In the "Unarmed Questions" Discussion, I noticed a lot of overlap with Fighting Style bonuses and regular Talents. I believe it would be a good change to have "Fighting Style" be a 'type' of bonus that would stack with Talents. Obviously, 2 talents giving the same bonus would continue not to stack. There are several reasons I ask this:

1) Fighting Styles take an incredible investment to master (575 Survivor Points for the Heroic Style).
2) Fighting Styles represent a level of mastery of a technique above and beyond most and should stack with regular talents that are available to anyone.
3) This keeps Fighting Styles on par with Sorcerer Traditions, whose Rites come from Talents but whose bonuses are "Spell Bonuses" and therefore stack with Talents already.
4) Fighting Styles give many of the same bonuses as other Talents, making them much less attractive given the high cost, if their bonuses don't stack.

*NOTE: Does Attack Specialist add a 'bonus DM' or does it act like a replacement of the weapon's base DM? It says the weapon's DM increases by 2, and not gain a +2d to DM. If so, this might alleviate some of the potential conflicts noted below.

These are the conflicts I found where a Fighting Style gives the same bonus as another Talent. I think Attack Specialist, Expertise, Veteran Warrior and Incredible Reflexes are where many of the conflicts reside. Iron Fisted, Iron Grip, Fearless, and Logical Mind are specific to Flower of Battle.

Tradition: Steel Cloak
Cloak Mastery (Basic): Bonus to Parry / Disarm
- Incredible Reflexes (Heroic): Bonus to Parry
- Expertise (Basic): Bonus to a Skill

Tradition: Faith in Steel
Balanced Strikes (Basic): Bonus to Attack (TWF)
- Expertise (Basic): Bonus to a Skill
- Lightning Draw (Heroic): Bonus to Attack
- Veteran Warrior (Heroic): Bonus to Attack

Dual Thrust (Greater): Bonus to DM
- Attack Specialist (Greater): Bonus to DM

Tradition: Flower of Battle
Patience of the Linx (Basic): Bonus to Attack
- Expertise (Basic): Bonus to a Skill
- Veteran Warrior (Heroic): Bonus to Attack
- Iron Grip (Greater): Bonus to Unarmed (Wrestling)

Never Unarmed (Basic): Bonus to DM (Unarmed)
- Attack Specialist (Greater): Bonus to DM
- Iron Fisted (Greater): Bonus to DM (Unarmed)

Heart of the Lion (Greater): Bonus to Fear
- Fearless (Greater): Bonus to Fear
- Logical Mind (Greater): Bonus on Resolve

Tradition: Freifechter Fencing
Sacrifices must be Made (Basic): Bonus to Attack
- Expertise (Basic): Bonus to a Skill
- Veteran Warrior (Heroic): Bonus to Attack

Like an Eggshell (Basic): Bonus to Break Attack
- Expertise (Basic): Bonus to a Skill
- Veteran Warrior (Heroic): Bonus to Attack
- Iron Fisted (Greater): Bonus to Break

Like a Hot Knife (Heroic): Bonus to DM (* This may not apply as you are Doubling the DM)
- Attack Specialist (Greater): Bonus to DM

Tradition: The True Skill
Blade and Mind are One (Basic): Bonus to Parry
- Incredible Reflexes (Heroic): Bonus to Parry
- Expertise (Basic): Bonus to a Skill

Strike of Precision (Greater): Bonus to DM
- Attack Specialist (Greater): Bonus to DM

I'm with you on this one. While you purchase a style like a talent, I see it as a different thing altogether, and the bonuses should stack. Trained Swordsman should get a leg up.

Tom

Hello all,

Eric is in the process of moving so his internet access is sporadic at best.

After speaking with him, I can confirm that Fighting Styles are not considered Talents. There's a necessary Talent to unlock said Fighting Styles, but they are not Talents in and of themselves.

So bottom line, Talents do Stack with Fighting Styles.

Awesome Henry, thank you for checking and reporting. Also hope the move goes smoothly for Eric!

John