[PFS] Patron Themes Eligibility

[cavernshark]

The Nov 24. update to additional resources includes Patron Themes from Blood of the Coven stating that "To select a specific patron, a PC must be able to select a witch patron and have the hex class feature."

This limits Patron Themes to witches as the only class with access to both patrons and hexes. However, several witch archetypes swap out the hex gained at first level when patrons are also selected. It's my understanding that witches don't gain the hex class feature until they gain their first hex, resulting in a few possible readings.

A) Witches who trade out their first level hex cannot select a patron theme, because when they select their patron they do not yet have the hex class feature and the patron theme needs to be selected when the patron is selected. Most conservative reading.

B) Witches who trade out their first level hex cannot select a patron theme until they acquire their first hex and the hex class feature (probably at 2nd level). The player would essentially mature into the patron theme when they qualify. Middle of the road reading.

C) Any witch who will eventually get hexes is considered to have the hex class feature for the purposes of selecting a patron theme. This essentially only restricts selection from those archetypes that fully alter patron or the hex class feature (e.g. havocker or white haired witch). Most liberal reading.

Which seems correct?

[Fuzzy-Wuzzy]

I believe (c) can be ruled out by this FAQ, particularly the part I bolded.

FAQ wrote:

When do I count as having a class feature?

You have a class feature when your class description tells you you gain that class feature, generally based on your level in that class (and perhaps altered by factors, see below).

If you have an archetype or other rules element that replaces that class feature, you do not have that class feature. For example, if your archetype replaces a rogue's sneak attack, you no longer have the sneak attack class feature (whether a requirement is as general as "sneak attack" or as specific as "sneak attack +1d6," you do not qualify for it).

If you have an archetype or other rules element that replaces part of a scaling class feature, or delays when you get that class feature, you do not have that class feature until you actually gain that class feature.
Example: If you have a fighter archetype that replaces weapon training 1 (but not weapon training 2, 3, and 4), you don't gain the weapon training 2 ability until fighter level 9, which means you don't have the weapon training class ability at all until you reach fighter level 9. Anything with "weapon training" or "weapon training class feature" as a prerequisite is unavailable to you until level 9.
Example: If you have a cleric archetype that replaces channel energy at level 1 (but not later increments of channel energy), you don't gain the channel energy ability until cleric level 3, which means you don't have the channel energy class feature until you reach cleric level 3. Anything with "channel energy" or "channel energy class feature" as a prerequisite is unavailable to you until level 3.
Example: If you have a witch archetype that replaces your hex at level 1 (but not later hexes, major hexes, or grand hexes), you don't gain your first hex ability until witch level 2, which means you don't have the hex class feature until you reach witch level 2. Anything with "hex" or "hex class feature" as a prerequisite is unavailable to you until level 2.