stacking bonus

[Simulacrum]

When you got the following:
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"If I have a +6 enhancement bonus to Str from a +6 belt of giant strength, and a +8 enhancement bonus to Str from a doubly-empowered bull's strength spell, the end result is still +8. That's what "like bonuses don't stack" means." -posted by a friend
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Isn't that wrong? It doesn't matter where you got a bonus from, when it's the same type it doesnt stack right?
Magical spells and Items or natural substances are not different when it comes to stacking the same bonus, that is limited to a certain number like enhancment +6?

 

[CRGreathouse]

I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to say.

Your friend is correct, though; both the belt of giant strength and bull's strength are enhancement bonuses, and thus don't stack. The end result is +8.

 

[Simulacrum]

no the funny thing is: you cant have any enhancement bonus that is higher than +6. And it doesnt matter how you try to overcome that cap. It just wont function.

That means:
1: bonuses just never stack.
2. Bonuses that have a cap cant be "Empowered" like Inherit bonuses and Enhancement.

 

[Thanee]

Enhancement bonuses (to attributes) are not limited to +6.

Magical items, that grant enhancement bonuses to attributes are limited to +6, unless they are epic.

Bye
Thanee

 

[James McMurray]

What Thanee said.

 

[Simulacrum]

yeah Epic, but thats something different, and it's highly optional.

 

[James McMurray]

Even so, the +6 cap only applies to items, not spells or other effects that grant enhancement bonuses to abilities. a +8 from a metamagicked Bull's Strength is fine.

Think of it this way: It doesn't say it isn't allowed. Also, if it wasn't allowed, it would be kind of silly to have spells like Tenser's Transformation (+2d4 enhancement to strength) or Curse of the Brute (plus level to strength).

 

[Simulacrum]

It's a good question for the FAQ. But I'm not convinced.
Some spells grant size or competen.
Curse of the brute...I don't beleive it's enhancement..at least it doesnt say so. Even if it did it would be limited to +6.
Tensers Trans. is oviously an exeption to make it even worth for spellcasters to use such a spell. Otherwise it would be far to weak. Still this one is in deed a bit strange as it allowes to jump over the cap without a real reason?
It would be much more *in line* if it would provide a fixed strength like 18 and call it *size bonus*
That one is tough, as *seems* to give you right.
Damn those holes in the system!! ;o)

 

[Thanee]

Tensers Trans. is oviously an exeption to make it even worth for spellcasters to use such a spell.
Otherwise it would be far to weak.
Still this one is in deed a bit strange as it allowes to jump over the cap without a real reason?

Yep, it also allows to break the BAB cap of 20!

Oh, you were speaking of the non-existant enhancement bonus cap?

BTW, even without the +2d4 to Str and Dex, the spell would be insanely good!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Kae'Yoss]

There's no limit to enhancement bonuses to ability scores. Period. But there is a limit to enhancement bonuses conferred by items: an Item cannot grant a bonus greater than +6 (at least not in the core rules: Epic Rules remove that cap, but the prices are far higher for such items!).

If you think that enhancement bonuses are limited, give me a reference in the SRD or in the Core Rulebooks, including Page #.

Not only tenser's would be useless with that cap (and it doesn't state that it's an exception!), there are other spells, like bite of the wearbear, and even class abilities that are beyond that. The Strength domain, for example, grants you an enhancement bonus to strength equal to your class level. That would be kinda weird if it stopped by +6!