Do multiple armor magical abilities stack?

[Mr. Shiny]

We're toying around with a high(er) power level, and there are several questions that we've never had to deal with before. This one is still puzzling us:

One character has equipped both magical Bracers of Armor (+7) and Magic Armor (+5 light).

I understand that the armor bonus itself doesn't stack, so the maximum AC bonus is +7.

But would the character be able to still benefit from the magical special abilities of the armor, even if they're not getting any AC boost? For example would Fortification armor still provide the 'miss chance' against critical hits?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Cheapy]

Edit: I was wrong. Due to special language of Bracers of Armor, they don't work:

Bracers of armor wrote:

Bracers of armor and ordinary armor do not stack. If a creature receives a larger armor bonus from another source, the bracers of armor cease functioning and do not grant their armor bonus or their armor special abilities. If the bracers of armor grant a larger armor bonus, the other source of armor ceases functioning.

This is specific to Bracers of Armor however, and other sources of armor bonuses are not bound by this.

[Buri]

Correct, the numerical AC bonus would not stack since bonuses of the same type do not stack but you still get other benefits of the spell effects.

[Mr. Shiny]

That's what I was thinking - I just wasn't sure if I was overlooking something.

Our group rarely gets past early/lower levels, so this is the first time a lot of these issues have ever needed to be addressed!

Thanks for the speedy replies everyone!

[LazarX]

No, the armor that's being superseded means that none of it's properties function, whether it's the bracers or the "standard " armor. This was to prevent people from getting pass the cap of armor effects by creating +1 Bracers of Fortification to wear with +5+/+5 Mithral Plate.

[Buri]

Care to give a quotation, LazarX? The only sections that come to mind are the ones about bonuses of the same type not stacking and the ones about multiple bonuses from the same item don't stack but if each piece gives multiple effects and not just numerical bonuses you still gain each, distinct effect.

[Khrysaor]

Pretty sure its in there somewhere that if you don't get the main effect of a suit of armor you don't get the other bonuses that come with it.

ie. Bracers of Armor AC7(any other bonuses) + Breastplate+1 ghost touch/fortified/anything else you want

You pick one or the other. This was brought up when someone else wanted to do Armor + bonuses then buy bracers AC1 and stack bonuses which was ruled that if you don't get the main bonus of the bracers being the armor bonus then you don't get any of the bonuses. It should work both ways if you chose the bracers over the armor if the armor bonuses were the same. If one provided more than the other it trumps the piece with less AC bonus.

EDIT: ninja'd by LazarX

[mplindustries]

From the PRD:

"Alternatively, bracers of armor can be enchanted with armor special abilities. See Table: Armor Special Qualities for a list of abilities. Special abilities usually count as additional bonuses for determining the market value of an item, but do not improve AC. Bracers of armor cannot have a modified bonus (armor bonus plus armor special ability bonus equivalents) higher than +8. Bracers of armor must have at least a +1 armor bonus to grant an armor special ability. Bracers of armor cannot have any armor special abilities that add a flat gp amount to their cost. Bracers of armor and ordinary armor do not stack. If a creature receives a larger armor bonus from another source, the bracers of armor cease functioning and do not grant their armor bonus or their armor special abilities. If the bracers of armor grant a larger armor bonus, the other source of armor ceases functioning.

[concerro]

Darn I was ninja'd. :)

[Buri]

Ah, good to know! :)

[Cheapy]

That really screws armors like mistmail.

[Khrysaor]

Cheapy wrote:

That really screws armors like mistmail.

Elaboration please. I thought mistmail reformed at your feet if you donned another suit. That being in the fog form anyway.