4E Preview

[Uller]

Is there no rule about the highest bonus being the one used? Pretty simple error if WoTSC didn't take that into consideration....it pretty much makes any character with an aura bonus a wee bit over powered especially if everything stacks....

[Kheros]

We just don't know yet, about the bonus'es and stacking.

However it would be my take on this, that they've done away with all the different bonus types and just have one type of bonus that never stacks.

Dunno if they do that, but thats the only thing I can see them doing in making the game less complex. Stacking bonuses was(is) one of the 3.x past-times in optimizing your character.

[GawainBS]

But that's just it: the file mentions at the beginning "bonuses don't stack, unless they're unnamed. Those stack."
I'm not saying that squeezing the half-elves together is entertaining or logical roleplaying (I wouldn't ever do it as a player, nor allow it as a DM), I'm merely pointing out that it is possible and very much legal.
Stacking never was a problem: you'd optimize your character by seeking abilities that worked well together. Ofcourse, stacking different types of bonuses can help. But generally, optimizing is more than high stats.

I always liked a simpler D&D, but I never liked a less detailed one. Going from AD&D to 3.0 was a huge leap in simplification (Some people will go ballistic at this, but be honest: Stat tables in AD&D lacked every sense of cohesion, not to mention the saves-system), but 4E seems to take the detail out of it. Example: No more reach in the opponents turn; stupid new attack roll thing.