What's an example of a circumstance penalty?

[Stalker0]

I've heard of circumstance bonuses, but are there any instances of a "circumstance penalty" in the core rules?

For instance, would the -4 to attacks from being prone count as a circumstance penalty, ie the circumstance of being prone?

 

[Nail]

I've heard of circumstance bonuses, but are there any instances of a "circumstance penalty" in the core rules?

Slippery or rough ground?

 

[Nail]

Circumstance penalties in the PH 3.5e:

p. 64 "2. Give the skill user a –2 circumstance penalty to represent
conditions that hamper performance, such as being forced to use
improvised tools or having misleading information."

p. 68 Example Circumstances for Bluff (but it's unlcear if these are typed)

p. 70 "If improvised tools are used, the check is made with a –2
circumstance penalty."

p. 72 "Attempting a Disable Device check without a
set of thieves’ tools (page 130) carries a –2 circumstance penalty,
even if a simple tool is employed."

p.79 "Attempting an Open
Lock check without a set of thieves’ tools (page 130) imposes a –2
circumstance penalty on the check, even if a simple tool is
employed."

p.160 Two Weapon Fighting penalties are (arguably) circumstance penalties.


Enough?

 

[Stalker0]

p.160 Two Weapon Fighting penalties are (arguably) circumstance penalties.

This is mainly what I'm curious about. Would the penalties for fighting prone count as circumstance penalties? How about the -2 to AC from being stunned, etc.

 

[Nail]

Good question. The text says:

Depending on the situation, you may gain bonuses or take penalties
on your attack roll. Generally, any situational modifier created by
the attacker’s position or tactics applies to the attack roll, while any
situational modifier created by the defender’s position, state, or
tactics applies to the defender’s AC. Your DM judges what bonuses
and penalties apply, using Table 8–5: Attack Roll Modifiers and
Table 8–6: Armor Class Modifiers as guides.

Does "situational modifier" = "circumstance bonus or penalty"?

And: Does it matter? Circumstance modifiers stack with themselves, as long as they are not from the same source.

 

[lukelightning]

You're the DM's girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse/smizmar: +2 to all rolls.

 

[Nail]

You're the DM's girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse/smizmar: +2 to all rolls.

Sure.

Put is that a penalty?

=>

Spoiler

(One of my groups called this the "Dragon Rule". After all, in a playing group, who gets to play a dragon as a PC?)

<=

 

[Stalker0]

And: Does it matter? Circumstance modifiers stack with themselves, as long as they are not from the same source.

The reason I'm asking is I play in an Arcana Evolved Game, and there are some abilities that specifically negate circumstance penalties. AE uses the same basic mechanics as 3.5, and I can't find anything in their that highlights circumstance penalties any further...so I'm wondering if situational modifiers like prone count for this ability.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Penalties in 3.5 are supposed to be unnamed Some of them slipped through with names, though.

-Hyp.

 

[Stalker0]

Penalties in 3.5 are supposed to be unnamed Some of them slipped through with names, though.

-Hyp.

Was it different in 3.0? Many things in AE are based on 3.0, does anyone know if these things were circumstance penalties in 3.0?