Do Familiar bonuses stack with other stuff?

[Artoomis]

Is this an oversight in the rules? Surely the game designers didn't mean for a bonus that could stack with everything (except Dodge bonuses, but they go out of their way to talk about those). Is the familiar bonus supposed to be a particular kind, but was accidently left out? Is this "unnamed bonus" convention just a way to get around these problems? Surely that's not an actual rule! Anytime the type of bonus isn't listed, we are supposed assume that it stacks with everything?

It seems that a lot of people seem to know and accept all this, but somehow I find that very wrong...

Well, I look carefully at all "unnamed" bonuses to see if they look like they should have been named. In the case of familiars, I am certain they are unnamed intentionally.

It's pretty clear from my SRD quote that unnamed bonuses are an intentional part of the game. Personally, I think all bonuses should be named, but that's just me, and that's not the way the rules are.

 

[Marius Delphus]

If you're so inclined, you *could* call it an "arcane familiar" bonus. It won't stack with anything else that grants an "arcane familiar" bonus, but it *will* stack with the amulet's, or periapt's, or jock strap's, or whatever's enhancement bonus.

 

[AuraSeer]

Is this an oversight in the rules?

In a word, no.
The designers explicitly state that unnamed bonuses stack with everything. It's possible that some bonuses are unnamed by accident, but that's certainly not a common occurrence. (And if it does happen, that's what errata is for.)

 

[Ferret]

Re: Re: Do Familiar bonuses stack with other stuff?

So, get your amulet of health as it will help you.

He already has one, see where it says toad?

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Does your character actually wear an enchanted jockstrap?

That's okay... my NPC Seer always carries a shovel. He won't say why, though...