Do "Trait" bonuses stack?


Rules Questions


Just wondering if trait bonuses stack. We are about to start the Carrion Crown adventure path and one of our players chose the Chance Savior campaign trait (gives +2 trait bonus on Initiative) and the Reactionary combat trait (also gives +2 trait bonus on Initiative).

Liberty's Edge

No, they do not.

Silver Crusade

As a rule, any bonus with the same discritor doesn't stack. Exceptions to this rule are 'dodge AC' and any miscelaneous bonus.


So don't allow reactionary and improved initiative, right? And where is the rule so i can show it.


It has been answered...but here is the line from the PRD under Traits that gives the exact ruling. (emphasized with bolded text)

PRD wrote:
Many traits grant a new type of bonus: a “trait” bonus. Trait bonuses do not stack—they're intended to give player characters a slight edge, not a secret backdoor way to focus all of a character's traits on one type of bonus and thus gain an unseemly advantage. It's certainly possible, for example, that somewhere down the line, a “Courageous” trait might be on the list of dwarf race traits, but just because this trait is on both the dwarf race traits list and the basic combat traits list doesn't mean you're any more brave if you choose both versions than if you choose only one.

Greg


Gebby wrote:
So don't allow reactionary and improved initiative, right? And where is the rule so i can show it.

Improved Initiative gives a +4 untyped bonus, not trait bonus. Which wouldn't make sense since its a feat not a trait.

Untyped boni stack with everything.

So yes, Reactionary, Improved Initiative and Compsognathus familiar give you a +10 initiative.


Gebby wrote:
So don't allow reactionary and improved initiative, right? And where is the rule so i can show it.

Reactionary is a trait and Improved Initiative is a feat, those would stack.

Greg

EDIT: Expertly goblin ninja'd by Quatar :P


Quatar wrote:
Gebby wrote:
So don't allow reactionary and improved initiative, right? And where is the rule so i can show it.

Improved Initiative gives a +4 untyped bonus, not trait bonus. Which wouldn't make sense since its a feat not a trait.

Untyped boni stack with everything.

So yes, Reactionary, Improved Initiative and Compsognathus familiar give you a +10 initiative.

Sorry for askin


We can only learn by asking :)

Silver Crusade

Gotta be careful, some GM's rule that Improved Initiative would provide a 'feat' bonus (thus not stacking with any other feats). I know its not listed that way, I've just met some really odd GM's.


I read the rules questions all the time because I am always learning things I have missed. Sometimes, they are obvious once pointed out, other times they are such an obscure case, I have just never encountered the situation. But, in both cases, if no one asked, I would not have learned.

Ask away! :P

Greg

EDIT: Sheesh! What kind of keyboard is that goblin using???? :)


If he's playing a wizard he could always pick a Familiar that gives +4 to Initiative.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Rules Questions / Do "Trait" bonuses stack? All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.