The topic of this post is simple - Favored Class Bonus is an interesting concept, but its implementation is poorly balanced and in some cases its a downright trap.
Let me be the first to say that I do {b]love[/b] the idea of a per-level advancement decision. The base set of options - a skill rank vs. a hit point - is a simple choice, either aiding you when hit dice fail you, or allowing you to handily outlevel some skill challenges. Its not that impactful, but it's nice.
Now, some of the racial choices create problems, even though they are nice attempts to show how each race/culture develops in a specialty.
On the one hand, we have racial FCB that are strictly worse than a skill point. To cite a couple, there is the Half-Elf Monk FCB that, with two levels investment, grants a circumstantial +1 bonus to two pre-set skills; a bigger offender is the Dhampir Inquisitor FCB that takes two levels to give a circumstantial+1 bonus to Intimidate. Both are clearly, inarguably worse than taking the skill rank bonus across two levels.
Then, on the other hand, there are overtly powerful FCB that do not tax the RP economy of a race. This is most blatant on Humans. While - disregarding racial FCB options - Humans are a extremely flexible race, they are still a standard, 10 RP race. The wealth of feats they can choose from is nice and flavorful and sets them apart from other races. However, once you factor in overpowered FCB, they become the best-possible-race for any given class.
There is something that can be said about the Human FCB options though: they are great. This is, however, attributable to the other options not being as fun.
I think a simple, easy applicable solution is right out there - tie FCB choices solely to class and not race. For example, a Rogue could choose between three options on level up, regardless of race: 1/6 of a Rogue Talent, +1 bonus damage on Sneak Attacks during the surprise round, or 1 HP + 1 skill point. This would impulse devs to make 3 viable options that players would like to build around, solving the balance issues.
The choice is fun, it gives the player more agency, and its very flexible. I think binding the players to a single race to have more, fun options only subtracts from the whole race system. This is not something that only shows up on optimization spreadsheets, but in my games too. I just ruled that everyone could spend an FCB to get any racial bonus do because I saw the look in the face of the guy who wanted to play a Grippli Wizard.
I think this change would be good, at least as a starting point for a discussion, and it would be something I'd love to see in Pathfinder Unchained.
Well, not all the human ones are that great though.
Such as any of the ones for prepared casters tend to be "You get extra spells known, but only if they are below the the level of your known spells"
Which for prepared casters isn't really worth much, since you could buy most of them, not to mention it takes a few levels for you to get out of the 'cantrip' zone.
Wizard Add one spell from the wizard spell list to the wizard's spellbook. This spell must be at least one level below the highest spell level the wizard can cast.
for example cannot be taken until level 3 wizard, since you know all the cantrips.
Then, on the other hand, there are overtly powerful FCB that do not tax the RP economy of a race. This is most blatant on Humans. While - disregarding racial FCB options - Humans are a extremely flexible race, they are still a standard, 10 RP race. The wealth of feats they can choose from is nice and flavorful and sets them apart from other races. However, once you factor in overpowered FCB, they become the best-possible-race for any given class.
I have found that Half-Elves and half-Orcs are considerably better than humans in 90% of the cases. Honestly the extra feat is great, but it matters less and less as the levels go up, and the extra skill point is nice, but not great.
Humans are always a good choice, but they're rarely the best choice. Unless your class is particularly feat and skill starved (e.g.: Clerics and Paladins), you can almost certainly find a more fitting class.
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Other than that, I mostly agree with you. IMHO, FCB should be tied to class instead of race. They'd be easier to design, balance and play, and would give us more character variety.
Half-Elf I found to be the most absued when it comes to FCB (since they count as elves and humans and, thus oen could argue gain the Elf or human FCB).
