Ability Boosts, Inherent Bonuses, & Other Stat Boosts: What Stacks?

[AFGNCAAP]

Hello,

I apologize if this issue has already been addressed to death already, but I'm having a severe befuddle moment at the moment.

When it comes to any sort of (permanent) ability boosts, which effects stack & which don't? For example, can a character use a magic book that boosts a stat by +5 (such as the relevant tomes & manuals) if he/she has already placed a ability boost in the related ability (since inherent bonuses are limited to +5)? Is it feasible for a 20th level PC to have gained 10 points in an ability through ability boosts & through use of one of the magic books? (For example, could a 20th-level wizard have gained 10 points in Int from using a +5 tome of understanding and placing all 5 of his ability boosts in Int?)

I'm not concerned with stuff gained from magic equipment, since the boost gained from that is lost if the item is removed. However, I am curious about any sort of permanent gains, & what stuff does/doesn't stack.

I'd appreciate any info/links/insights/advice you can provide on the topic. Thanks!

 

[gtJormungand]

When it comes to any sort of (permanent) ability boosts, which effects stack & which don't? For example, can a character use a magic book that boosts a stat by +5 (such as the relevant tomes & manuals) if he/she has already placed a ability boost in the related ability (since inherent bonuses are limited to +5)? Is it feasible for a 20th level PC to have gained 10 points in an ability through ability boosts & through use of one of the magic books? (For example, could a 20th-level wizard have gained 10 points in Int from using a +5 tome of understanding and placing all 5 of his ability boosts in Int?)

This is perfectly acceptable. The ability increases gained from level advancement are NOT bonuses; they increase your actual stat. Therefore, the inherent bonuses can still be added on top of them. It is quite common to find 20th level PCs that have a stat that is permanently 10 points higher than their original 1st stat.

 

[Nightfall]

Yes those would stack. While one is an inherant bonus I don't believe the other is named. I could be wrong but I'm sure they do stack.

 

[Hypersmurf]

While one is an inherant bonus I don't believe the other is named.

As gtJormungand already said, level-ups aren't bonuses at all, named or unnamed; they're simply an increase.

-Hyp.

 

[Eltern]

How do wishes fall into that? Can you not up your stats through wishes if you've all done the +5 tome?

Eltern

 

[Hypersmurf]

How do wishes fall into that? Can you not up your stats through wishes if you've all done the +5 tome?

Definitely not.

A Wish gives a +1 inherent bonus. Two wishes cast in quick succession give a +2 inherent bonus. A +4 Tome gives a +4 inherent bonus.

Inherent bonuses do not stack. If I cast Wish to give myself a +1 inherent bonus to Dexterity, and then a month later cast Wish again to give myself a +1 inherent bonus to Dexterity, I don't have a +2 inherent bonus; I have two +1 inherent bonuses that don't stack.

If I read a +3 Tome and then read a +1 Tome, I have a +3 inherent bonus. The +3 and the +1 don't stack.

If I want a +5 inherent bonus, I either have to read a +5 Tome, or use 5 Wishes in immediate succession. I can't use a +4 Tome today and a Wish tomorrow.

-Hyp.

 

[Nightfall]

Alright HS, you're right. it's level increase, and even so still not named.

But Wishes ARE considered as you said, inherent bonuses and thus they don't stack.