This is something that bothers me since 3E came out...for some reason, Favoured Classes are nothing but a "non-penalty" for the character. And with the fairly generous rules on multiclassing XP penalties, they rarely come into play as well, so a character didn't get anything for choosing his favoured class.
The Alpha 1 has a sidebar that grants every character a +1 HP for every level he gains in his favoured class. Now while the thought of actually rewarding a character for choosing his favoured class over others is a lot more like it, the "carrot" is a bit weird, to be honest. Hit Points representing a lot, but not wizardly acument (for example) or rogueish shiftyness..at least where I am concerned.
Personally, I'd suggest that a character who chooses his Favoured Class gain 10% more XP from every encounter if he is single-classed in it, or 5% if he is multiclassed in it (alternatively, do a fraction of 10%/total number of base classes). That way, it shows that the race is REALLY talented for that class by gaining more power faster, and gain better class abilities all over, and not just in the Hit Point department.
Thoughts? :)
Gaining extra experience points after 3rd level than the rest of the group is kind of a big advantage.
It does mean at some points the favoured characters will be a level ahead of the others.
The 10% bonus is almost exactly what you are penalised for being a level higher than your companions, so they never get to catch you back up.
I like the hitpoint idea, or maybe a plus one bonus to all your class skills.
A another option (which I think comes from a different d20 system) is that for every X levels of a favoured class you get a free feat.
My current house rule here is to not allow people to multicass in a manner that would give an xp penalty, coupled with a feat that grants an additional favored class.
Basically, cost of wild multiclassing = 1 feat.
I noticed that, too. You're not a "better" Wizard or Rogue, just a tougher one. It works for, say, Paladin and Fighter, where Hit Points are a "class feature", but less for Cleric and Rogue, and not much for Wizard.
What about an extra Class Skill if it's your Favoured Class? Of course, this brings up the problem of multiclassing into your Favoured Class, and I have some reservations about the skills system...
...but at least thinking that way, you're a better (whateveryouare) - as in, you have more skills, than a race that doesn't have it as a Favoured Class.
Here's what I'd do:
Each class would get an entry called "Favored". And each class would give a different "Favored" benefit, based on the class' strengths.
Just get rid of favoured classes.
Just get rid of favoured classes.
Agreed. If Pathfinder is backward compatible, then players will have access to dozens of classes. To think a race is favored in just one is ridiculous. If the designers want to nudge a certain race toward a certain class, then fluff text is enough to do the trick.
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You know, I was working on a post outlining why keeping favored class around was a good thing, but I just couldn't come up with any really good arguments. The trick will be to see how the multiclassing system handles builds with a ton of dips in various classes. If that works (and by "works", I mean discourages lots of dips, but allows flexible and flavorful multiclassing), then favored class is redundant.