Does Synergy Stack [Archive] - Wizards Community

Does Synergy Stack [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DeciusNero
03-03-08, 07:46 PM I know that certain bonuses do not stack (enhancement, luck, circumstance, morale...), but does this count towards synergy bonuses? I.e., 5+ ranks in Bluff gives one a +2 bonus on Diplomacy (among others), as does 5+ ranks in Sense Motive. Would this be a net total of +4 synergy, or is it just a +2 bonus, regardless?
dman11235
03-03-08, 09:01 PM Well, is there any reason for it not to stack? No, they ar untyped bonuses from different sources.
Shaggy_Shaggs
03-03-08, 09:05 PM Skill synergy provides untyped bonuses. Untyped bonuses always stack.
Beckettvampire
03-04-08, 09:16 AM Actually, Skill Synergies give Synergy Bonuses. There is no true answer, however, in the Epic Level Handbook, there is a suggested rule that you get additional for all skill synergies you have ranks. Something like a additional +2 Synergy for every 10 ranks you have above 20 ranks, which indicated that the do, or the rule is completely useless.
DeciusNero
03-04-08, 09:28 AM So it is however the DM can interpret? Ok then.
dman11235
03-04-08, 09:55 AM Where does it say that it grants a synergy bonus? I must have missed that. I believe it only says that synergy grants a bonus, not a synergy bonus.
steventirey1985
03-04-08, 11:24 AM Actually, Skill Synergies give Synergy Bonuses.

Not in 3.5. It is an untyped bonus, so it stacks.

3.0, which is what the Epic Level Handbook is, had them as Synergy Bonuses, but that was dropped with the update.

And from the FAQ:
The text for synergy under the Diplomacy skill on page 72 of the Player’s Handbook states: “If you have 5 or more ranks in Bluff, Knowledge (nobility and royalty), or Sense Motive, you get a +2 bonus on Diplomacy checks.” I’m assuming that means if a character has 5 ranks in Bluff, Knowledge (nobility and royalty), and Sense Motive that the character would receive only a +2 synergy bonus on Diplomacy checks. Or would the character receive a +6 synergy bonus (+2 for each)?
The bonuses listed in the synergy section of a skill description are unnamed and so they stack. (There’s no such thing as a synergy bonus in the current edition of the D&D game.) The character in your example would receive a +6 bonus on Diplomacy checks.
Beckettvampire
03-04-08, 11:31 AM Recheck, I think DMG2 and Epic Level Handbook. Does it really matter?
Shaggy_Shaggs
03-04-08, 11:35 AM Given that it's incorrect and can have significant effects on a character's performance, it matters a lot.
Cifer
03-04-08, 04:13 PM As has been said, while the things are called synergy bonuses coloquially, the descriptions say

If you have 5 or more ranks in Bluff, you get a +2 bonus on Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Sleight of Hand checks, as well as on Disguise checks made when you know you’re being observed and you try to act in character.
Notice the lack of a descriptive between the +2 and the word bonus, meaning it's indeed an untyped bonus that will stack with the others.
groveborn
03-04-08, 07:56 PM Synergy is not a type of bonus as defined by the DMG. Except in certain splat books, all the bonus types are listed by the DMG.
dman11235
03-04-08, 10:14 PM Well, theoretically, you could have a Steveisawesome bonus, but that's just because you can make new types.
Zog_Jakome
03-04-08, 10:33 PM yes, there is no such thing as a synergy bonus. as on page 21 of DMG the following bonus types are...

Amchemical
armor
circumstance
competance
deflection
dodge
enhancement
inherent
insight
luck
morale
natural armor
profane
racia;
resistance
sacred
shield
size

notice no synergy bonus type

synergy bonuses is just a term we have given to the act of getting a +2 bonus for having 5 or more ranks in another skill
CryoSilver
03-05-08, 01:15 AM Well, theoretically, you could have a Steveisawesome bonus, but that's just because you can make new types.

Steve is never awesome. Steve is the exact OPPOSITE of awesome.
Eerongal
03-05-08, 05:17 PM Well, theoretically, you could have a Steveisawesome bonus, but that's just because you can make new types.

i want a steveisawesome bonus :(

yeah, im pretty sure 3.0 had a synergy bonus, but it was removed in the 3.5 conversion.

Also notice that in the description of synergies it is indeed untyped.

