Jason De Vos and Fabian Wilnis gave injury hit Town a dream start with goals inside the first 18 minutes but Blues were forced to settle for a point at the Britannia Stadium.
De Vos marked his 32nd birthday with a towering header on six minutes from a Darren Currie corner then Wilnis added a second with his first goal since the 2-0 win at Norwich in March 2003.
Darel Russell pulled a goal back for the home side midway through the first-half then Mamady Sidibe equalised with a header from a corner on 70 minutes.
Joe Royle made six changes to the side that beat Luton at the weekend, over half of them because of injury and suspension to Richard Naylor.
Aidan Collins came in for his first appearance since the defeat by Preston in August with Scott Barron making his first start for Blues.
Gavin Williams recovered from a bruised knee to take his place in midfield and Town dominated the early proceedings with Currie testing Steve Simonsen inside two minutes with a strike from distance.
Town had already forced two corners when De Vos climbed high to power in a header from another flag kick to give Blues a perfect start.
Williams did well to rob Mamady Sidibe inside the Town box as the Stoke striker surged towards goal before Blues doubled the lead on 18 minutes. Currie crossed from the left and Wilnis finished superbly at the second attempt after Simonsen had saved his first effort.
Ian Westlake tested Simonsen from distance as Town completely dominated the play, Barron's cross causing more panic in the home defence, Dean McDonald, Jim Magilton and Currie all thwarted as they tried to convert.
Stoke reduced the arrears just before the half hour mark. Collins lost possession on halfway and Sambegou Bangoura burst into the box to set up Russell to toe-poke the ball past Shane Supple.
The goal kicked the Potters into life, Sidibe's overhead kick was desperately cleared by De Vos, Bangoura fired wide then the same player forced a save from Supple with a header.
Luke Chadwick and Marlon Broomes were both booked in the last five minutes of the half with Broomes replaced at the break by Karl Henry.
Town started the second-half as they had the first, Matt Richards' goalbound shot blocked, then Westlake blasting just over the bar from distance.
Supple had to move smartly off his line to save well from Bangoura as the Stoke frontman surged into the box, then the Town 'keeper held firm again as Kevin Harper sent the ball into the box.
Jimmy Juan replaced skipper Magilton with 20 minutes left on the clock but seconds later Stoke were level, Sidibe rising high at a corner to head in his fifth goal of the season.
Town responded with Richards seeing a shot blocked, then McDonald crowded out inside the home penalty area.
Both sides continued to look for a winner in an end to end clash, Collins doing well to clear from Bangoura with a terrific block.
At the other end, Simonsen saved well from Williams in a one on one, then from the resultant corner, De Vos headed just wide with another towering header.
Stoke substitute Peter Kopteff forced Supple into another save as the game entered the last 10 minutes with the points up for grabs, then Bangoura was denied again by Supple, the Town 'keeper sticking out his leg to avert the danger.
Collins cleared from almost on his line as the Potters pressed forward looking for a winner but Town held firm to take a good point.
Town: Supple, Wilnis, De Vos, Collins, Barron, Williams, Magilton (Juan 71), Westlake, Richards, Currie, McDonald (Proudlock 87). Subs not used: Price, Horlock, Garvan.
