Re: OOC
Well... to start with, recall that a flanked defender does not modify Ranged Attacks, nor does being on Higher Ground {per Table 8-5}. So if you're going to just linger from your branch and hurl things at it, you get no bonus to your roll for that. Also note, if you're going to make ranged attacks at the bear it most likely will be in melee, and such attacks should be made with a -4 attack roll modifier, unless you have the precise shot feat.
As for melee attacks...
That's open to 'interpretation'.
I'm inclined to presume that these modifiers will stack. It makes sense to me that a person on higher ground should have an advantage over being on even ground with a defender, and more so if he's distracted by being flanked. So all things being equal, i'm inclined to presume that the combat modifiers will stack.
That said, they're both (all?) 'circumstantial' modifiers, and as such, you're suppose to only take the highest of the two modifiers. Which feels like the weaker ruling between the two. That's not to say that i won't ever 'use' this weaker ruling, when i feel a Mexican situation is at hand.
For the current combat, things feel 'even', so characters who have high ground (+1 melee attack roll), and presuming you manage to encircle and flank the bear (+2 melee attack roll), may take a +3 accumulated modifier for both these situations if they apply.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:29, Sat 13 Apr 2019.