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So I was recently working on an Aid Another themed character who would focus on keeping his allies alive with the use of Aid Another. Nothing said "Support" quite like a Passive Bardic Performance giving out +2 to +4 bonuses with a Banner giving +1 to +2 bonuses... that along with Aid Another giving +2.... I mean +10 Bonus to success... Yes, I've been working on min-maxing the Aid Another feature.
Now my questions are as followed:
1) How can you tell the difference between a Stack and Replace bonus? (i.e. Does Cavalier's Order of the Dragon Bonus replace the +2 Bonus? Or does the bonus give +1?)
2) Does Cavalier's Order of the Dragon bonus synergize with the Halfling Helpful trait or are they both Replace effects?
3) Are there any rules or tips that could be given for Aid Another?
The Dragon Order ability overrides the basic Aid Another action for two reasons. For starters, it says they receive +X to A,B,C, or D. It also provides this to be used on D (Saving Throws), when before it was merely A,B, and C (Attack, AC, and Skills, respectively). This applies whenever they use Aid Another in any of those instances. This replaces any standard Aid Another benefits they have.
The same applies to the Halfling traits (as well as the other generic one), as they replace the normal +2 with a +4 (or +3).
However, if you acquire Benevolent Armor or Weaponry, this benefit specifically adds in addition to the normal benefits.
So, to confirm, the Traits and the Class Feature will not stack with each other, but the Benevolent items will stack (as it's in addition to the norm, whereas the Traits and Class Feature change the norm).
Also note that if you have multiple persons aiding the same person for the same benefit, they will stack with themselves.
Honestly, as for tips, the Halfling trait can be easily accessible with the Adopted character trait, meaning you shouldn't force yourself to be a Halfling (or a Cavalier) if you don't want to. Each subject has their merits (+4 for less investment, or a scaling +3 and an option to aid Saves for more investment), so weigh what you want out of your character before deciding.
Arcane Strike + Gloves of Arcane Strike should work with the helpful trait and Benevolent Armor/Weapon.
I was going to suggest that, but the item requires the feat, and the feat requires being able to cast Arcane Spells, which Cavaliers cannot do, and SLAs don't qualify for that anymore.
Sorry cor not posting on this earlier. I kind of forgot about it until now lol. I was probably going to multiclass into Bard and use a PrC for aid another and spellcasting.
So the only way to get things to stack are magic items and that one feat? Other than the trait bonus that gives q trait bonus to your aid another targer.
One more question, is it possible to aid another on their saving throws? Lol
Aid Another says "You can also use this standard action to help a friend in other ways, such as when he is affected by a spell" -- exactly what that means is not defined and will likely experience table variation, however stating that it can be used to boost a saving throw against a spell seems reasonable given that text, especially given that the Order of the Dragon Cavalier's Aid Allies (Ex) mentions saving throw in its text. As for everything left vague by the rules, expect table variance on that (e.g. ask your GM before going with a build that relies on it).
Normally untyped bonuses stack, and typed bonuses do not (with exception of dodge bonuses). Additionally, untyped bonuses from the same source do not stack (to me, that text is restating the general rules about bonuses despite being in a section about spells. One could argue that text only applies to bonuses granted by spells. However, I'd rule that it applies in general at my table). Given that, the untyped bonus granted by Aid Allies (Ex) is coming from the same source as the untyped bonus granted by the underlying Aid Another action, so the Aid Allies (Ex) bonus would replace the normal +2 granted by Aid Another.