Martial Study at 1st Level

[Maat Mons]

The martial study feat has no prerequisites, so I should be able to take it at 1st level on any character.  However, unless my first level is a martial adept class, my initiator level will be 0.  (1/2 of 1, rounded down.)  I need to meet the prerequisites for whatever maneuver I select, and even 1st-level maneuvers seem to require initiator level 1.  If I try to take martial study at 1st level on a non-martial adept, is there literally no maneuver I could learn? 

[Jackinthegreen]

Correct.  There is literally no maneuver you could learn because all maneuvers require at least Initiator Level 1, which the character would not have.

[Maat Mons]

Dang.  That's what I thought, but not what I hoped. 

As a followup question, is it possible to take the feat at 1st level for the extra class skill and just not gain any maneuver? 

[Jackinthegreen]

Debatable.  If one reads the feat as requiring you to be able to learn the maneuver, then no.  If, however, one thinks that because it lacks any prerequisites then that means the character can get anything from the feat that would work at the time (in this case everything but the maneuver) then yes.

Ask your DM.  That's the only thing I can say since the feat's ambiguous.


Do note that the unofficial errata adds this:

Page 31 - Martial Study [Clarification]
You have a minimum initiator level of 1st, regardless of your character level.