Abyssal Ghouls and Overlapping Auras

[Obryn]

Ok, so back when Auras weren't cumulative (except with a few exceptions), the Abyssal Ghoul aura was fairly straightforward. Anyone too close to one of the smelly undead takes a -2 to all defenses.

With overlapping auras per recent updates... Do these unnamed penalties stack now?

I'm looking at an encounter with 8 of these bad boys. While I love the idea of my AC35 Avenger getting knocked down to a 19 AC, I don't really think it's a great idea for a fun encounter.

-O

 

[keterys]

No.
1) The only change to auras was to damage from auras. You explicitly don't stack penalties.
2) Untyped effects from the same source explicitly don't stack anymore.

 

[Obryn]

I'm pretty sure untyped penalties do stack, same source or not. I know that bonuses don't.

Good to know that this is explicity spelled out for auras, though!

-O

 

[keterys]

So, two bards both using Vicious Mockery with Psychic Lock can put a creature to -8 attack? Hmm, maybe, I'll look into that.

But, the aura language:
"If auras overlap and impose penalties to the same roll or game statistic, a creature affected by the overlapping auras is subjected to the worst penalty; the penalties are not cumulative. For instance, if a creature is affected by three overlapping auras that each impose a -2 penalty to attack rolls, the creature takes a -2 penalty, not a -6 penalty."

 

[spayne]

I'm pretty sure untyped penalties do stack, same source or not. I know that bonuses don't.

PH1 page 275:
"Unlike bonuses, penalties don't have types. Penalties add together, unless they're from the same power."

Many people take this to mean same source, not just same power.

 

[keterys]

Thanks, spayne - so, Vicious Mockery wouldn't stack with Vicious Mockery, by my reading.