AC bonus from cover - does it stack? [Archive] - Wizards Community

AC bonus from cover - does it stack? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Enaloindir
01-28-05, 09:46 AM Hello all,

A very simple question (I hope): does the AC bonus provided by cover stack? So, is there are three creatures standing right in front of each other, does the one standing in the back gets +8 AC or +4 AC?

I can't seem to find a rule saying they stack, but it would seem logical. On the other hand, this would be a pain for most archers, as they can't get a decent shot off if there are 2 or 3 creartures standing in the way... :confused:

Thanks in advance,
Enaloindir
Darazel
01-28-05, 09:59 AM No, in general they do not stack. The only AC-Bonus that stacks is dodge afaik. Normally you would get only the standard +4 AC if your standing behind 3 creatures.

Of course you (or your DM) may rule this differently, for example give you a +8 AC if you're a halfling behind a whole group of humans, or even total cover if youre standing behind a gelatinous cube. But this depents on the situation and on your DM. The rules say: Cover ist +4 AC (and can be scaled up or down by the DM).
ClementWillowbreaker
01-28-05, 10:01 AM While the normal rules don't mention soft cover stacking, at least not off the top of my head, there is an enchantment in the CW that allows missles to blow through a target and make another attack roll against creatures behind, each one granting an cummulative +4 AC. So it seems like that is the best policy to follow, when you are aimming several ranks deep into a formation.
ClementWillowbreaker
01-28-05, 10:03 AM And as for not stacking, there is no reason they shouldn't- its unnamed bonus, and it comes from different sources.
q'afuu
01-28-05, 11:32 AM If they all come from cover, even if it's not the same covering item or person, those are not 'different' sources. Two castings of the same spell are also 'same' sources.
Zherog
01-28-05, 11:50 AM And unless I'm misremembering, isn't "cover" a type of bonus, thus making it a named bonus?
Kyaran
01-28-05, 01:33 PM I think Cover was a bonus type in 3.0, but there aren't any places in the PHB that say "cover bonus to AC" anymore. The DMG also omits Cover from the list of bonus types on p.21.

There are five types of cover:
No cover: Stack as many +0 modifiers as you want.
Soft cover: It says creatures can give you the cover +4, but not the Reflex or Hide benefits, so we look to cover for stacking.
Cover: If any line meets A, B, or C you get cover (that +4). It makes no mention of getting cover x2 when you meet A and C.
More cover: The DM can decide to double the bonus from cover when there's a lot of cover that isn't quite total. This implies that the stacking is up to the DM to hand out.
Total cover: Obviously, nowhere to stack to.

My view: bonuses from cover do not stack, but the DM can decide to hand out extra bonuses in extreme circumstances.

As I recall, 3.0 had somewhere in the vicinity of 39 types of cover, each one gave a different bonus to AC, they all stacked based on the phase of the moon, and it generally required a graphing calculator to work out archery modifiers in large battles. :gah:
Keenath
01-28-05, 02:01 PM Well, your question is sort of to one side of the actual issue. Cover doesn't stack with itself, but the cover bonus you get is an aggrigate value, taking into account all the cover around. The DM just looks and says, "Hmm -- does he have cover, really good cover, or total cover?" ...and then he applies a cover bonus of 4 or 8, or says you're totally covered and can't be attacked.

Stacking isn't at issue, any more than there's a stacking issue when you have +3 armor. The +3 is all a single bonus, not three individual +1s that have to stack or not stack.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Enaloindir 01-28-05, 09:46 AM	Hello all, A very simple question (I hope): does the AC bonus provided by cover stack? So, is there are three creatures standing right in front of each other, does the one standing in the back gets +8 AC or +4 AC? I can't seem to find a rule saying they stack, but it would seem logical. On the other hand, this would be a pain for most archers, as they can't get a decent shot off if there are 2 or 3 creartures standing in the way... :confused: Thanks in advance, Enaloindir
Darazel 01-28-05, 09:59 AM	No, in general they do not stack. The only AC-Bonus that stacks is dodge afaik. Normally you would get only the standard +4 AC if your standing behind 3 creatures. Of course you (or your DM) may rule this differently, for example give you a +8 AC if you're a halfling behind a whole group of humans, or even total cover if youre standing behind a gelatinous cube. But this depents on the situation and on your DM. The rules say: Cover ist +4 AC (and can be scaled up or down by the DM).
ClementWillowbreaker 01-28-05, 10:01 AM	While the normal rules don't mention soft cover stacking, at least not off the top of my head, there is an enchantment in the CW that allows missles to blow through a target and make another attack roll against creatures behind, each one granting an cummulative +4 AC. So it seems like that is the best policy to follow, when you are aimming several ranks deep into a formation.
ClementWillowbreaker 01-28-05, 10:03 AM	And as for not stacking, there is no reason they shouldn't- its unnamed bonus, and it comes from different sources.
q'afuu 01-28-05, 11:32 AM	If they all come from cover, even if it's not the same covering item or person, those are not 'different' sources. Two castings of the same spell are also 'same' sources.
Zherog 01-28-05, 11:50 AM	And unless I'm misremembering, isn't "cover" a type of bonus, thus making it a named bonus?
Kyaran 01-28-05, 01:33 PM	I think Cover was a bonus type in 3.0, but there aren't any places in the PHB that say "cover bonus to AC" anymore. The DMG also omits Cover from the list of bonus types on p.21. There are five types of cover: No cover: Stack as many +0 modifiers as you want. Soft cover: It says creatures can give you the cover +4, but not the Reflex or Hide benefits, so we look to cover for stacking. Cover: If any line meets A, B, or C you get cover (that +4). It makes no mention of getting cover x2 when you meet A and C. More cover: The DM can decide to double the bonus from cover when there's a lot of cover that isn't quite total. This implies that the stacking is up to the DM to hand out. Total cover: Obviously, nowhere to stack to. My view: bonuses from cover do not stack, but the DM can decide to hand out extra bonuses in extreme circumstances. As I recall, 3.0 had somewhere in the vicinity of 39 types of cover, each one gave a different bonus to AC, they all stacked based on the phase of the moon, and it generally required a graphing calculator to work out archery modifiers in large battles. :gah:
Keenath 01-28-05, 02:01 PM	Well, your question is sort of to one side of the actual issue. Cover doesn't stack with itself, but the cover bonus you get is an aggrigate value, taking into account all the cover around. The DM just looks and says, "Hmm -- does he have cover, really good cover, or total cover?" ...and then he applies a cover bonus of 4 or 8, or says you're totally covered and can't be attacked. Stacking isn't at issue, any more than there's a stacking issue when you have +3 armor. The +3 is all a single bonus, not three individual +1s that have to stack or not stack.