Do synergy bonuses stack?

[Corran]

It seems that everyone assumes that synergy bonuses stack, but is this correct?

Just to be clear; what I mean is do synergy bonuses to a skill stack? For instance you can get a +2 to Diplomacy from Bluff, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) and Sense Motive for a total of +6 if they do indeed stack.

The magic chapter of the PHB says:

"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."

 

[Lorgrom]

Synergy is one of the bonus types that does stack on to itself. So in your example, you would have the +6.

 

[green slime]

Yes, they stack as long as they come from different sources. Your example is correct.

 

[Kylearan]

Just to be clear; what I mean is do synergy bonuses to a skill stack? For instance you can get a +2 to Diplomacy from Bluff, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) and Sense Motive for a total of +6 if they do indeed stack.

Well, as I read the rules, you don't get a synergy bonus to Diplomacy by having, say, 5 rank in Bluff. Instead, you get an unnamed +2 bonus due to synergy. Looking at your example, you get three unnamed +2 boni to Diplomacy for a total of +6.

Kylearan

 

[irdeggman]

There is no such thing in 3.5 as a synergy bonus. The wording was changed from 3.0.

Skill Synergy
It’s possible for a character to have two skills that work well together. In general, having 5 or more ranks in one skill gives the character a +2 bonus on skill checks with each of its synergistic skills, as noted in the skill description. In some cases, this bonus applies only to specific uses of the skill in question, and not to all checks. Some skills provide benefits on other checks made by a character, such as those checks required to use certain class features.

That is a major distinction. Since it is an "unnamed bonus" they will normally stack.

 

[Corran]

There is no such thing in 3.5 as a synergy bonus. The wording was changed from 3.0.

That is a major distinction. Since it is an "unnamed bonus" they will normally stack.

Thanks, I guess that's the definitive answer. It coming from different sources didn't ring true for me but this quote seals it.

 

[Li Shenron]

There is no such thing in 3.5 as a synergy bonus. The wording was changed from 3.0.



That is a major distinction. Since it is an "unnamed bonus" they will normally stack.

They stacked also in 3.0, although it required a specific mention.

 

[Thurbane]

According to the "official FAQ":

The text for synergy under the Diplomacy skill on page
72 of the Player’s Handbook states: “If you have 5 or more
ranks in Bluff, Knowledge (nobility and royalty), or Sense
Motive, you get a +2 bonus on Diplomacy checks.” I’m
assuming that means if a character has 5 ranks in Bluff,
Knowledge (nobility and royalty), and Sense Motive that
the character would receive only a +2 synergy bonus on
Diplomacy checks. Or would the character receive a +6
synergy bonus (+2 for each)?
The bonuses listed in the synergy section of a skill
description are unnamed and so they stack. (There’s no such
thing as a synergy bonus in the current edition of the D&D
game.) The character in your example would receive a +6
bonus on Diplomacy checks.

 

[Quartz]

And, of course, you only get the bonus if the synergy is relevant to the situation.

 

[Felix]

And, of course, you only get the bonus if the synergy is relevant to the situation.

Eh?

Would you mind going into further detail with this.