Because Hero Lab has an error? There is nothing preventing those from stacking otherwise, as far as I can see.
As for other ways to boost concentration... Warrior Priest and Focused Eidolon come to mind, though they require specific classes. And Shielded Caster, but that is Teamwork.
Frankly, with 8+Stat+level, you shouldn't be having too much trouble casting defensively as it is.
Combat casting and any other feat or ability that is situational and not "always on" does not automatically add to a skill, ability, etc in Hero Lab. Since Combat casting only applies to casting defensively you have to add that four point bonus when casting defensively. The traits are an "always on" +2 so that does add in.
The same is true for things like point blank shot, precise shot, or ranger enemies. In our group you can set up a condition for those things and check the box when it applies to have the math done for you.
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Ah, ok, I get it. In fact, I knew that - I just wasn't thinking!
The problem I have with concentration, from a character build point of view, comes from dipping into spell-casting classes (e.g. rogue-5/sorcerer-1 is going to struggle making concentration checks to do his shocking-grasp with precision damage touch attacks) so I have look for ways of boosting this.
There doesn't appear to be any item to help (outside psionics). I wonder if that's deliberate.
Richard
The problem I have with concentration, from a character build point of view, comes from dipping into spell-casting classes (e.g. rogue-5/sorcerer-1 is going to struggle making concentration checks to do his shocking-grasp with precision damage touch attacks) so I have look for ways of boosting this.
If this is all you want, might I recommend just using a wand? You won't have to make any concentration checks at all, and can use the spell as much as you want each day! All for the low, low price of 15gp a charge.
This could be really easily solved (Paizo designers!!) if you were allowed to take Combat Casting more than once.
Eh. While this case it wouldn't be overpowered, since Combat Casting usually isn't even optimal once, it would open the door to taking everything repeatedly. I mean, if you could take multiple Combat Castings, why not stacking Weapon Focus, Skill Focus, or anything else?
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The wand cost does mount up, if that's what you always do.
Nothing has to open the door to anything, and Weapon Focus *is* already handled (as is Iron Will and the like). Multiple Skill Focus could, I suppose, lead to some crazyness.
IMVHO I think the principle that works best is when you are allowed to use feats to make up for the deficits that you get from multi-classing. Boon Companion is a good example of this, and in 3.5 there was a great feat (name forgotten) which worked in the same way for caster level (and that really *would* be a great feat to introduce in PF).
Richard
Ah, ok, I get it. In fact, I knew that - I just wasn't thinking!
The problem I have with concentration, from a character build point of view, comes from dipping into spell-casting classes (e.g. rogue-5/sorcerer-1 is going to struggle making concentration checks to do his shocking-grasp with precision damage touch attacks) so I have look for ways of boosting this.
There doesn't appear to be any item to help (outside psionics). I wonder if that's deliberate.
Richard
Remeber you can always cast move then touch if you need to to avoid casting in combat. Won't work every round but with only one level in sorcerer you won't be doing it a whole lot anyways.
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Actually I'm a GM, rather than a player, so I'm doing a character build (Society compatible) for my own amusement (and with a bit of dreaming that one day I might be able to play him).
He will have lots of spell-like touch abilties through sorcerer blood-lines to use in combat, so concentration is important, and he's going to want to do it every round.
Richard