It wasn't too clear in the book - do you actually get the +1 hp or +1 skill rank for advancing in your favored class at level 1 already, meaning everyone starts the game with an additional hitpoint or skill rank?
Yes, you do. [About the most important time to get it actually, that +1 hp or skill point is huge! :)]
From the PRD: "The choice of favored class cannot be changed once the character is created, and the choice of gaining a hit point or a skill rank each time a character gains a level (including his first level) cannot be changed once made for a particular level."
Yes, for every level. Otherwise you get into a weird situation where your first level (the class you trained in from a young age) is not giving you the benefit of being your favored class and may as well be something else.
Wait, so you can decide at each level wheher to take the +1 HP or +1 Skill Point?
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Yes, for every level. Otherwise you get into a weird situation where your first level (the class you trained in from a young age) is not giving you the benefit of being your favored class and may as well be something else.Wait, so you can decide at each level wheher to take the +1 HP or +1 Skill Point?
Yes to that as well. It's not set in stone.
Yes, you do. [About the most important time to get it actually, that +1 hp or skill point is huge! :)]
From the PRD: "The choice of favored class cannot be changed once the character is created, and the choice of gaining a hit point or a skill rank each time a character gains a level (including his first level) cannot be changed once made for a particular level."
Thanks. I was aware of that note, but found it strange it appears in parenthesis and only in the second paragraph dealing with the subject. I guess it's connected to the previous thread of mine where I talked about how it's unclear what are the exact steps in creating or leveling your character.
And yes, that's a great help at first level :)
Wait, so you can decide at each level wheher to take the +1 HP or +1 Skill Point?
Yes. Not quite as bad as cross-class skills, but still a bookkeeping headache if you ever need to verify that a high-level character has been built correctly. :(
Still, it's pretty neat.
Wait, so you can decide at each level wheher to take the +1 HP or +1 Skill Point?Yes. Not quite as bad as cross-class skills, but still a bookkeeping headache if you ever need to verify that a high-level character has been built correctly. :(
Still, it's pretty neat.
I agree, it's too much complication for too little benefit. The increase in HD for many of the classes (particularly sorcerer and wizard) already accomplish added durability. The extra +2 attribute enhances a character's skills or durability further. So I've just houseruled the picayune favored class bonuses out of my game.
I'm keeping them in, just because I like the idea of extra skills. Makes for a more well rounded character and lets players pick something odd, like cooking or woodcarving or a new language...
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I like it as it give a little more umph to a character. One option I am considering is perhaps allowing players to change favored class, either at set levels (every 5 levels maybe) or as they progress each level. In keeping with it's signifigance though I am planning on not letting them switch back to a previous class later on. My theory is that peoples' likes can change and what once was the most favorite thing to do may become a secondary interest later on. It encourages planning character development in that if players know they can't switch back they will try their best to make sure if they switch to a new class that they will be staying with it, at least until they are ready to take the next step along the way.
And you also get 2 campaign traits usually, which amounts to 1 feat, making starting characters yet even more powerful.
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Yes to that as well. It's not set in stone.Yes, for every level. Otherwise you get into a weird situation where your first level (the class you trained in from a young age) is not giving you the benefit of being your favored class and may as well be something else.Wait, so you can decide at each level wheher to take the +1 HP or +1 Skill Point?
I actually read the rule as the opposite -- that it is set in stone once you pick the +1 HP or +1 skill point for a particular level. The rule says "the choice of gaining [+1 HP or +1 skill point] each time a character gains a level . . . cannot be changed once made for a particular level."
I think the "for a particular level" may have been put in there to address the unlikely situation where someone picks a favored class other than what they take their first level in (e.g., I'm picking cleric as my favored class, but I'm going to start out as a fighter).
Having said that, I think the rule should be that you get to decide at each level (it's not clear from an in-game perspective why you should be locked in to either choice for your whole career). In any event, our GM has ruled that you get to decide at each level, regardless of what the "official" interpretation of the rule is.
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Yes to that as well. It's not set in stone.Yes, for every level. Otherwise you get into a weird situation where your first level (the class you trained in from a young age) is not giving you the benefit of being your favored class and may as well be something else.Wait, so you can decide at each level wheher to take the +1 HP or +1 Skill Point?I think the "for a particular level" may have been put in there to address the unlikely situation where someone picks a favored class other than what they take their first level in (e.g., I'm picking cleric as my favored class, but I'm going to start out as a fighter).
I think this is meant to be "if you're at 0 and want to be at 1, you can't say 'I'm taking out the 1 skill point from last level and putting it in HP' just to be able to perform a full action"