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The theory is this:

Reaping Mauler (Complete Warrior (CW)) has a prerequisite feat: Clever Wrestling (CW). Clever Wrestling has a size prerequisite: Small or Medium character. I would be a human, so Medium size.

As soon as a friendly spell-caster casts Enlarge Person on me, would I lose Clever Wrestling bonuses (thus retain my Reaping Mauler class features, since I technically have the feat) OR do I lose the RM class features, since I'm one size category too big for Clever Wrestling now?

The reason I would be enlarged is because grappling would be the focus of the class (I'm making a fantasy UFC/MMA fighter) and bigger size gives better bonuses.

We couldn't find a definitive answer to this particular question, so any clarification would be very much appreciated.

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2 Answers 2

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No, because the requirement for the class is having the feat, not being able to use it. You only need to meet a feats prerequisites to acquire it, so increasing in size does not mean you lose the feat -- you simply cannot benefit from it.

About feat prereqs:

Your character must have the indicated ability score, class feature, feat, skill, base attack bonus, or other quality designated in order to select or use that feat. [...] A character can’t use a feat if he or she has lost a prerequisite.

(IIRC the Mauler is a terrible class, though! After taking 4 levels you get a +2 to grapple and some save or die effects that have low DCs and take several rounds to pull off.)

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The answer is NO, you do not lose your Reaping Mauler class features, and YES, you do lose the benefits of Clever Wrestling. The confusion seems to stem from the Complete Warrior's text describing Prestige Class requirements, something no other book (including the DMG and thus the SRD) details.

Meeting Class Requirements: 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 less of a magic item that granted an important ability are examples of events that make a character ineligible for advance farther 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 first line I highlighted seems to mirror and build upon what the DMG and SRD say:

...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.

So it suggests that a character needs to keep meeting the requirements of the class in order to continue advancing along it.

The second line I highlighted, the "he or she loses the benefit of any class features or other special abilities granted by the class" bit, seems to exist only in the Complete Warrior (it's not even in the Complete Divine, where things like alignment qualifications might be more relevant). I think the rule makes sense, but has been stretched to create these dilemmas because it's not particularly specific.

Here's what the PHB/SRD has to say about feat prerequsites:

Some feats have prerequisites. Your character must have the indicated ability score, class feature, feat, skill, base attack bonus, or other quality designated in order to select or use that feat. A character can gain a feat at the same level at which he or she gains the prerequisite. A character can’t use a feat if he or she has lost a prerequisite.

"Can't use" I think is the keystone to this argument, because you don't lose the feat. You still have the feat, which means you still qualify for the prestige class.

By the same token, a rogue or ranger who puts on half plate doesn't immediately lose access to every ability he's picked up from a prestige class with evasion as a requirement.

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    \$\begingroup\$ +1 for breaking through the question's false yes/no dichotomy. \$\endgroup\$
    – mxyzplk
    Commented Oct 8, 2013 at 11:53
  • \$\begingroup\$ @mxyzplk I'm genuinely curious how you think this answer differs from mine (other than the inclusion of the source quotes). \$\endgroup\$
    – starwed
    Commented Oct 10, 2013 at 16:10
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    \$\begingroup\$ I had already commented on your answer with my issues and y'all told me I was "pedantic" for doing so. The OP asks an A or B question, you answer "No," and his A and B options are falsely opposed options anyway. This answer actually clearly breaks that all out. \$\endgroup\$
    – mxyzplk
    Commented Oct 10, 2013 at 16:57

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