I tried searching for this but it turned up nothing. I'm sure it's been asked before and I just couldn't find it. But it's a simple question really.
Say you have a racial ability or item or class ability or anything that gives a +3 resistance bonus against poison and you have a cloak of resistance that gives +4 to all saves.
Would these bonuses stack for a +7 resistance bonus against poisons since the poison resistance is a specific subsection of other saves?
Another example could be the same cloak but a +2 resistance bonus to mind-affecting effects? Would that be a net of +6 against mind-affecting?
If a barbarian rages and has a +6 morale to strength and also get a +2 morale to attack rolls (from whatever source) then he would have a net of +5 morale to attack rolls right ((+6/2)+2=+5)? Even though they're the same bonus type, they still stack due to the specificity of them right?
Assuming the barbian example is correct, I've seen it referenced many times so I hope it is... Does this not apply to the resistance bonuses too since they're bonuses to "different things" that both affect the roll kind of, like the barbarian's?
Edit: fixed typo
Nope, sorry. Specificity doesn't matter, only type. Two resistance saves never stack; you take whichever is best in a given situation.
However, the barbarian's +6 morale to Str gives him a +3 untyped bonus to attack rolls, which does stack with his +2 morale bonus to attack rolls. If the +6 morale was directly to attack rolls the two would not stack.
Same type doesn't stack, but if they are going to different things then they work.
So the barb example works.
Thing is, the resistance isn't different things. Getting a +5 against poisons is still going to the same fort save that is already getting a +2 from something else.
The biggest deciding factor is the exact type listed of the bonus.
So if you have a specific racial ability or item or ... that you're curious about we can help you decide.
some of the common ones off the top of my head.
Halfling saves bonus is racial, thus stacks with the resistance from cloak.
Half-orc with tatoo is luck, thus stacks.
Dwarf is racial typed, stacks.
Elves against enchantment is racial stacks.
Fighter's bravery is untyped so it stacks.
Clerics resistance bonus from protection domain is resistance, doesn't stack.
Protection from evil is resistance bonus, doesn't stack.
This makes more sense.
The way Fuzzy-Wuzzy put the barbarian's example makes a lot more sense as to why it would like that.
Thanks for clearing that up guys!
So assuming you keep your cloak up to date, most other resistance bonuses aren't very helpful
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Conversely, if you have a bunch of other resistance bonuses, getting a cloak is less effective, so you may want to spend the money on other things instead.