There's a problem with the timing of ranger abilities

Hey, so I just noticed, and sorry if anybody has already pointed it out, but you just can't make Hunt Target work with Automatic Knowledge and Monster Hunter, which is weird because Ranger is supposed to be the class specialized in identifying enemies.

Basically, Monster Hunter gives you a (pretty minor) bonus against hunted enemies when you critically succeed at identifying them. So, you have to first declare your Hunt target, and then try to identify them. But Automatic Knowledge lets you identify as a free action triggered at the start of your turn, and it's pretty much the only skill feat to boost this particular thing.

Anybody else finds it odd that THE one skill feat tailor made for monster hunters does not work with THE monster hunter class with the Monster Hunter class feat?

Well Automatic Knowledge is already very bad for monster hunter since it's unlikely that you will crit or even succeed with assurance.

Monster Hunter does already give you a free action recall knowledge on the monster since 1.3 update, so Automatic Knowledge is even more useless. I don't really see Automatic Knowledge as being tailor made for a monter hunter, and if that was the plan then you are right it's a failure. But likely more due to the fact that it will only get you recall knowledge of 10, 15, 20, 30 (depending on your skill rank).

Monster Hunter does already give you a free action recall knowledge on the monster since 1.3 update, so Automatic Knowledge is even more useless.

Oooohhhh, I missed that. The issue is solved then. Thanks!

I'm going to tack on to this thread and point out there is another critical problem with Hunted Target/Monster Hunter/Recall Knowledge.

The problem that arises is when a Ranger wants to ID a monster it's not designated as a Hunted Target, but later decides to do so.

As written, the rules seem to require you to make another check at DC +5 (which pretty much guarantees you wont' hit critically succeed). This kind of forces the player to essentially ignore any creature that's not its hunted Target. Paizo needs to fix that. The first time a creature is Targeted, the use of Recall Knowledge should be without penalty, regardless of whether the PC has ID'd the creature or not...or...if you critically succeed on on an ID, then if you later designated the target, that critical success carries over.