Temporary Hit Points - Stackable?

[the_mighty_agrippa]

Sorry if this is a repeat but do Temporary HPs stack if they are from different sources? I understand the difference between Temp & Extra HPs but need some clarification.

Say, I have an Amulet of Laeral's Tears ("Aid" spell pre-req) for 24 HPs and a False Life spell for 10 HPs. Do I have 34 temporary HPs?

Thanks!

 

[Ottergame]

Yes.

 

[Nail]

Effectively, yes.

And even if they did over-lap.....once the first is "used up", the second would come into play.

 

[andargor]

Effectively, yes.

And even if they did over-lap.....once the first is "used up", the second would come into play.

And thank goodness that the same spell doesn't even do that, otherwise Wands of False Life would reproduce at an alarming rate!

Andargor

 

[Hypersmurf]

From the 3E Main FAQ:

How is the body feeder weapon quality supposed to work?
Do the temporary hit points from the weapon stack? The
same question applies to mind feeder weapons and to spell
effects, such as vampiric touch.
Temporary hit points from a body feeder weapon stack with
each other, but not with temporary hit points from any other
source. Likewise, temporary psionic points from a mind feeder
weapon stack, but not with temporary psionic points from any
other source.
In general, any effect that allows you to gain temporary hit
points over time allows you to stack those points, but only
those points. For example, if you use the vampiric touch spell,
the temporary hit points you gain from that particular casting of
the spell stack. They don’t stack with the temporary hit points
you get from an aid spell, nor would the effects of two
vampiric touch or aid spells stack. If you were to use two body
feeder weapons (or two mind feeder weapons), you could not
stack the temporary points from the two weapons.

-Hyp.

 

[the_mighty_agrippa]

From the 3E Main FAQ:

In general, any effect that allows you to gain temporary hit
points over time allows you to stack those points, but only
those points. For example, if you use the vampiric touch spell,
the temporary hit points you gain from that particular casting of
the spell stack. They don’t stack with the temporary hit points
you get from an aid spell, nor would the effects of two
vampiric touch or aid spells stack. If you were to use two body
feeder weapons (or two mind feeder weapons), you could not
stack the temporary points from the two weapons.

-Hyp.

That's pretty nebulous wording, if you ask me.

In general, any effect that allows you to gain temporary hit
points over time allows you to stack those points, but only
those points.

But you can't use two Vampiric Touch spells? Nor can I find a method that gives you "temporary hit points over time" other than weapons.

That's pretty jicky, sounds like a circular argument. The Sage opened up more questions than he answered. How about "No" - that's a pretty clean response.

 

[Nail]

And thank goodness that the same spell doesn't even do that, otherwise Wands of False Life would reproduce at an alarming rate!

You'll have to explain that response to me; I've been hit with the stupid-stick too many times.

 

[Nail]

From the 3E Main FAQ:
Temporary hit points from a body feeder weapon stack with
each other, but not with temporary hit points from any other
source.

That's fine. The temporary hp don't have to stack. They can over-lap, and still have the same effect as stacking.

- 2 spells, each grant 5 temporary hp.
- Target takes damage.
- Subtract damage from first temp. hp. ....now that spell is gone.
- Now second spell kicks in, and damage is subtracted from that pool.

 

[Nail]

Just for giggles, here's the SRD on the spell False Life:

False Life
Necromancy
Level: Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 hour/level or until discharged; see text

You harness the power of unlife to grant yourself a limited ability to avoid death. While this spell is in effect, you gain temporary hit points equal to 1d10 +1 per caster level (maximum +10).

I'd be interested in answers to the question: Do multiple castings of this spell stack? (using 3.5e material, please.)

 

[Hypersmurf]

That's fine. The temporary hp don't have to stack. They can over-lap, and still have the same effect as stacking.

- 2 spells, each grant 5 temporary hp.
- Target takes damage.
- Subtract damage from first temp. hp. ....now that spell is gone.

That's not overlapping, though.

In this case, when the target takes damage, you'd subtract the same damage from both pools of temporary hit points. He gets hit for three points of damage? Both spells throw three temporary hit points at it to negate it. Both spells now have two temporary hit points left.

Otherwise they are stacking.

-Hyp.