Feat stacking

[samursus]

This has bothered me for awhile, so I am hoping for some input/insight from others to clarify:

According to the bonus stacking rules, you cannot stack bonuses of the same type; but even when untyped, to take into account the source.

So you have X Expertise giving you a Feat bonus to attack rolls with a weapon.

Then say you have a Feat that gives you a +1 bonus while charging.

Then, say you have a Feat that gives you a +1 bonus when the enemy is bloodied.

So, according to RAW, the bottom 2 feats are essentially useless, as they would never count as long as you are using your X weapon, as their bonus is the result of a Feat, therefore a Feat bonus not stacking with Expertise.

However, another way to look at it is that, the bonuses are situational and untyped (according to the feat description) and therefore should stack.

How do you handle this?

 

[Fifth Element]

If you have a feat that gives a "+1 bonus" in a particular situation, that's not a feat bonus. A feat bonus would be written as "+1 feat bonus". If it doesn't say "feat bonus" in the text, it's not a feat bonus.

A bonus granted by a feat is not necessarily a "feat bonus" for purposes of stacking. As I understand it.

 

[samursus]

If you have a feat that gives a "+1 bonus" in a particular situation, that's not a feat bonus. A feat bonus would be written as "+1 feat bonus". If it doesn't say "feat bonus" in the text, it's not a feat bonus.

A bonus granted by a feat is not necessarily a "feat bonus" for purposes of stacking. As I understand it.

I generally thought the same until I read this in the Compendium (emphasis mine):


"A number added to a die roll. If a bonus has a type (such as a power or a feat bonus), the bonus is not cumulative with bonuses of the same type; only the highest bonus applies. Bonuses that have no type are called untyped bonuses. Such bonuses are cumulative. However, untyped bonuses from the same named game element (such as a power or a feat) are not cumulative; only the highest applies."


What is not clear to me, is situational bonuses. Conceptually, I would think they can be stacked, but RAW they can't.

 

[captainspud]

Same-named game element = two copies of the same feat, or two copies of the same power. It doesn't mean "any two feats".

For example, take the Warding Defense feat:

Whenever you use the total defense action while wielding a shield, allies adjacent to you gain a +2 bonus to AC and Reflex until the start of your next turn or until they are no longer adjacent to you.

If two adjacent allies popped Total Defense and had that feat, you'd only get the benefit from one of them.

 

[mellack]

What they are referring to is that you can't stack bonuses from the EXACT SAME NAMED THING. Different feats will stack if they are not the same type (ie listed as a feat bonus) as long as they are from two different feats. For powers, you can get two untyped bonuses from different powers, but not the same one.
Example, You are fighting with your Warlord buddy. If he action points and does Lance of Faith twice, the +2 he gives you to hit would not stack because it is from the same named power. If instead he does Lance of Faith, and then Channel Divinity: Divine Fortune, those bonuses would stack.

Hope that helps.

 

[samursus]

Ohhhhh... I have been misinterpreting that part. Thanks guys!

 

[Colmarr]

Example, You are fighting with your Warlord buddy. If he action points and does Lance of Faith twice, the +2 he gives you to hit would not stack because it is from the same named power. If instead he does Lance of Faith, and then Channel Divinity: Divine Fortune, those bonuses would stack.

That's some deep paragon multiclassing

 

[mellack]

Heh, oops. Got my leaders mixed up. Well, the principle still stands.