Subject pretty much nails it.
Does a first level character gain the bonus +1 hit point and skill point right off the bat, or is it gained at all levels after the first level in the favored class?
Subject pretty much nails it.
Does a first level character gain the bonus +1 hit point and skill point right off the bat, or is it gained at all levels after the first level in the favored class?
It occurs at every level, including 1st.
It's gained at level one. Unless you start in a class that you didn't choose as your favored class, then it starts whenever you take levels in that class.
For example, one of the players in my group started with two levels in rogue before moving on to fighter (for the next planned 18 levels). Because he was going to take a lot more fighter levels than rogue levels, he decided that his favored class would be fighter. He didn't get the bonus until third level. The rest of us got our favored class bonus at level one, since we all started in our favored classes.
It's gained at level one. Unless you start in a class that you didn't choose as your favored class, then it starts whenever you take levels in that class.
For example, one of the players in my group started with two levels in rogue before moving on to fighter (for the next planned 18 levels). Because he was going to take a lot more fighter levels than rogue levels, he decided that his favored class would be fighter. He didn't get the bonus until third level. The rest of us got our favored class bonus at level one, since we all started in our favored classes.
Yes, that's right. You get it every level in which you take your favored class. Kind of an important bit for me to have left out. :/