As long as they're not the same kind of bonus, they stack. Two trait bonuses to the same thing won't stack, but a trait bonus and a racial bonus will. The text should tell you what kind of bonus each is. If it doesn't, it's an untyped bonus and stacks with everything.
As I don't know what racial trait you're talking about I'll just cite the general answer:
The important aspect of bonus types is that two bonuses of the same type don't generally stack. With the exception of dodge bonuses, most circumstance bonuses, and racial bonuses, only the better bonus of a given type works. Bonuses without a type always stack, unless they are from the same source.
Hope that helps.
If you are saying one trait bonus and one racial bonus then they stack.
If it is one trait bonus and one trait bonus that is only available to the gnome race, they do not stack.
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Yet again, the inability of rule-makers to use a fricking thesaurus trips everybody up.
Since we have a set of options you can add to your character called "traits", why don't we call the things that you automatically get as part of choose a race something else? How about "racial qualities"? Is that unambiguous?
So we have "standard racial qualities" and "alternate racial qualities," and we no longer confuse racial traits with race traits.
Yet again, the inability of rule-makers to use a fricking thesaurus trips everybody up.
Since we have a set of options you can add to your character called "traits", why don't we call the things that you automatically get as part of choose a race something else? How about "racial qualities"? Is that unambiguous?
So we have "standard racial qualities" and "alternate racial qualities," and we no longer confuse racial traits with race traits.
This is not the actual case in the above example. There are different types of traits... race, combat, regional, etc. Some Traits are also restricted to regions of birth or race. They are still traits that you get at first level or via the additional traits feat.
If you have a racial ability trait or alternate racial ability trait they give bonuses that are based upon size or race and they stack with everything. Such are Halfing Luck or Elven Keen Senses. They are not spelled out as a trait bonus. Yes the same word is used in the paragraph but not as a label for the type of bonus unless it is for the mini-feat that is a trait.
This is not the actual case in the above example.Yet again, the inability of rule-makers to use a fricking thesaurus trips everybody up.
Since we have a set of options you can add to your character called "traits", why don't we call the things that you automatically get as part of choose a race something else? How about "racial qualities"? Is that unambiguous?
So we have "standard racial qualities" and "alternate racial qualities," and we no longer confuse racial traits with race traits.
The OP used "Gnome Racial Trait" (meaning a "racial quality") when he was actually talking about a race trait (that is, a trait of the "race" type).
The next posters clearly thought he was talking about a "racial quality" because they talked about racial bonuses, which are typically bestowed by "racial qualities" but not by traits of the "race" type.
Hence, the confusion. In the game we have "racial traits" and "race traits". One of these should have a different name.
Ah. I thought you were implying that the lack of a thesaurus limited the build options and not just confusion related to talking or reading the rules. My bad. Here is a blast from the past to liven up a Tuesday as my payment for adding to the confusion. :)
The OP used "Gnome Racial Trait" (meaning a "racial quality") when he was actually talking about a race trait (that is, a trait of the "race" type).
Which are called a racial traits in the book he was referencing.
Although the traits presented below are broken into several different categories, all are considered gnome racial traits.
...
(Of course, a character of a different race could still select a gnome racial trait if she has the Adopted trait presented in the Pathfinder RPG Character Traits Web Enhancement.)
Good point, Grick. The confusion between actual traits, and what I'm now calling "racial qualities," extends to books using the exact same terms for both.
Yea, terms weren't quite ironed out then.
Trait bonuses don't stack with each other. However racial traits and traits aren't the same thing.
What about general vs. specific action bonuses?
In particular, I'm looking at the Bully and Dominator traits.
The first gives a flat +1 to Intimidate, and the other gives a +2 to all attempts to demoralize an opponent in combat using the Intimidate skill.
Would these stack, or no?
What about general vs. specific action bonuses?
In particular, I'm looking at the Bully and Dominator traits.
The first gives a flat +1 to Intimidate, and the other gives a +2 to all attempts to demoralize an opponent in combat using the Intimidate skill.
Would these stack, or no?
Are they both trait bonuses?
If so, then no.
What about general vs. specific action bonuses?
In particular, I'm looking at the Bully and Dominator traits.
The first gives a flat +1 to Intimidate, and the other gives a +2 to all attempts to demoralize an opponent in combat using the Intimidate skill.
Would these stack, or no?
Are they both trait bonuses?
If so, then no.
They are both trait bonuses, but specify different things that are getting the bonuses.
They are both trait bonuses, but specify different things that are getting the bonuses.
Right. So when one trait applies, you get that bonus. When both traits apply, you get the better bonus.
In this case, you get a +1 trait bonus on all Intimidate checks, but the trait bonus increases to a +2 trait bonus when the check is to demoralize.
They are both trait bonuses, but specify different things that are getting the bonuses.Right. So when one trait applies, you get that bonus. When both traits apply, you get the better bonus.
In this case, you get a +1 trait bonus on all Intimidate checks, but the trait bonus increases to a +2 trait bonus when the check is to demoralize.
Gotcha. Thanks for the clarification.