Bonus: Bonuses are numerical values that are added to
checks and statistical scores. Most bonuses have a type,
and as a general rule, bonuses of the same type are not
cumulative (do not “stack”)—only the greater bonus
granted applies.
Will someone give me an example of Bonus types that DO NOT stack? Do these include combat bonuses such +1 sword, +1 strength? I have always placed AD&D stacking bonuses so this is confusing. Thanks.
A +2 "enhancement bonus" does not stack with a +4 "enhancement bonus", but will stack with a +1 "morale bonus", or a +X "circumstance bonus" or "profane bonus" or "luck bonus" or "dodge bonus" etc etc.
Like two wolves said, bonuses of the same type dont stack. For instance, lets say you have a Masterwork Longsword.
"A masterwork weapon is a finely crafted version of a normal weapon. Wielding it provides a +1 enhancement bonus on attack rolls."
If you were to cast Magic Weapon on the sword, that provides a +1 enhancement bonus to attack and to damage rolls.
Since both are enhancement bonuses, the bonuses to attack would not stack, but the bonus to damage from magic weapon would be added.
If however you cast bless on yourself instead (or someone cast it on you), that grants a +1 MORALE bonus to attack rolls (and saving throws against fear). So in this case the 2 +1 bonuses would stack because they have different types for a total of +2 to attack rolls (in addition to things like base attack bonus and the stat used for the attack).
Bonus: Bonuses are numerical values that are added to
checks and statistical scores. Most bonuses have a type,
and as a general rule, bonuses of the same type are not
cumulative (do not “stack”)—only the greater bonus
granted applies.Will someone give me an example of Bonus types that DO NOT stack? Do these include combat bonuses such +1 sword, +1 strength? I have always placed AD&D stacking bonuses so this is confusing. Thanks.
All bonuses do not stack with bonuses of the same type unless otherwise stated. Generally only Dodge bonuses stack.
An example of bonuses not stacking: If you wear an Amulet of Natural Armor +2 it gives you an Enhancement bonus to your Natural Armor. The Spell Barkskin also grants a +2 Enhancement bonus to Natural Armor. Since both the Amulet and spell give the same type of bonus, they do not stack. SO your total bonus to NA is +2 if you have both the spell and the amulet OR just one or the other.An example of stacking: For AC you can have an Armor Bonus (from armor usually, but also bracers of Armor or Mage Armor Spell), Shield Bonus (shields usually), Dodge Bonus (Dodge Feat), Deflection Bonus (spell like shield or ring of protection), Dex bonus, and some untyped bonuses. So if I have leather Armor (+1), a buckler(+1), a ring of protection +1, and the Dodge Feat, my AC is 14 + Dex. If I put on Bracers of Armor +2, it grants an armor bonus so it doesn't stack with the leather armor. You take the highest bonus for each type so adding the Bracers only increases my AC to 15 instead of 16.
The only other place to worry about bonus types are in spells, it's in the spell description. So to spells that both give a divine bonus to AC do not stack, but a spell that gives a divine bonus will stack with an other type like an innate bonus or enhancement bonus
Another common example is with bonuses to your stats. Lets say you have an 18 strength. If you are wearing a +2 belt of giant strength, your effective strength is 20. However since the magic item gives an enhancement bonus, if you cast bulls strength on yourself, that grants a +4 enhancement bonus. This doesnt stack with the belt, so you count the higher bonus (from bulls strength) making your effective strenght 22 for the duration of the spell.
On the other hand, the spell enlarge person's bonus to strength is a size bonus. So it would stack with a strength magic item you were wearing.
Yeah, just re-read everyone else's post for this part of my post.
As for bonuses that DO stack with other bonuses of the same type (as I recall):
Dodge Bonuses (always stack)
Unnamed Bonuses (such as the bonus from both Skill Focus and Alertness, for example)
Circumstance Bonuses (as long as they do not derive from the same circumstance).
Someone amend my list if I'm off my rocker.
I thought the same enhancement from different sources did stack, like with a belt of giant strength and bull strength stacking.
With that in mind, would a belt of Giant stength and an Ioun stone of strength stack? they are both giving +2 to the strength but they are from different sources.
Two enhancement bonusses sadly do not stack. So there is no using str belt and bull strength. The same goes for the Ioun stone.