There seems to be a presumption among players that these stack.
They *shouldn't* (both are feat bonuses), but when I research this topic in archives I see the casual "oh, yeah, they stack" so often, that I wonder if it's been FAQ'd or errated somewhere?
(I ask because I'm mulling over a purchase of an alertness-granting ioun stone for my ranger who *has* skill focus (perception)!)
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They are untyped bonuses and thus stack. Just because they come from feats does not mean they are a "feat bonus" anymore than any bonus coming from a spell is a "spell bonus".
They are untyped bonuses and thus stack. Just because they come from feats does not mean they are a "feat bonus" anymore than any bonus coming from a spell is a "spell bonus".
This.
The confusion could come with how the "Trait bonus" is typed and therefore doesn't stack. However with how broad feats are (Encompassing multiple types of bonuses) it can be assumed that any untyped bonus is exactly that, untyped. Those should stack.
Fair enough.
Offhand, upon reflection, I can't actually think of any feat bonuses which are termed "feat bonuses" - perhaps it doesn't even exist as a bonus type? It seems the only restriction to feat bonuses, really, is common source (ie. Improved Initiative can't stack with itself, etc)?
Yep, but you can't take Improved Init twice anyways :)
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There seems to be a presumption among players that these stack.
They *shouldn't* (both are feat bonuses), but when I research this topic in archives I see the casual "oh, yeah, they stack" so often, that I wonder if it's been FAQ'd or errated somewhere?
(I ask because I'm mulling over a purchase of an alertness-granting ioun stone for my ranger who *has* skill focus (perception)!)
The only reason they wouldn't stack was if you considered them to come from the "same source," triggering that stacking limitation. I have always considered them to be untyped bonuses as far as RAW goes. I ALSO think they're conceptually different was far as "source" goes. Alertness is a natural aptitude, representing someone who is just more alert. Skill Focus (Perception) is about training yourself to analyze the details you do notice.
Fair enough.
Offhand, upon reflection, I can't actually think of any feat bonuses which are termed "feat bonuses" - perhaps it doesn't even exist as a bonus type? It seems the only restriction to feat bonuses, really, is common source (ie. Improved Initiative can't stack with itself, etc)?
Can't take a feat more than once unless it specifically states so. So you can't take Improved initiative more than once. Similarily taking Alertness and the Alertness Ioun stone do not stack since the stone grants the feat.
See "Bonus Types" in the Designing Spells section of UM on PRD: "Feat" is not a type of bonus.
The "feat bonus" limiter is that a feat does not stack with itself unless it says it does. The actual bonuses provided from a feat can be any type.