Bonus and Penalty stacking

[MerricB]

From the Glossary:

bonus: A positive modifier to a die roll. Modifiers with specific type descriptors (armor, enhancement, competence, etc.) generally do not stack with others of the same type. If more than one modifier of a type is present, only the best bonus or worst penalty in that grouping applies. Bonuses or penalties that do not have type descriptors generally stack with those that do.


If a character has a +4 morale bonus to attack rolls and a -2 morale penalty to attack rolls, does this mean:

* The character has a +4 morale bonus to attack rolls, with only the greatest (absolute) modifier applying?

* The character has a +2 morale bonus to attack rolls, with the greatest bonus and the greatest penalty being applied?

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If a character somehow was inflicted with a -4 Inherent penalty to Strength, what would be the effect of that with regard to other Inherent bonuses?

Could it be removed in any way?

Cheers!

 

[dcollins]

My reading's always been:

The character has a +2 morale bonus to attack rolls, with the greatest bonus and the greatest penalty being applied?

Inherent penalties would presumably work the same way. Removal presumably dependent on the method applied (I don't know if you have an existing example or not.)

Side note, the language you quote isn't under "bonus" in my PHB Glossary. It more resembles the "modifier" entry (PHB p. 279).

 

[MerricB]

It's from the revised, expanded version of the Glossary, available on Wizards' website:

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DND_PH_Glossary_Intro.asp

Cheers!

 

[orbitalfreak]

I would say use (greatest bonus) + (greatest penalty).

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Yes. You get the hightest bonus and the hightest penalty.