My campaign has a number of relatively rare races of humanoids. A Ranger player has been thinking again and asked why X race is even on the list. She pointed out that one 'race' has barely 10,000 members, worldwide. They haven't the numbers or militancy to rate FE status, in her opinion. I also have some 'non-player races' that are not up to the strength of the standard races, not included on the list due to their background status.
What exactly makes a race of humanoids rate FE status? Should a relatively rare race be 'immune' to FE? And should those who may take a particular FE be limited?
Favored Enemy, as I understand it, represents A) your hatred for a certain race/creature and B) the amount of research you've done, because of that hatred, on how to kill said creature.
Though, I've never really liked how restricting the Favored Enemy trait can be. In my last campaign, we ma de it to 7th level and I ended up taking "Animal" and "Undead" because that's what we were fighting at the time. But after about 5th level, we stopped seeing animal-type enemies. And the Undead-type enemies only lasted a couple of sessions.
This just really irks me. In my opinion, the Ranger ought to have some other (similar) ability. Take for example, the 'Instant Enemy' spell for 3rd level Rangers. If this was, instead, a Class Ability that let you declare a single creature-type as you Favored enemy a day (a number of times equal to your level+Wis/Int?), it might be a bit easier for the Ranger to get along with the Fighters and Rogues of the party.
Though, I'd probably increase the bonuses of the Spell to match the original Favored Enemy ability.
Thoughts?
Instant Enemy Spell
http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/advanced/spells/instantEnemy.html
Ulrich, See the Guide Archetype for that sort of option. Also, I don't see FE as a hatred necessarily (although that works), just the work done to learn how to defeat them (in combat and otherwise, as it gives bonuses to Bluff and such).
Bwang: Basically, Favored Enemy: Humanoid would be FAR too powerful an option. Favored Enemy: Humanoid(Humans) is often too strong as it is. Since the frequency of any particular type of humanoid (or other creature type) varies highly from campaign, it's impossible to fairly balance the options in the core rules. E.g., sometimes Favored Enemy: Humanoid(Elf) is terrible, sometimes it's the best choice possible.
If you want, you can assign groups of Humanoids to be within a single FE category, maybe based on region, or something similar. (Reptilian) is one of the best out there as an example.
Personally, I like choosing FE on the annoying creatures that show up routinely if not all the time. Constructs can be a real pain, so FE helps. Evil Outsiders, even if not frequent, are a good choice. Oozes and Plants even, if you had to deal with them more than the norm. Depends on the campaign. And Humanoid (Giants) of course.
Bwang: Basically, Favored Enemy: Humanoid would be FAR too powerful an option.
Ummm....
Never proposed FE: Humanoids, rather I was asking how frequency affects the FE. Currently, I have differing effects on differing subjects. Most of the background reasoning is very campaign specific. One is a race that is all but unknown to the rest of the world.I allow Rangers to swap their FE when they gain a new one. I, too, have been shafted by a GM or three rendering such class features moot with no recourse. I may have to many rebuild options built into my House Rules.
I like UVL's line of: 'the amount of research you've done, because of that hatred, on how to kill said creature' as a way for a player to gain a FE rating against a race that is unknown.
Thx to both of you for a thread-necro that will be helpful.
Favored Enemy as it is has the same bonuses regardless of frequency, this is why enemies that are common are more useful than one's you'll never see. It's a pretty inherent problem with the feature (some choices are less meaningful than others).