Do skill synergies stack?

[IndyPendant]

Quick question. Title says it all.

For example. Would a person with 5 ranks each in Bluff, Knowledge: Nobility, and Sense Motive have a total +6 bonus to Diplomacy? Or just a single +2?

 

[SteelDraco]

Huh. Interesting question. I've always assumed they did, but never really thought about it before. It's a named bonus ('synergy' is a bonus type, after all), so unless there's text about synergy bonuses stacking with themselves somewhere, they technically shouldn't.

That's curious.

 

[Jhulae]

Yes. Skill synergies are unnamed bonuses. Unnamed bonuses stack.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Quick question. Title says it all.

For example. Would a person with 5 ranks each in Bluff, Knowledge: Nobility, and Sense Motive have a total +6 bonus to Diplomacy? Or just a single +2?

+6. Skill Synergy in 3.5 provides an unnamed bonus.

In 3E, it provided a synergy bonus... but synergy bonuses explicitly stacked, so it had the same effect.

-Hyp.

 

[Jhulae]

Huh. Interesting question. I've always assumed they did, but never really thought about it before. It's a named bonus ('synergy' is a bonus type, after all), so unless there's text about synergy bonuses stacking with themselves somewhere, they technically shouldn't.

That's curious.

In 3.5, it's not a Synergy bonus. It's an unnamed bonus.

Skill Synergy

It’s possible for a character to have two skills that work well together. In general, having 5 or more ranks in one skill gives the character a +2 bonus on skill checks with each of its synergistic skills, as noted in the skill description. In some cases, this bonus applies only to specific uses of the skill in question, and not to all checks. Some skills provide benefits on other checks made by a character, such as those checks required to use certain class features.

 

[IndyPendant]

Ah okay, thanks. That's pretty darned clear all right.

Related skill-stacking question: If I made clothing out of Glamerweave, and then enchanted it with Diplomacy +1, would I gain a +2 bonus to Diplomacy? : )

Edit: I think I found the answer. Glamerweave gives a Circumstance bonus, and the enchantment gives a competence bonus. Hence, stacking.

 

[Jdvn1]

Wow, I've seen people discuss this for pages on end, and no one ever quoted that SRD bit (granted, I've only seen a couple threads that discuss it, but). Thanks Jhulae!