PH2 Question - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

PH2 Question

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
lolthworshiper
Aug 10, 2009 7:03:57 I just picked up a copy of the Players Handbook 2. I was reading through the book and everything looked great...until I got to the feats. I was lost wondering how they work. I mean, I know how they work, but...okay..for example:

The druid feats that have to do with his wild shape or beast form. Do those feats stack when he is in his wild form...or does he have to choose one to use? I was curious...they seem really focused on their wild shape and I figured that if they stacked...if would make for a really cool shapeshifter kind of class.

So i guess my question is...would these feat bonuses stack or do they choose one and only one to use with their wild shape?

Before you guys quote the players handbook...I read the section on using feats, but it just wasn't clear enough. I would like to know how you guys feel about them. The PH says that bonuses of like type can't stack...but what does it mean by type...does it mean that a beast form feat can't stack with a beast form feat...or a druid feat can't stack with another druid feat? Let me know. Thanks in advance for the help.
#2
nightson
Aug 10, 2009 7:14:29 They stack. What doesn't stack is bonuses of the same type. If you had a feat that gave say a +1 luck bonus to AC and another feat which gave a +2 luck bonus to AC, you'd only end up with +2 to AC because the bonuses wouldn't stack. (Note: Luck is not an actual type of bonus in 4e)
#3
ieattrollsforbreakfast
Aug 10, 2009 7:18:15 It means a feat bonus can't stack with a feat bonus. Untyped bonuses do stack, though.

The feats themselves can work fine in conjunction, there's no restriction on how many feats you can apply in a given situation, but their benefits might not stack if they grant the same type of bonus.

For example, you could take Enraged Boar Form and Ferocious Tiger Form, and in beast form you'd gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls and +2 to damage rolls with charge attacks, and a +2 bonus to damage rolls against enemies granting CA. If you charge an enemy that is granting you CA, the damage bonuses stack (since they're untyped), for a total +4 bonus.

As another example, the shifter feat Wild Senses grants a +3 feat bonus to initiative, and the Stalking Panther Form feat grants a +4 feat bonus to initiative. Since they're both feat bonuses, they don't stack and you only gain a +4 to your Init.
#4
professoroddpassion
Aug 10, 2009 11:27:34
(Note: Luck is not an actual type of bonus in 4e)

Thanks for that note, I'm pretty new to the game so I was like "what the hell? I've never seen a 'luck' bonus..."
#5
AbdulAlhazred
Aug 10, 2009 11:35:40 One point where 4e is a bit confusing is in how bonus types are determined. You would think that all feats grant feat bonuses for instance, but they don't. If some feat text says "+2 bonus to ..." it is untyped. It is only typed if it said something like "+2 feat bonus to ..." (and once in a while a feat even grants some other kind of bonus).

The truth is that while 4e rules make a big deal of bonus stacking, there aren't a huge number of typed bonuses. It is important, but generally things stack more often than not and the majority of feats grant untyped bonuses. You just have read the text for each one to know for sure.
#6
strand0
Aug 10, 2009 12:01:26
Thanks for that note, I'm pretty new to the game so I was like "what the hell? I've never seen a 'luck' bonus..."

It's a 3.x thing. It had type by a "way of getting a bounus", so luck, deflection, or whatever... and those didn't stack.
Don't worry about that.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 lolthworshiper Aug 10, 2009 7:03:57	I just picked up a copy of the Players Handbook 2. I was reading through the book and everything looked great...until I got to the feats. I was lost wondering how they work. I mean, I know how they work, but...okay..for example: The druid feats that have to do with his wild shape or beast form. Do those feats stack when he is in his wild form...or does he have to choose one to use? I was curious...they seem really focused on their wild shape and I figured that if they stacked...if would make for a really cool shapeshifter kind of class. So i guess my question is...would these feat bonuses stack or do they choose one and only one to use with their wild shape? Before you guys quote the players handbook...I read the section on using feats, but it just wasn't clear enough. I would like to know how you guys feel about them. The PH says that bonuses of like type can't stack...but what does it mean by type...does it mean that a beast form feat can't stack with a beast form feat...or a druid feat can't stack with another druid feat? Let me know. Thanks in advance for the help.
#2 nightson Aug 10, 2009 7:14:29	They stack. What doesn't stack is bonuses of the same type. If you had a feat that gave say a +1 luck bonus to AC and another feat which gave a +2 luck bonus to AC, you'd only end up with +2 to AC because the bonuses wouldn't stack. (Note: Luck is not an actual type of bonus in 4e)
#3 ieattrollsforbreakfast Aug 10, 2009 7:18:15	It means a feat bonus can't stack with a feat bonus. Untyped bonuses do stack, though. The feats themselves can work fine in conjunction, there's no restriction on how many feats you can apply in a given situation, but their benefits might not stack if they grant the same type of bonus. For example, you could take Enraged Boar Form and Ferocious Tiger Form, and in beast form you'd gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls and +2 to damage rolls with charge attacks, and a +2 bonus to damage rolls against enemies granting CA. If you charge an enemy that is granting you CA, the damage bonuses stack (since they're untyped), for a total +4 bonus. As another example, the shifter feat Wild Senses grants a +3 feat bonus to initiative, and the Stalking Panther Form feat grants a +4 feat bonus to initiative. Since they're both feat bonuses, they don't stack and you only gain a +4 to your Init.
#4 professoroddpassion Aug 10, 2009 11:27:34	(Note: Luck is not an actual type of bonus in 4e) Thanks for that note, I'm pretty new to the game so I was like "what the hell? I've never seen a 'luck' bonus..."
#5 AbdulAlhazred Aug 10, 2009 11:35:40	One point where 4e is a bit confusing is in how bonus types are determined. You would think that all feats grant feat bonuses for instance, but they don't. If some feat text says "+2 bonus to ..." it is untyped. It is only typed if it said something like "+2 feat bonus to ..." (and once in a while a feat even grants some other kind of bonus). The truth is that while 4e rules make a big deal of bonus stacking, there aren't a huge number of typed bonuses. It is important, but generally things stack more often than not and the majority of feats grant untyped bonuses. You just have read the text for each one to know for sure.
#6 strand0 Aug 10, 2009 12:01:26	Thanks for that note, I'm pretty new to the game so I was like "what the hell? I've never seen a 'luck' bonus..." It's a 3.x thing. It had type by a "way of getting a bounus", so luck, deflection, or whatever... and those didn't stack. Don't worry about that.