Combat Advantage Stack?

[questing gm]

If a Rogue has CA for flanking an enemy and another character grants CA against the same target with a power (e.g., Parry and Riposte, Fighter Encounter 3, Martial Power), does the benefit of CA stack?

The +2 bonus of CA is an untyped bonus so RAW seems to support this but I'm checking here to see if I missed anything.

 

[Saeviomagy]

If a Rogue has CA for flanking an enemy and another character grants CA against the same target with a power (e.g., Parry and Riposte, Fighter Encounter 3, Martial Power), does the benefit of CA stack?

The +2 bonus of CA is an untyped bonus so RAW seems to support this but I'm checking here to see if I missed anything.

CA is binary. You either have CA or you don't. It's like being blinded, tripped or dead: you can't be double-blinded or double tripped or killed twice before you hit the ground.

 

[ZzarkLinux]

It's like being blinded, tripped or dead: you can't be double-blinded or double tripped or killed twice before you hit the ground.

Can't be double prone'd either. This situation has come up several times in our campaign with a Bard using some at-will that knocks prone on a miss.

 

[questing gm]

But aren't those conditions? Being prone, dazed, and blinded are situations which grants combat advantage.

So if a target is blind and prone, would he grant +2 respectively or just a total of +2?

 

[King Nate]

CA is binary. You either have CA or you don't.

This

 

[Holy Bovine]

But aren't those conditions? Being prone, dazed, and blinded are situations which grants combat advantage.

So if a target is blind and prone, would he grant +2 respectively or just a total of +2?

But the conditions grant attackers combat advantage along with other things. Blind and prone both grant combat advantage but since CA is an either/or situation (you have it or you don't) you only get the benefit (+2) once.

 

[Turtlejay]

This is one of the things that I both love and hate about 4e.

From a simulationist perspective:
- You are flanking, gain CA
- Target is blinded, gain CA
- Target is prone, gain CA
- You are granted CA

Shouldn't you have an easier time of hitting a prone, blind, surrounded, and distracted opponent? Realistically, yes you should.

From a gamist perspective, no you shouldn't. Allowing those things to stack is just begging for another aspect of the abuse we have seen with save penalties and other things that stack. Pretty soon a rogue with just flanking CA *isn't good enough*.

I know this question has been answered at least a couple times up thread, but I wanted to share my opinion. Thanks enworld!

Jay

 

[renau1g]

Sure - it should be easier to target the above person, but some of the tings don't work well in the game (i.e. blindness and ranged combat + minis... you are supposed to "guess" where the bad guys are, but unless the DM blindfolds the player, that won't happen

 

[abyssaldeath]

Sure - it should be easier to target the above person, but some of the tings don't work well in the game (i.e. blindness and ranged combat + minis... you are supposed to "guess" where the bad guys are, but unless the DM blindfolds the player, that won't happen

You only have to guess if the bad guys are being stealthy. Otherwise, you know exactly where they are.

 

[lukelightning]

Can't be double prone'd either. This situation has come up several times in our campaign with a Bard using some at-will that knocks prone on a miss.

I picture the bard flipping the already prone target like a pancake.