How to design 4th edition D&D to limit buffing

[ruleslawyer]

This has never really bothered me as a DM because it's a headache for the players, not me, to track buffs. That said. I'd love to see simplified buffing in D&D (it's one reason I like Iron Heroes so much). I think the easiest way to go is to just make everything one bonus type, per ashockney's suggestion. IMHO, there's no reason why all magic can't just confer, say, an enhancement bonus. That does have the effect of making magical armor and weapons interact with AC-buffing spells the same way that belts of giant strength, etc. interact with ability score buffs; however, I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Musrum]

A less radical approach might be:

In the core rules all named bonuses for all types are listed.
It is explained in a little "behind the curtains" box that this list is complete, and why.

Unnamed bonuses stack with nothing.

Any new bonus name is introduced at the start of a new source book (eg. Profane in BoVD), explaining how it expands the game and any special stacking rules (ie. Profane bonus does not stack with Sacred bonus).