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I like the rewarding, not penalizing, of characters for playing their race's favored classes. However, HP? One HP? Oh man, I can bank on that! lol. I would think, maybe, that a bonus skill point would make more sense. But not a hit point. Not only is it a pathetic reward, but it makes no sense. "Hi! I'm an elf! Since I have always focused on casting spells and nothing else, I can take a hit better in combat!" If you focused your training on one thing only, and nothing else, you'd be better at your job, not fighting someone else. Maybe if you where a fighter! But even then, one hit point? Big deal. Like +5 HP matters at higher levels. But seriously, I like it better than the weirdness of 3rd edition's negative "You dwarf wizard/rouge/ranger? You BAD! BAD DWARF! BAD!"
I'd really like for someone to think about skill points instead of HP. The HP is just...meh
The problem is that if you give too nice a reward you damage diversity. People will feel like they are making sub standard characters if they don't go a favored class route.
Although I definitely understand the appeal of favored classes and how it fits into the history of D&D I'd rather get rid of them entirely then face a future of most class / race combos being unthinkable.
i have already house-ruled the bonus skill point INSTEAD of the bonus hitpoint for exactly the same reasons. I totally agree
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I'd really like for someone to think about skill points instead of HP. The HP is just...meh
I agree that some sort of skill point or bonus feat (or Bonus Spell) would make more sense to me than a HP bonus.
I disagree that 1HP/ level is insignificant. At 10th level a wizard will have an average of 35 HP. A wizard with Favored Class will have 45... that's a pretty significant difference. For fighters and barbarians maybe it's less so but for them Hit Points are more valuable so it still makes a significant difference. Between this and the HD increase for Wiz/ Sorc, it is a huge increase. A typical 10th level wizard under 3.5 has a mere 25 HP. What I see this doing is moving the Wizards secondary stat from CON to DEX.
An option I would like to see is giving the player a choice at 1st lvl, of either a skill point per level (that goes into a single skill) - OR - a +1 bonus hit point/level.
Once this choice is made, it cannot be changed.
An option I would like to see is giving the player a choice at 1st lvl, of either a skill point per level (that goes into a single skill) - OR - a +1 bonus hit point/level.
Once this choice is made, it cannot be changed.
The choice could be at each level a player takes a favored class instead of permanent choice at 1st-level.
I still say give a +5%/+10/+15% (for slow/med/fast progression respectively) to earned XP if the last level taken was in a favored class. Beats 1 hp or 1 skill point, and it keeps making NPCs simple (no variable number of skill points based on what the race of the NPC is).
That brings back terrible memories of 2nd edition's favored stat rules, and everyone clamoring for a 16+ in their class's favored stats to get the XP kicker. *shudder*
I also dislike this option because it puts PCs who have levels in favored classes ahead of their peers, not just in terms of HP or skill points, but in terms of actual power. Getting access to a new spell level a level earlier than your buddies could potentially cause all manner of headaches. I vote "no" for this idea.
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This is what I was also thinking about! :)An option I would like to see is giving the player a choice at 1st lvl, of either a skill point per level (that goes into a single skill) - OR - a +1 bonus hit point/level.
Once this choice is made, it cannot be changed.
I like this idea, with the bonus skill being specified at 1st level (and being a class skill of the favored class).
I would say rather than a bonus skill point that they just get to chose a bonus skill as class skill at first level.
Actually, that is a really good idea. While ether bonus skill points would work too, BOTH make more sense than HP.
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The point of Favored class was supposed to keep players from splashing classes. The more bonus single class characters get for being their favored class, the more you alienate characters not their favored class, whether it's single or multiclass.
I'm against the change and what to see it reverted back to it's original intent.
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I still say give a +5%/+10/+15% (for slow/med/fast progression respectively) to earned XP if the last level taken was in a favored class. Beats 1 hp or 1 skill point, and it keeps making NPCs simple (no variable number of skill points based on what the race of the NPC is).
That brings back terrible memories of 2nd edition's favored stat rules, and everyone clamoring for a 16+ in their class's favored stats to get the XP kicker. *shudder*
I also dislike this option because it puts PCs who have levels in favored classes ahead of their peers, not just in terms of HP or skill points, but in terms of actual power. Getting access to a new spell level a level earlier than your buddies could potentially cause all manner of headaches. I vote "no" for this idea.
Except that this bonus is not stat dependant at all, it's 100% in the realm of player control. The player chooses what class to take, and decides if he wants to level in a favored class or not.
