One of my players (Bard) just got a Circlet of Persuasion. This item says it grants a +3 "competence bonus" on the wearer's Charisma-based checks. If I'm reading this correctly, its like having +6-extra points into Charisma, because it grants a +3 bonus to all Cha-based rolls (i.e. skills)! That's very powerful! Am I understanding this correctly?
Also, I can't find anything on Competence. I know that most magical modifiers which are similar do not stack, however ones that grant bonuses to skills do, so do Competence bonuses stack with other Competence bonuses?
Thanks for the replies ahead of time.
It's a competence bonus because charisma-based classes need all they can get to be competent. :P
For a non-silly answer, competence does not stack with competence. I don't know where you got the idea that bonuses to skills stack. They don't.
Doesn't seem powerful at all to me. It's just +3 to some interpersonal skill checks. When would +3 to bluff or intimidate ever be game-breaking? It's not like it allows extra spells for a Sorcerer or anything.
It's a competence bonus because charisma-based classes need all they can get to be competent. :P
For a non-silly answer, competence does not stack with competence. I don't know where you got the idea that bonuses to skills stack. They don't.
Interesting, I was under the impression skill-based bonuses were stack-able. I haven't played since Summer so forgot a few things about which magical and non-magical modifier stack and which do not.
So, dumb question, but if the Bard were to cast a spell which increased his competence in Charisma, then the higher one would take over? Because Competence bonuses don't stack, right?
It's confusing because not only do "some" bonuses stack while others do not, but some modifiers have many different types of bonuses which do/don't stack, but add up: for example, armor can have defense from Dexterity, Armor, Shield, Size, Dodge, Deflect, Protection, etc. etc...
No bonuses stack unless they say they do. You can get some indirect 'stacking', by not really stacking. If you have a competence bonus to charisma, your total charisma bonus increases. This can stack with a competence bonus to charisma checks. I don't know where you would get a competence bonus to charisma, however.
No bonuses stack unless they say they do. You can get some indirect 'stacking', by not really stacking. If you have a competence bonus to charisma, your total charisma bonus increases. This can stack with a competence bonus to charisma checks. I don't know where you would get a competence bonus to charisma, however.
This is generally true. However, dodge bonuses, most competence bonuses, and racial bonuses DO stack. Unless a competence bonus specifically says it DOESN'T stack, assume that it does.
Edit: Ack! I'm an idiot who doesn't sleep enough and can't tell the difference between two C words. Circumstance bonuses stack. Which makes more sense anyway. Pay no attention to my ramblings.
It's a competence bonus because charisma-based classes need all they can get to be competent. :P
For a non-silly answer, competence does not stack with competence. I don't know where you got the idea that bonuses to skills stack. They don't.
Interesting, I was under the impression skill-based bonuses were stack-able. I haven't played since Summer so forgot a few things about which magical and non-magical modifier stack and which do not.
So, dumb question, but if the Bard were to cast a spell which increased his competence in Charisma, then the higher one would take over? Because Competence bonuses don't stack, right?
It's confusing because not only do "some" bonuses stack while others do not, but some modifiers have many different types of bonuses which do/don't stack, but add up: for example, armor can have defense from Dexterity, Armor, Shield, Size, Dodge, Deflect, Protection, etc. etc...
An unnamed bonus to something will always stack with other bonuses. The only named bonus I can think of that will stack with itself is Dodge bonuses.
Armor Bonus does not stack with Armor Bonus. (Bracer will not stack with physical Armor because they are both Armor Bonus).Dex bonus will not stack with Dex bonus.
Shield Bonus does not stack with Shield bonus, etc.
Competence is just another name for a bonus so that it won't stack with the same bonuses.
No bonuses stack unless they say they do. You can get some indirect 'stacking', by not really stacking. If you have a competence bonus to charisma, your total charisma bonus increases. This can stack with a competence bonus to charisma checks. I don't know where you would get a competence bonus to charisma, however.This is generally true. However, dodge bonuses, most competence bonuses, and racial bonuses DO stack. Unless a competence bonus specifically says it DOESN'T stack, assume that it does.
Edit: Ack! I'm an idiot who doesn't sleep enough and can't tell the difference between two C words. Circumstance bonuses stack. Which makes more sense anyway. Pay no attention to my ramblings.
Oh yeah. Dodge bonuses and Circumstance bonuses.
Exact bonuses to the exact same things don't normally stack.
Another silly question then:
If there was an item with +2 competence bonus to all ability modifier checks, and this character also had on that Circlet of Persuasion with +3 to all Cha-based checks, would:
1) The Circlet override the other magical item for Cha only?
2) The Circlet override the other magical item completely, only granting the +3 bonus to Cha? (this seems most logical to me, since only one of the two magical items is compatible, and the one with the highest ability modifier wins out)
3) The other magical item overrides the Circlet?
Another silly question then:
If there was an item with +2 competence bonus to all ability modifier checks, and this character also had on that Circlet of Persuasion with +3 to all Cha-based checks, would:
1) The Circlet override the other magical item for Cha only?
2) The Circlet override the other magical item completely, only granting the +3 bonus to Cha? (this seems most logical to me, since only one of the two magical items is compatible, and the one with the highest ability modifier wins out)
3) The other magical item overrides the Circlet?
The first one.
Another silly question then:
If there was an item with +2 competence bonus to all ability modifier checks, and this character also had on that Circlet of Persuasion with +3 to all Cha-based checks, would:
1) The Circlet override the other magical item for Cha only?
2) The Circlet override the other magical item completely, only granting the +3 bonus to Cha? (this seems most logical to me, since only one of the two magical items is compatible, and the one with the highest ability modifier wins out)
3) The other magical item overrides the Circlet?
The first one. It's not the magic items that don't stack, it's the modifier's.
This character would get a +3 to Cha-checks and a +2 to all other ability checks
Another silly question then:
If there was an item with +2 competence bonus to all ability modifier checks, and this character also had on that Circlet of Persuasion with +3 to all Cha-based checks, would:
1) The Circlet override the other magical item for Cha only?
2) The Circlet override the other magical item completely, only granting the +3 bonus to Cha? (this seems most logical to me, since only one of the two magical items is compatible, and the one with the highest ability modifier wins out)
3) The other magical item overrides the Circlet?
Edit: Ninja'd
Double Edit: When you hit Reply instead of edit, on the wrong post what's more. It's time to quit posting.