Stacking Angriff and Banzai Charge

[tragicmishap]

From the Set II FAQ (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/aam/ah20050914a):

"Q: Can I use both Banzai Charge and Angriff on the same unit? Do they stack for +2 on each attack die?
A: No. Duplicate bonuses from commander abilities don’t stack. A single unit can benefit from any number of commander effects at the same time, but if more than one grants a bonus to the same roll or statistic, only the highest bonus applies."

From the new advanced rulebook, page 27:

"Special Abilities of the Same Name Don't Add Together: For example, if two Commanders with the commander ability called Tally-Ho! could both provide a bonus to a single Soldier's speed, use only one Commander's bonus instead of both of them."

I was under the impression that Angriff and Banzai Charge stack since they don't have the same name. I also could've sworn that I've heard you say this as well. Zkraut just showed me that according to the FAQ, they don't stack. Not only do they not stack, but the general rule is that abilities that affect the same stats never stack. This flies in the face of other thing's you've said before, such as Urban Combat stacking with a Pillbox. I know I've read that entire FAQ several times before, and I never remember seeing that. Has there been a change? Help!

[Y2UAsk]

This particular rule is not covered in the main rulebook under Special Abilities. It is 'hidden' in the glossary entry for commander abilities, which states "Duplicate bonuses from commander abilities never stack." Check the glossary for further details.

This isn't really confusing, but because the rules are spread between two locations, people tend to miss things. Here's the straight scoop.

First, there are two different kinds of special abilities -- the general kind listed under "Special Abilities" on most units' cards, and commander abilities listed only on commanders' cards.

Bonuses from multiple special abilities stack as long as they have different names. That's why Urban Combat and Pillbox combine to give a +2 bonus on cover rolls.

Bonuses to the same stat or die roll from multiple commander abilities don't stack. That's why Angriff and Banzai don't combine.

A bonus from a commander ability can combine with a bonus from a regular special ability of a different name. For example, the +1 from the Commissar's Bravery Enforcement combines with the Fanatical Sniper's +1 from Crack Shot.

None of this is a change. It's been this way from the beginning.

To everyone -- read the glossary. It contains important information.

Steve