Ability bonuses not stacking? (very minor spoilers)

[wneill]

Hey all.

I have a question about the way ability score bonuses from equipment are working... they don't seem to be stacking which is different from the original NWN.

For example (chapter 1), Boots of Hardiness +1 which add +1 to CONS and Zachan's Amulet which also adds +1 to CONS don't stack. If I equip 1 of them, my Cons goes from 14 to 15. If I equip both of them, my Cons does not go to 16, but stays at 15.

Another example is the silver shard that gives physical bonuses (+1 str among other things) not stacking with gauntlets of ironfist (+3 strength) in terms of adding strength. Instead of getting both bonuses, you seem to only get the larger bonus.

Can anyone provide me some information on this issue... is it intended, is it a bug? I looked briefly on the official forums, but didn't see anything about this.

Thanks for any information you can offer.

[Magrus]

It is intended to be that way. There are various types of bonuses. For example, with AC or Armor Class. You have Armor, Shield, Deflection, Natural, Dodge and Insight bonuses to AC. The ONLY kind of AC bonus that stacks with itself is the Dodge bonus. They 6 different kinds will all add up together to form one grand total. However, you cannot have two different items that provide a Deflection bonus and have them both stack.

Same for attribute bonuses. All of the items you are listing are an Enhancement Bonus to your attributes. Enhancement Bonuses do NOT stack. So if you have gloves that give +2 Strength, and cast Bulls Strength on your character, they shouldn't stack at all.

[wneill]

Ah, thanks for the response. I understood about AC cause that works in the same manner as it did in NWN1. But these enhancement bonuses are working differently now if I recall correctly. You used to be able to stack Bull's strength on top of multiple pieces of +Str equipment.

Thanks for clarifying this. I didn't know that it was intended.