Do racial bonuses stack?

[moritheil]

Actually they don't stack.

A character can only have one race.

Nevertheless WOTC's web site states that racial bonuses stack.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Really?

Where does it specifically state that?

In the Magic Overview chapter:

Bonus Types
Usually, a bonus has a type that indicates how the spell grants the bonus. The important aspect of bonus types is that two bonuses of the same type don’t generally stack. With the exception of dodge bonuses, most circumstance bonuses, and racial bonuses, only the better bonus works (see Combining Magical Effects, below). The same principle applies to penalties—a character taking two or more penalties of the same type applies only the worst one.

A character can only have one race.

Perhaps, but he can gain racial bonuses from more than one source.

A dwarf gains a +2 racial bonus on Fortitude saves against poison. The Half-Celestial template grants a +4 racial bonus on Fortitude saves against poison. Since racial bonuses stack, per the Magic Overview, a Half-Celestial Dwarf gains +6 on Fortitude saves against poison.

-Hyp.

 

[irdeggman]

Interesting.

That conflicts with the DMG text on page 21 which should be the overruling text since it talks and describes the different bonus types while the section from the PHB information is in the Magic Overview Chapter, under the heading of "Special Spell effects" - even though dodge bonuses are never granted by spells or spell like effects.


It would appear that WotC has mixed up location of very important information and hidden this under "Special Magical Effects" and not where it belongs.

Does anyone know if the 2nd printing (i.e., colector's edition) of the DMG has "fixed" this?

 

[javcs]

even though dodge bonuses are never granted by spells or spell like effects.

Untrue! Haste grants a dodge bonus.

It would appear that WotC has mixed up location of very important information and hidden this under "Special Magical Effects" and not where it belongs.

That's typical, though.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Untrue! Haste grants a dodge bonus.

He can be forgiven for that one, though:

Dodge Bonus
A dodge bonus improves Armor Class (and sometimes Reflex saves) resulting from physical skill at avoiding blows and other ill effects. Dodge bonuses are never granted by spells or magic items. Any situation or effect (except wearing armor) that negates a character's Dexterity bonus also negates any dodge bonuses the character may have. Dodge bonuses stack with all other bonuses to AC, even other dodge bonuses. Dodge bonuses apply against touch attacks.

-Hyp.

 

[irdeggman]

Thanks Hyp - that is exactly what I was referring to.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Thanks Hyp - that is exactly what I was referring to.

But javcs is right - Haste (and therefore Boots of Speed) explicitly grants a +1 Dodge bonus to AC. So that's one spell and one magic item right there

-Hyp.

 

[javcs]

That's just ... saddening.

A standard spell and item directly in conflict with the description of the bonus they grant.
I'm not actually sure which text portion has precedence.

 

[Dross]

That's just ... saddening.

A standard spell and item directly in conflict with the description of the bonus they grant.
I'm not actually sure which text portion has precedence.

I'd go with the specific spell and item overrule the general comment that items and spells don't provide a dodge bonus.

It also allows for the writters and editors to have simply screwed up and still not make it that much of a problem.

 

[irdeggman]

I'd go with the specific spell and item overrule the general comment that items and spells don't provide a dodge bonus.

It also allows for the writters and editors to have simply screwed up and still not make it that much of a problem.

So would I.

It just is plain wonky that to "official" books don't jive on this point.

But it does make for an interesting issue - the only place it says that racial bonuses stack is the Magic Overview section, with the "specific spells and items" granting dodge bonuses (in contrast to the general rule) in seems to imply that the note on racial bonuses stacking was meant to apply to "magic". Hmmm interesting.

I think I would go with there being more than one error in play here and use the general note in the Magic Overview to apply to all cases in general - racial bonuses stack and (in general) spells and magic items don't provide dodge bonuses. Haste and the Boots of Speed being specific exceptions to this rule (specifics overrule general rules - IMO).