Secondly, the way the 3.5 experience tables work (I haven't checked to make sure the pathfinder xp tables are the same), lower level characters in a party of mixed levels get a proportionately higher ammount of xp. They will catch up in levels.
Getting a new spell level later than the rest of the party is already a problem for characters that multiclass. If the idea of a "favored class" were to mean anything, it should be a substantial difference. As it stands now in 3.x, there is a multiclass penalty for advancing outside of a favored class. Since the PRPG ditches xp penalties entirely, it seems that an xp reward could fill the same role nicely.
The point of Favored class was supposed to keep players from splashing classes.I never liked the idea of favored class and I think it serves no useful purpose. I believe it was put into place to continue the sacred cow of 'demihumans can only be this and that class'. In any case, if its purpose is what you say, then it never really worked.
Nothing would have happened if favored class was simply eliminated from the game, not even racial balance would be affected.
+1
I never liked the idea of favored class and I think it serves no useful purpose. I believe it was put into place to continue the sacred cow of 'demihumans can only be this and that class'. In any case, if its purpose is what you say, then it never really worked.
Agreed. Favored class should get the axe.
+1
Nothing would have happened if favored class was simply eliminated from the game, not even racial balance would be affected.
I disagree, as it emphasizes and rewards cultural (racial) archetypes, and provides a subtle campaign basis for such roleplaying. A PC's "favored class" reflects the default assumptions those characters carry with them as they meet other people (NPCs) on thier adventures -- That strange gnome they meet up the road, for example? More likely a bard than a barbarian. And not just because the meta-game text says so, but because it's backed up with game mechanics that reinforce in-game cultural norms.
Favored class isn't about limiting gameplayer choice; it's about representing the world the PCs are playing in. It helps create a shared foundation for other in-game decisions.
Sorry but these old school roles bye race really don't deserve enforcement any more. Yeah cultural fluff is always nice, but this really shouldn't have effect on the players choices any more. You might grant a small bonus for this like a skill point, or an additional skill as a class skill, but not something as vital as hit points. It ends up like being survival of the fittest, where all those who don't fit the status quo are less likely to survive a hit.
I am not in favor or against favored class bonuses. (True Neutral hehe)
I have an example. A group of players want to play an all-elves campaign. With favored class bonuses, some PCs in the group will be at a disadvantage compare to others.
Is it fair for all players?
Personally, Favored Classes would be alright if they made more sense, but at the moment they don't quite, because I still think Elf=Wizard is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. (And don't quite like their Int Bonus much either!)
That being said, however, I feel the best way to handle favored class is allow races with favored classes slightly improved racial versions of a few class abilities.
Maybe Dwarf Fighters get better DR by 5 for Armor Mastery, and their bonuses to 'Dwarf' Weapons like Hammers and Axes is 1-2 points higher than a human fighter.
Maybe the Halfling Rogue gains an extra bonus to Reflex Saves with Evasion, and can make sneak attacks with thrown weapons at 60 feet?
Maybe the Half-Orc Barbarian gets an additional point to their rage pool every few levels ,and one or two unique Orc Powers they can choose from in their either/or power list?
First: "Cultural fluff" would be a major part of the environment in which the game takes place. The in-game setting should be the first and by far most important reason for the inclusion of a mechanic.Second: Is one hit point per level major or insignificant. People on the boards seem to alternate between the two opinions depending on which argument they're countering.
Third: As has been stated before, some choices are suboptimal. That's something you have to live with - if you make certain choices, you won't be capitalizing on all the advantages. One of those advantages is favored class.
First: So what? Just because they culterually appeal towards that class, shouldn't help them with hit points. If they get better training then they should get better training not be tougher. Bonus Skill to list, or bonus skill points would make more sense. That is if you keep the function at all.
Second: Yes, that is the old Improved Toughness feat but stacks with all other feats.
Third: Other than stats race shouldn't play any other option in what class you play. But if you must, make it make sense at least.
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I'm with Pneumonica here. I like flavored classes, I am not very happy with the mechanic of +1HP/ level though. I would much rather see a mechanic that effects the class features rather than something generic like bonus HP.
Favored Class: Gnome sorcerers of at least 3rd level cast illusion and enchantment Spells at +1 caster level. Gnome sorcerers with the Fey Bloodline can use the Fleeting Glance bloodline ability for 3 additional rounds per day.
Favored Class: At 3rd level a halfling rogue gains the Fast Stealth rogue talent. At 11th level a halfling rogue gains the Opportunist Advanced rogue talent.
I'm not advocating these ideas in particular, just the idea that the mechanism should be tied to the class features rather than hit points.
-- Dennis