echantment bonuses - e.g. Headband of Intellect

[Friadoc]

Ok,

...a question has come up about enchantment bonuses, such as the one given by Headband of Intellect, or cat's grace, and other such sources.

The disagreement mainly stems from some who remember an official source which states that enchantment bonuses stack onto the modifier, not the ability, as the modifier from an ability is actually the 'bonus' from the ability and thusly all bonuses stack in the same area.

By this line of thought a Headband of Intellect +2 would give a player with an 18 Int a modifier of +6 (normally it is +4).

The other group of thought is that the Headband would add to the actual ability score, IE: the 18 Int is now a 20 Int. Since the write-ups seem to support this more then the previous idea.

The first group, those thing it adds to the modifier, are of thought that this was shown in an expert source, IE: Sage Advise, Author's site, Errata, as well as the thoughts/theory stated above.

Now that we've gone through our own brain trust, we felt it was time to check for more opinions then our own.

Any constructive help and statements will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[AuraSeer]

The bonus adds on to the ability score. If you have a natural Int 18, and you put on a Headband of Intellect +2, you now have Int 20. Your new ability score modifier is +5.

 

[kreynolds]

...a question has come up about enchantment bonuses, such as the one given by Headband of Intellect, or cat's grace, and other such sources.

<nitpick>Enhancement bonus.</nitpick>

The disagreement mainly stems from some who remember an official source which states that enchantment bonuses stack onto the modifier, not the ability, as the modifier from an ability is actually the 'bonus' from the ability and thusly all bonuses stack in the same area.

By this line of thought a Headband of Intellect +2 would give a player with an 18 Int a modifier of +6 (normally it is +4).

Incorrect (unless specifically stated otherwise, which I'm not aware has happened on purpose).

The other group of thought is that the Headband would add to the actual ability score, IE: the 18 Int is now a 20 Int. Since the write-ups seem to support this more then the previous idea.

Correct.

The first group, those thing it adds to the modifier, are of thought that this was shown in an expert source, IE: Sage Advise, Author's site, Errata, as well as the thoughts/theory stated above.

Never heard of it, though its certainly possibly that someone said that at some point. However, it doesn't make it right.

Any constructive help and statements will be greatly appreciated.

Gloves of Dexterity, page 217, DMG...

They add to the wearer's Dexterity score...

Headband of Intellect, page 218, DMG...

The headband adds to the wearer's Intelligence score...

Neither of these items state that they add to the wearer's ability modifier, and I'm not aware of any that do (though its possible that some item somewhere might say just that).

 

[hammymchamham]

Cat’s Grace
Transmutation
Level: Brd 2, Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: Will Negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes
The spell grants an enhancement bonus to Dexterity of 1d4+1 points.

Note it says to Dexterity, not Dexterity modifier. I'm not aware of anything that directly affects the modifier without affecting the primary ability.

 

[kreynolds]

I'm not aware of anything that directly affects the modifier without affecting the primary ability.

Except for 'house items' in my games, I'm not either.

 

[hammymchamham]

Except for 'house items' in my games, I'm not either.

Thanks Sea..... er, I mean kreynolds, nice having someone to support my guess on magic items.

 

[Magic Rub]

The bonus adds on to the ability score. If you have a natural Int 18, and you put on a Headband of Intellect +2, you now have Int 20. Your new ability score modifier is +5.

This is how it works indeed. See Kreynolds posts for page numbers & examples.



So that's a big "WHAT THEY ALL SAID" from me.

 

[melkoriii]

I have no idea where you got that infromation. I read the boards and keep up on all the rule change clerifications from the begining of 3ed.

I would think that you read that in a house rule some place as I dont read those.

It has always been that it adds to the ability score.

 

[Andion Isurand]

<sarcasm>

So if I take consitution damage to my constitution score, my hit points don't decrease because the damage wasn't dealt to my constitution modifier?

When a barbarian flies into a rage, he gets a bonus to his strength and consitution ability scores, but not the ability modifiers?

</sarcasm>

I would avoid house building any crunchy bits that would effect an ability modifier directly.

 

[hammymchamham]

I would avoid house building any crunchy bits that would effect an ability modifier directly.

As would I. I'd have to have a real good reason to do otherwise, and the throught of asking my DM for such a think has never crossed my mind