Does Titan Fighting stack with racial dodge?

[Legildur]

The Titan Fighting feat (Races of Stone p 145) provides the following benefit:

When you designate a creature at least one size category larger than you as the target of your Dodge feat, you can apply your racial dodge bonus to Armor Class against monsters of the giant type against attacks from that opponent (regardless of its creature type) instead of the +1 bonus granted by the Dodge feat.

What happens to your Armor Class if you are attacked by a creature of the giant type? Do you get to claim the bonus twice?

I'm building a gnome paladin tank with the Goad feat to soak up attacks.

 

[RithTheAwakener]

Id say so, because ones using your initial racial bonus and this one is replacing your Dodge feat bonus with another instance of your racial bonus.

 

[Cold-Comfort]

Doesn't say anywhere you get to apply any sort of bonus twice - just that there's a few cases where you can apply your racial bonus to AC vs. giants instead of a plan Dodge bonus.

Whether or not you get the bonus twice, named bonuses of the same type do not stack. When fighting giants, you're better off not using this feat, and keeping your bog standard Dodge bonus; at least it'd stack with the racial bonus you're getting anyway.

'Course, you can debate endlessly over whether a "racial dodge" bonus is a racial (nonstacking) or a dodge (stacking) bonus. I'm assuming it's the former, here; it doesn't smell like any kind of plain dodge bonus, at least.

 

[chaosoverfiend]

Doesn't say anywhere you get to apply any sort of bonus twice - just that there's a few cases where you can apply your racial bonus to AC vs. giants instead of a plan Dodge bonus.

Whether or not you get the bonus twice, named bonuses of the same type do not stack. When fighting giants, you're better off not using this feat, and keeping your bog standard Dodge bonus; at least it'd stack with the racial bonus you're getting anyway.

'Course, you can debate endlessly over whether a "racial dodge" bonus is a racial (nonstacking) or a dodge (stacking) bonus. I'm assuming it's the former, here; it doesn't smell like any kind of plain dodge bonus, at least.

i would have said its more of a "racial" dodge bonus. it just states the origin of the bonus.

the SRD says a dwarf gets a racial +4 dodge bonus to ac.

my vote. they stack

 

[Thanee]

Doesn't stack. Even if you can apply them both, they are the same bonus type then (racial).

And I also think, that it is meant to use the very same bonus, not just another bonus that is like it. You are only allowed to use it against other foes, what you normally cannot do, but you lose your normal +1 dodge bonus from the feat if you do.

Bye
Thanee

 

[glass]

I have a different approach to this question. There is not, in my mind, any stacking issue.

You have a bonus which applies in some circumstances (fighting giants). The feat allows it to apply in certain other cirumstances (larger dodge oppenent). You still only have one bonus, so there is nothing for it to stack with.


glass.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Whether or not you get the bonus twice, named bonuses of the same type do not stack.

The exception is Dodge bonuses.

Dodge bonuses always stack with everything.

This should stack.
Honestly, a feat that gives you the use of your racial ability is less than useless. It's a sucker's trap into loss of power.

 

[Legildur]

Honestly, a feat that gives you the use of your racial ability is less than useless. It's a sucker's trap into loss of power.

You could be right. And I'll get to test its value in a week or so in a shot shot gaming night. Against a medium-sized or larger opponent, my 4th level gnome Ftr1/Pal3 will have an AC 29 (+9 full-plate +1, +4 tower shield, +1 dex, +1 size, +4 Titan Fighting) with Touch AC 16 and Flat-footed AC 24. With the Goad feat, any intelligent (Int 3+) opponent I'm within reach of and I can target (with a move action) will need to make a Will save DC 16 or be forced to only make melee attacks against me. Sure, not everyone's idea of a dream character, but should be fun to sit there and watch the DM be forced to miss all night.

 

[pawsplay]

The rules don't make any exclusions on what kinds of dodge bonus stack, if that is somehow an issue. Which I don't think it is... a dodge bonus from racial traits is still a dodge bonus. There are many times "racial" is used without referring to a bonus type: racial abilities, racial features, racial substitution levels, racial prestige classes, racial paragon classes, and so forth. I think "racial" in this case refers to a trait of your race, not a particular kind of bonus.

Buf if it were a racial, dodge bonus, it would still stack. A donkey dodge bonus would stack, because dodge bonuses stack.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Doesn't stack. Even if you can apply them both, they are the same bonus type then (racial).

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.

Racial bonuses stack.

However:

And I also think, that it is meant to use the very same bonus, not just another bonus that is like it. You are only allowed to use it against other foes, what you normally cannot do, but you lose your normal +1 dodge bonus from the feat if you do.

I get the same read on this. You're not adding a bonus equal to your racial dodge bonus; you're simply applying your racial dodge bonus. If you're already applying your racial dodge bonus, this ability is of no benefit (and is, in fact, to your detriment).

-Hyp.