Stacking is the concept where more than one instance of the same type of effect is cumulative, possibly up to a cap. The rules that determine when things stack are somewhat haphazard, with many exceptions. Some of these take into consideration the source of an effect, while most are based on the type of effect.
The major rule considering the source of effects involves spells. Spells do not stack with themselves, but might stack with different spells, with few exceptions (as noted in the individual spell articles). That is, multiple castings of the same spell — such as bull's strength — will provide only the largest bonus of each individual casting. However, different spells — such as owl's wisdom and owl's insight — usually stack if they provide a type of effect that normally stacks. This leads to a peculiarity with some feats that mimic spells, as those feats are typically their own spells as far as the game engine is concerned. (For example, the bull's strength spell and the bull's strength feat are technically different spells, so they stack.)
When the effects in question come from different spells or from non-spells, the determination of whether or not they stack often depends on the type of effect.
Examples of things that do stack:
- Ability score bonuses stack up to +12.
- Armor class bonuses of different types stack.
- Dodge bonuses to armor class stack up to +20.
- Saving throw bonuses stack up to +20.
- Skill bonuses stack up to +50.
- Damage immunity stacks.
- Attack bonuses caused by magic stack up to +20. This includes enhancement on weapons, the spells Aid, Prayer, Bless, Divine Power, Divine Favor, using Bard Song etc. When the attack score is exceeded, it appears on the character sheet to go beyond the +20 limit, but the combat log will show that it is not exceeding the magic attack limit of +20.
Examples of things that do not stack:
- Armor class bonuses of the same type, other than dodge, do not stack.
- Concealment does not stack.
- Damage reduction does not stack.
- Damage resistance does not stack (except for resistance from feats).
- Spell resistance does not stack.
Penalties follow the same rules, but are treated separately. That is, for things that do not stack, the largest bonus and the largest penalty apply. When there is a cap, the cap usually applies after the bonus and penalty are combined (or bonuses and penalties, if the thing in question stacks). For example, if a character with two +12 dodge armor class bonuses (stacking to +24, but capped at +20) acquires a -2 dodge penalty, the result will be no change in armor class (since +12 + 12 - 2 = +22, which then gets capped to +20).