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Guys,
I'll be playing a Ranger in SD, I'd like opinions on which Favored Enemy I should get.
Thanks!
to be honest - as an avid ranger player... pick whatever suits your character's background the best. the APs usually have such a high variety of creatures, that no matter what you pick, you'll be able to use it. As for metagaming the 'best' to take mechanically, that's what second and third enemies are for, to get better stats against what you seem to be fighting a lot, and have gotten mad at.
Two good starting choices are aberrations and undead. They're only of minor use in Shadow in the Sky, but come in handy in Children of the Void (and in other encounters as the AP progresses).
Two good choices at higher levels include elves (from Armageddon Echo on) and evil outsiders (fiends tend to show up fairly often). If using the "hunting for fiends" trait in the SD Companion as a character hook, starting with evil outsiders as a favored enemy is a possibility (although of limited benefit until later).
If you want to keep it organic, take, well, anything that fits the original background (the fiend part could imply evil outsiders, though, if you go with that one).
Then, when you get the second choice, you (and your character, which is more important to building a believable character) will probably have a pretty good idea who/what you're up against and make your second choice accordingly (and you might want to raise that up to +4 from the start, which you can do - and later raise further).
Edit: Somehow, I posted this in the wrong thread.
If I got it right, pretty much every useful option only will show up as a really useful option after the first adventure.
The first adventure is not really typical of the rest of Second Darkness when it comes to the categories of foes encountered. Aberrations, elves, evil outsiders, and undead only appear in one encounter each, IIRC. The vast majority of the foes the party faces are human as the PCs are introduced to the plot.
Starting with Children of the Void, the PCs (around 4th level) start facing more "typical" foes for the AP. The akatas and void zombies can be tough opponents, which makes aberrations and undead very useful throughout the adventure. Aberrations and undead also show up with some frequency for the remainder of the AP, which keeps them from being "useless" later (like taking goblinoids in Rise of the Runelords; useful in Burnt Offerings, not useful afterward). These two choices are also fairly common foes for general adventuring parties.
Elves and evil outsiders, on the other hand, are not generally common foes for many adventuring parties. Evil outsiders may be common for some groups at higher levels, but not all. Since drow are not common knowledge, taking elves as a starting favored enemy would be odd for any character that wasn't an "anti-elf" bigot.
Our Arcane Archer came in fairly late into the game, and had a decent enough background to explain having a certain favored enemy that has made him quite overpowered in I believe the entire party's opinion. Not to mention certain attachments made recently to his arcane bonded Longbow, but I digress.
There is obviously a favored enemy that would make you the strongest damage dealer in your party quite easily. At level one, discuss with your GM who your character is and where he is coming from. There is a reason for many classes to have a favored enemy that suits them.
Not to mention that the Pathfinder Campaign Setting book/pdf is a great resource. IMO, if your race has a hated enemy, I would recommend for role playing aspects to make your first favored enemy that. It could work out in your favor or be worthless potentially in this adventure path, but at least you are playing your character.
Again, discuss a background with your GM. If he's read the first book, he should have a good idea of where he wants the game to go.