Re: Re: Upcoming Changes – Enhancement bonus, stacking bonuses,

[Ornir Elunari]

Next topic: BONUSES and STACKING

This is a big topic. In stock TBAMUD a bonus is a bonus. There is no difference between a bonus from eq, a bonus from a spell or a bonus from a potion. Everything stacks. This can lead to some pretty crazy totals, especially when calculating hit and damage bonuses. We are converting to a more D&D style of bonus stacking by giving bonuses types! The rules are simple:

Different bonuses stack. Bonuses of the same type overlap, except for: Circumstance bonuses and unnamed bonuses.

Circumstance bonuses are things like weather conditions, terrain, etc. Unnamed bonuses are any bonus without a type – Most feats provide unnamed bonuses.

The following articles say it much better than I could, using the table top D&D game:

Does it stack? (parts 1-4)
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20040120a
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20040127a
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20040203a
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20040210a

Everything should be clear once you read those articles. In Luminari MUD of course we will assign some bonuses differently, that is the nature of conversion to a digital medium. This will ultimately have the effect of reducing overall character power, across the board, but also opening up more opportunities for unique and interesting builds. This also reduces the importance of having a full set of gear with stat bonuses. It helps immensely, of course, but will be by no means absolutely necessary.