Skill Synergy
It’s possible for a character to have two skills that work well together. In general, having 5 or more ranks in one skill gives the character a +2 bonus on skill checks with each of its synergistic skills, as noted in the skill description. In some cases, this bonus applies only to specific uses of the skill in question, and not to all checks. Some skills provide benefits on other checks made by a character, such as those checks required to use certain class features.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DeciusNero 03-03-08, 07:46 PM	I know that certain bonuses do not stack (enhancement, luck, circumstance, morale...), but does this count towards synergy bonuses? I.e., 5+ ranks in Bluff gives one a +2 bonus on Diplomacy (among others), as does 5+ ranks in Sense Motive. Would this be a net total of +4 synergy, or is it just a +2 bonus, regardless?
dman11235 03-03-08, 09:01 PM	Well, is there any reason for it not to stack? No, they ar untyped bonuses from different sources.
Shaggy_Shaggs 03-03-08, 09:05 PM	Skill synergy provides untyped bonuses. Untyped bonuses always stack.
Beckettvampire 03-04-08, 09:16 AM	Actually, Skill Synergies give Synergy Bonuses. There is no true answer, however, in the Epic Level Handbook, there is a suggested rule that you get additional for all skill synergies you have ranks. Something like a additional +2 Synergy for every 10 ranks you have above 20 ranks, which indicated that the do, or the rule is completely useless.
DeciusNero 03-04-08, 09:28 AM	So it is however the DM can interpret? Ok then.
dman11235 03-04-08, 09:55 AM	Where does it say that it grants a synergy bonus? I must have missed that. I believe it only says that synergy grants a bonus, not a synergy bonus.
steventirey1985 03-04-08, 11:24 AM	Actually, Skill Synergies give Synergy Bonuses. Not in 3.5. It is an untyped bonus, so it stacks. 3.0, which is what the Epic Level Handbook is, had them as Synergy Bonuses, but that was dropped with the update. And from the FAQ: The text for synergy under the Diplomacy skill on page 72 of the Player’s Handbook states: “If you have 5 or more ranks in Bluff, Knowledge (nobility and royalty), or Sense Motive, you get a +2 bonus on Diplomacy checks.” I’m assuming that means if a character has 5 ranks in Bluff, Knowledge (nobility and royalty), and Sense Motive that the character would receive only a +2 synergy bonus on Diplomacy checks. Or would the character receive a +6 synergy bonus (+2 for each)? The bonuses listed in the synergy section of a skill description are unnamed and so they stack. (There’s no such thing as a synergy bonus in the current edition of the D&D game.) The character in your example would receive a +6 bonus on Diplomacy checks.
Beckettvampire 03-04-08, 11:31 AM	Recheck, I think DMG2 and Epic Level Handbook. Does it really matter?
Shaggy_Shaggs 03-04-08, 11:35 AM	Given that it's incorrect and can have significant effects on a character's performance, it matters a lot.
Cifer 03-04-08, 04:13 PM	As has been said, while the things are called synergy bonuses coloquially, the descriptions say If you have 5 or more ranks in Bluff, you get a +2 bonus on Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Sleight of Hand checks, as well as on Disguise checks made when you know you’re being observed and you try to act in character. Notice the lack of a descriptive between the +2 and the word bonus, meaning it's indeed an untyped bonus that will stack with the others.
groveborn 03-04-08, 07:56 PM	Synergy is not a type of bonus as defined by the DMG. Except in certain splat books, all the bonus types are listed by the DMG.
dman11235 03-04-08, 10:14 PM	Well, theoretically, you could have a Steveisawesome bonus, but that's just because you can make new types.
Zog_Jakome 03-04-08, 10:33 PM	yes, there is no such thing as a synergy bonus. as on page 21 of DMG the following bonus types are... Amchemical armor circumstance competance deflection dodge enhancement inherent insight luck morale natural armor profane racia; resistance sacred shield size notice no synergy bonus type synergy bonuses is just a term we have given to the act of getting a +2 bonus for having 5 or more ranks in another skill
CryoSilver 03-05-08, 01:15 AM	Well, theoretically, you could have a Steveisawesome bonus, but that's just because you can make new types. Steve is never awesome. Steve is the exact OPPOSITE of awesome.
Eerongal 03-05-08, 05:17 PM	Well, theoretically, you could have a Steveisawesome bonus, but that's just because you can make new types. i want a steveisawesome bonus :( yeah, im pretty sure 3.0 had a synergy bonus, but it was removed in the 3.5 conversion. Also notice that in the description of synergies it is indeed untyped. Skill Synergy It’s possible for a character to have two skills that work well together. In general, having 5 or more ranks in one skill gives the character a +2 bonus on skill checks with each of its synergistic skills, as noted in the skill description. In some cases, this bonus applies only to specific uses of the skill in question, and not to all checks. Some skills provide benefits on other checks made by a character, such as those checks required to use certain class features.