Is it smarter to select something that you run into quite often but is easier to kill as your favored enemy, or save that bonus when you will really need it against something you may not see that often?
The common one. Then have Instant Enemy (or a scroll of it) prepared for the rare-but-difficult one.
well, what is common but easily killed can become not-so-easily killed with class levels.
so, do what those guys said.
unless your concept for your character is taking on X enemy type, even if they aren't common at low level,
in that case your CAMPAIGN should center (to some extent) on seeking out those types.
Well you know you need to select more than one, so this is my theory
Your first should be the most common thing you will encounter. I usually choose goblin or orc.
My second one is the one I stack up to high levels. This is the most common thing I am going to be fighting until level 10. This is going to be your +4 monster because your know your first level choice is a somewhat weaker choice.
Your third choice technically doesn't matter if you're FE stacking because at 10th level you get third level spells, thus you get instant enemy. If you're willing to have saved up and purchased 2 or 3 pearls of power (3rd level) you can really capitalize and gain your FE bonus (now +6) once per encounter (since the average adventuring day has three encounters).
That's not all though
1) Bane. You can't afford it right off (well maybe you can) but it's second only to seeking on my list of enchantments. You get this bane the same as your second FE. Once you are able to instant enemy you're getting bane (since you're treating that target as though it were a monster of that type).
2) Racial hatred bonuses and dodge bonuses. Consider this if you're taking a non standard race like dwarf. You could technically select giant hunter for another +1/+1 to giants (for example) AND stack your racial dodge bonus on your instant enemy targets.
And that is how I select and power game my FE's :-)
Your best bet for favored enemies is to go with something that will always be a challenge no matter what the level. Look for something that is represented in every CR. Human is probably one of the best to go for. Another good one is evil outsiders. If you are in a campaign that has a lower level creature as a common threat take them early and then when you get your second or latter favored enemies put the extra bonus in the one just taken. For example use Gnolls in the Legacy of Fire work well at first level, but for your next favored enemy go for evil outsider at +4 and leave the Gnolls at +2.
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All the advise you're getting is great but honestly your first (and most improved) FE is always going to be Human. Anything else (unless you are playing a REALLY unique Homebrew) is stabbing yourself in the face.
Humans are ALWAYS the most common obstacle you run into and being able to reliably Hit/Damage, Track, Bluff, Identify and Sense Motive them (makes you the king of 90% of the social encounters) is a bonus you really don't want to skip.
The real question you need to ask yourself is what should your SECOND FE be? That's what you need to think about.
I would say go with what you want your character to hunt... When I DM, and someone wants to bring in an Ooze-bane ranger (for example, haven't seen this one yet), I'll try to throw an ooze at the party every couple of sessions. Then, I might drop some hints that Juiblex's minions are in the area looking for some payback.. etc... same goes for Billy the Exterminator or Chancie the Gardener...
RP it up!
Echoing what many others have said, I would advise going with something common. By the time you will run across something that is noticeably tough, you'll have a spell (Instant Enemy) to deal with it.
Beyond that, go with what your character has spent the most time around. If you grew up around humans, it stands to reason that you would know their mannerisms, behaviors, how to track them, and where to shoot them for the most damage.
Favored Enemy isn't about hate, it's about familiarity.
All the advise you're getting is great but honestly your first (and most improved) FE is always going to be Human. Anything else (unless you are playing a REALLY unique Homebrew) is stabbing yourself in the face.
Humans are ALWAYS the most common obstacle you run into and being able to reliably Hit/Damage, Track, Bluff, Identify and Sense Motive them (makes you the king of 90% of the social encounters) is a bonus you really don't want to skip.
The real question you need to ask yourself is what should your SECOND FE be? That's what you need to think about.
I disagree. The most common foe will depend on the campaign. For example, in the campaign I am running now, the party has faced exactly 1 human after 4 sessions.
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FE Dragons at level one every time also first FT Dungeons every time no exceptions
All the advise you're getting is great but honestly your first (and most improved) FE is always going to be Human. Anything else (unless you are playing a REALLY unique Homebrew) is stabbing yourself in the face.
Humans are ALWAYS the most common obstacle you run into and being able to reliably Hit/Damage, