Bonus stacking. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bonus stacking. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
bigbythewise
07-25-07, 02:21 AM Although it's a fairly simple question, i found it not that quite certain.
It's about stacking of an armor or shield bonus with an enhancement bonus *but* from different sources.
Here is the example, let's say...

Vestment +5 (AC: 0, Enhancement: +5) and Bracers of Armor +8 (AC: 8)

or

Buckler +5 (AC: 1, Enhancement: +5) and Shield Spell (AC: 4)

So what do you say?
Neutronium_Dragon
07-25-07, 02:40 AM Essentially, they won't stack because an Enhancement bonus changes the bonus it's being applied to rather than being a separate bonus.

To use the Buckler as a quick example: The Enhancement bonus effectively increases its Shield bonus to AC by 5. Thus, the Buckler has a +6 Shield bonus to AC, and this overlaps with the +4 Shield bonus to AC from the spell rather than stacking.

The Magic Vestment is the same. Thanks to the Enhancement bonus to its Armor bonus, it has a +5 Armor bonus, and this will not stack with the +8 Armor bonus from the Bracers of Armor.

This is also why you can wear Full Plate +5 and a Heavy Shield +5 and have an AC 10 points better than regular Full Plate and a Heavy Shield - the Enhancement bonuses don't have stacking problems because they're not being applied to your AC - if they were, they wouldn't stack.
Kouk
07-25-07, 03:02 AM Enhancement bonuses on armor adds to their effective AC bonus rather than the user's armor class directly.

So a +5 vest would just be +5 armor, and a +8 Bracers of Armor would just be +8 armor. Armor bonuses don't stack, so only the +8 will be worth anything (though if someone targets a Dispel Magic on your bracers, you may be glad you actually had that vest).

Same with shields, shield bonuses don't stack so only the best is worth anything to you. The magic Buckler would be more useful in most situations, though the Shield spell works against incorporeal touch attacks where the buckler cannot, and the Shield spell also blocks Magic Missiles.
bigbythewise
07-25-07, 03:14 AM Thanks for clarification on this. I just thought that the enhancement bonus is separated as a +5 Shield enhancement and +5 Armor enhancement.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
bigbythewise 07-25-07, 02:21 AM	Although it's a fairly simple question, i found it not that quite certain. It's about stacking of an armor or shield bonus with an enhancement bonus but from different sources. Here is the example, let's say... Vestment +5 (AC: 0, Enhancement: +5) and Bracers of Armor +8 (AC: 8) or Buckler +5 (AC: 1, Enhancement: +5) and Shield Spell (AC: 4) So what do you say?
Neutronium_Dragon 07-25-07, 02:40 AM	Essentially, they won't stack because an Enhancement bonus changes the bonus it's being applied to rather than being a separate bonus. To use the Buckler as a quick example: The Enhancement bonus effectively increases its Shield bonus to AC by 5. Thus, the Buckler has a +6 Shield bonus to AC, and this overlaps with the +4 Shield bonus to AC from the spell rather than stacking. The Magic Vestment is the same. Thanks to the Enhancement bonus to its Armor bonus, it has a +5 Armor bonus, and this will not stack with the +8 Armor bonus from the Bracers of Armor. This is also why you can wear Full Plate +5 and a Heavy Shield +5 and have an AC 10 points better than regular Full Plate and a Heavy Shield - the Enhancement bonuses don't have stacking problems because they're not being applied to your AC - if they were, they wouldn't stack.
Kouk 07-25-07, 03:02 AM	Enhancement bonuses on armor adds to their effective AC bonus rather than the user's armor class directly. So a +5 vest would just be +5 armor, and a +8 Bracers of Armor would just be +8 armor. Armor bonuses don't stack, so only the +8 will be worth anything (though if someone targets a Dispel Magic on your bracers, you may be glad you actually had that vest). Same with shields, shield bonuses don't stack so only the best is worth anything to you. The magic Buckler would be more useful in most situations, though the Shield spell works against incorporeal touch attacks where the buckler cannot, and the Shield spell also blocks Magic Missiles.
bigbythewise 07-25-07, 03:14 AM	Thanks for clarification on this. I just thought that the enhancement bonus is separated as a +5 Shield enhancement and +5 Armor enhancement.