Abilities stacking

[Zanniej]

So, I always thought that no matter the situation, you get the highest of all bonusses. Imagine my surprise when I saw that barbarian rage adds to items giving bonusses you already have equipped.

My question:
Is this the same with other abilities giving ability bonusses?
( Dwarven defender, Bear warrior, fist of the forrest, etc. )

[mrm3ntalist]

No, just Barbarian's rage. Everything else, including FBs Frenzy do not stack with bonuses from items or spells.

[Zanniej]

Ah right, thanks.
So no use in ending on odd if you're not going pure barb or anything? (adding +3 from items and barbarian rage after)
A bear warrior is better off ending on even stats? (for strength and con at least)

[DM Ditto]

Bonuses of different types stack. If they are of the same type, only the highest applies. (Exception: Dodge AC)

In your scenario, item stat bonuses (and, oddly, Frenzy) are considered an enhancement bonus, while Barbarian Rage is a morale bonus, which is why it can stack.

Since Barbarian Rage gives an even stat bonus no matter the tier, if you have a +3 stat item it may be fine to end on an odd stat score.

[Maecius]

What about the Bear Warrior rage bonuses that replace Barbarian rage? Do they stack with a) equipment ability bonuses and b) with spells (such as Bull's or Cat's)? I expect not, but it would be good to be sure.

What about the Bear Warrior rage bonuses that replace Barbarian rage? Do they stack with a) equipment ability bonuses and b) with spells (such as Bull's or Cat's)? I expect not, but it would be good to be sure.

No, I'm pushing to get this changed though.

[tfunke]

I have a question regarding stacking myself, hope you don't mind if I ask it here.

I realize universal saves do not stack (fort, reflex, will), but do the other saves stack? For example, saves vs fire +3 or save vs mind affecting +2? Do these saves stack?

If I have an item that gave me +2 reflex saves, and another item that gave me +2 saves vs fire and an enemy cast a evocation fire spell at me. Would my reflex save be +2, or would it be +4?

[illithid]

Pretty sure universal saves do stack, the only scenario in which it doesn't is rings which will not stack with each other, so 2x +2save rings wont stack but a +2save cloak and +2save ring will stack

I'm "guessing" that your specific save will also stack with base save bonus, but I don't "know" that

[mrm3ntalist]

I have a question regarding stacking myself, hope you don't mind if I ask it here.

I realize universal saves do not stack (fort, reflex, will), but do the other saves stack? For example, saves vs fire +3 or save vs mind affecting +2? Do these saves stack?

If I have an item that gave me +2 reflex saves, and another item that gave me +2 saves vs fire and an enemy cast a evocation fire spell at me. Would my reflex save be +2, or would it be +4?

As Ilithid already explained, universal saves ( any saves for that matter ) stack. Only saves from the same item type ( eg rings ) dont stack.

For the second part, even if the save bonus vs type ( +2 fire in your example ) is not shown on the character sheet, it gets applied to the DC calculation. Using your example, your saves against an evocation spell would be +4.

[Zanniej]

In that line, do energy resistances stack? Say, racial and class energy resistances?

[chad878262]

My understanding is Energy Resistance works like this:

Resistance x/- does not stack, it just takes the highest. So if you had racial resistance 5/-cold and then took cold as your FS resistance it would just be 10/- cold, not 15/-

The percentages DO stack, so if you had cold 20% on one item and 15% on another you would be at 35%. I believe in a few cases there are ways to get 100% resistance to fire, for instance.

[Karond]

Pretty sure universal saves do stack, the only scenario in which it doesn't is rings which will not stack with each other, so 2x +2save rings wont stack but a +2save cloak and +2save ring will stack

I'm "guessing" that your specific save will also stack with base save bonus, but I don't "know" that

Completely accurate. Also, do remember that there is a +20 cap from saves. Items, spells and spellcraft ranks count towards this cap. For example, imagine a character with:

Superior resistance (+6)
30 spellcraft (+6)
Greater Heroism (+4)
Bear's endurance (+2 to fortitude from CON)
Item with +3 saves vs death (fortitude save)

This individual will get +16 to will saves and reflex saves (superior resistance, spellcraft, greater heroism), +18 to fortitude spells and +20 vs death spells (and not 21, as one would believe).

Of special interest is that the warlock invocation "Dark one's own luck" counts towards the cap because it's a spell, but the divine grace or dark blessing from paladin and blackguard respectively does not count towards the cap. That's because feats doesn't count towards the cap.

EDITS: Spelling

[Karond]

My understanding is Energy Resistance works like this:

Resistance x/- does not stack, it just takes the highest. So if you had racial resistance 5/-cold and then took cold as your FS resistance it would just be 10/- cold, not 15/-

The percentages DO stack, so if you had cold 20% on one item and 15% on another you would be at 35%. I believe in a few cases there are ways to get 100% resistance to fire, for instance.

I think it would stack. Feats stack with each other, like how hellfire warlock's 10/- fire resistance stack with any fire resistance you pick from the warlock class. Or how Aasimar/Tiefling racial resistances stack with energy resist feats or indeed classes like warlock or FS.

What doesn't stack is items + feats, or spells + feats, or spells + items. Not even items + items or spells + spells stack, but feats + feats stack among energy resistances (like 5/- vs fire etc)

Partial immunities (10% vs fire etc.) always stack with each other. Be aware though that the engine can be a bit wonky. If you get 105% resistance, often the engine thinks you've -95% resistance instead so you'll take 95% more damage!

I should also note that partial immunities always stack with energy resistances. If you've 10/- vs fire and +20% vs fire, then suffer 100 fire damage you'll take 100-20% = 80 and then -10 from the resistance = 70 fire damage. The engine always deducts the partial immunity first.