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There is a specific order in which you add a new level abilities. Adding a class is the first thing done.
When adding new levels of an existing class or adding levels of a new class (see Multiclassing, below), make sure to take the following steps in order. First, select your new class level. You must be able to qualify for this level before any of the following adjustments are made. Second, apply any ability score increases due to gaining a level. Third, integrate all of the level's class abilities and then roll for additional hit points. Finally, add new skills and feats. For more information on when you gain new feats and ability score increases, see Table: Character Advancement and Level-Dependent Bonuses.
If I am understanding the question correctly what is being ask is can you take your 6th skill rank upon reaching level 6, and qualify for a PrC that requires 6 ranks in a certain skill.
The above is just an example.
Unlike the core classes, characters must meet specific requirements before they can take their first level of a prestige class. If a character does not meet the requirements for a prestige class before gaining any benefits of that level, that character cannot take that prestige class.
It says you must meet the requirements before taking the class, not upon taking the class so it reads to me that you need to have that 6th skill rank, and then you can take the PrC at level 7.
That makes sense because the class
In the case of skill ranks, you do not even know how many skill ranks you get until you choose which class you are taking a level in -- so certainly skill rank requirements have to be met before you take your 1st prestige class level. Other than the fact that you may need your current character level to qualify for a feat, the only thing forcing you to qualify for a prestige class before you take your first level in it is the general rule about qualifying for prestige classes.
Certainly all of the prestige classes were written based on the assumption that you would meet all their prerequisites a level before you take your 1st level in them.
Ive always played multiclass characters for the flavor element.....currently playing a character who started out just liking to hit stuff (Fighter) but now has found purpose in the hunt to destroy undead (Inquisitor).
Yeah, I'll miss out on capstone abilities if we go all the way to 20, and yes Im currently 2/2 meaning I need to wait until character level 7 to get Bane so Im behind a single-class Inq ......but because of those fighter levels Im walking around proficient in heavy armor with 2 extra combat feats that a Inq4 wouldnt have. Tradeoff isnt so bad.
I agree preventing (or at least discouraging) the silliness of characters with 5-6 classes is definitely a good thing that PF does but I also agree with others that have said Prestige classes should be stronger and give cooler abilities than some of the plain vanilla ones we have now. In fact, knowing that I wont get capstone abilities due to multiclassing is the reason Im looking for a cool Prestige class to take. Not sure if its because 'singleclassing' is so encouraged in PF but the Prestige classes seem rather bland or too hard to qualify for based on what you get from them.
Example is Gray Gardner in the new book.....lots of hoops to jump thru to get slightly watered-down versions of Inquisitor abilities. Yeah, the sneak attack damage is cool but Ive read it over a few times and with minor exceptions dipping a few Inq levels seems on par if not better than taking levels in GG.
As for feats that make multiclassing have less of a negative impact, Ive always wondered why this guy is out there alone and there arent more like it.........
Defensive Combat Training (Combat)
You excel at defending yourself from all manner of combat maneuvers.
Benefit: You treat your total Hit Dice as your base attack bonus when calculating your Combat Maneuver Defense (see Combat).
Obviously adding tons of those types of feats gets silly, but a few core ones (no pun intended) could support multiclassing a bit and not get overpowered. Nothing as crazy as "with this feat you treat all fighter levels as wizard levels when determining # of spells per day" or anything like that, but why isnt there somthing "Offensive Combat Training" for example?
Specifically I'm asking if you can take your 9th level Feat as the final pre-req for a prestige class. Wraith, your quote is very informative, but I kept looking for it in the wrong book. My bad.
Are you asking can you also take the PrC at 9th level or can you take the PrC at level 10?