcane archer reincarnated as a human. Interestingly enough, they did make one change to 3.5 along these lines I like. It used to be that if you hit a Blackguard with ray of enfeeblement, you'd rob him of his class features due to a loss of Power Attack due to a low strength score. Now, however, "A character can't use a feat if he or she lost a prerequisite. For example, if your character's Strength drops below 13 because of a ray of enfeeblement, he or she can't use the Power Attack feat until the prerequisite is once again met. (PHB, page 87). This is different in kind from saying that loss of a feat prereq meant the loss of the feat. The Enfeebled blackguard still has access to their class package, because they still have Power Attack, even if they don't have access to it. What this does mean, however, is that a mage's familiar is still an on/off switch to any prestige class that requires Alertness. The Alienist, for example. Then again, that also makes it doubly dangerous for a Mage who entered a prestige class through the familiar/Alertness door has to be doubly careful, since a "class feature" of their prestige class was an increase in caster level. If that familiar should die, it could seriously suck for the next year and a day. Edit: By the way. It's very clear what happens to a Hexblade that becomes good. Check out page 8 of Complete Warrior, first paragraph in the second column.