Especially with classes like oracles that give them the ability to speed ramp their polymorphing or animal companions (because +1/2 llevel to your effective level is kind of nice when you gain teh effects of greater polymorph or an animal companion (take that hunter! My pet is the pet of a level 30 druid :P))
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On the one hand, we have racial FCB that are strictly worse than a skill point. To cite a couple, there is the Half-Elf Monk FCB that, with two levels investment, grants a circumstantial +1 bonus to two pre-set skills; a bigger offender is the Dhampir Inquisitor FCB that takes two levels to give a circumstantial+1 bonus to Intimidate. Both are clearly, inarguably worse than taking the skill rank bonus across two levels.
If you are making a build that is trying to maximise a single skill, then these can be useful as it gives a half level bonus above the maxed-out skill ranks you have in it. So for some builds these types of bonuses can be effective.
On the one hand, we have racial FCB that are strictly worse than a skill point. To cite a couple, there is the Half-Elf Monk FCB that, with two levels investment, grants a circumstantial +1 bonus to two pre-set skills; a bigger offender is the Dhampir Inquisitor FCB that takes two levels to give a circumstantial+1 bonus to Intimidate. Both are clearly, inarguably worse than taking the skill rank bonus across two levels.If you are making a build that is trying to maximise a single skill, then these can be useful as it gives a half level bonus above the maxed-out skill ranks you have in it. So for some builds these types of bonuses can be effective.
Also, if you're going to be taking the Kinslayer Racial Archetype, then why not go whole-hog and get that bonus on top of it?
On the one hand, we have racial FCB that are strictly worse than a skill point. To cite a couple, there is the Half-Elf Monk FCB that, with two levels investment, grants a circumstantial +1 bonus to two pre-set skills; a bigger offender is the Dhampir Inquisitor FCB that takes two levels to give a circumstantial+1 bonus to Intimidate. Both are clearly, inarguably worse than taking the skill rank bonus across two levels.If you are making a build that is trying to maximise a single skill, then these can be useful as it gives a half level bonus above the maxed-out skill ranks you have in it. So for some builds these types of bonuses can be effective.
wat
how is +1 to intimidate to demoralize better than just taking a skill rank on intimidate to do whatever with intimidate?
how is 1/2 to escape artist and 1/2 to acrobatics to move on narrow surfaces better than putting 1 skill point on escape artist, and then another on acrobatics?
if you want to maximize one skill... get the skill rank.
Secret Wizard, Lets say you have a level 6 Dhampir Inquisitor trying to max Intimidate. I won't go into everything else they could do, but using this FCB every level, they would have a +3 circumstantial bonus, and +6 from ranks giving a +9 where any race without this FCB would only have a +6 from the skill ranks.
Well apparently I've been using bonus skill point FCBs all wrong.
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Yeah, the +1/2 bonus things are typically really good for maxing out and then cranking up a skill to 11.
For example a Kitsune Bard (Negotiator)
To tell an impossible lie is a -20
At level 6, You'll have +3 to bluff from The bard's ability. +3 to tell lies. Possibly 16 cha. 6 ranks. +3 class bonus. If this is really your thing you might also have included Skill focus for another +3.
So you're looking at 18 modifier to tell lies. I think we could even go further than that.. But right there you're only taking a -2 to tell someone something that is impossible. Like, "you're on fire."
So, I think I've found a use for Convincing lie. Because now when someone starts screaming and flailing because you bluffed them into thinking they were on fire.. They roll bluff using your modifier.
So you have a bunch of people panicking trying to put out the fire. That doesn't exist.
I agree with the OP that FCBs would be much better tied to class than race. The general dominance of Core race FCBs can only have a negative effect on racial diversity within the PC population.
On the one hand, we have racial FCB that are strictly worse than a skill point. To cite a couple, there is the Half-Elf Monk FCB that, with two levels investment, grants a circumstantial +1 bonus to two pre-set skills; a bigger offender is the Dhampir Inquisitor FCB that takes two levels to give a circumstantial+1 bonus to Intimidate. Both are clearly, inarguably worse than taking the skill rank bonus across two levels.Not if you already ranked those skills to their max, remember the HD limit.
Your idea is boring and even worse than the original idea. I see no point or need to "fix" this.
Score one for the tact fairy.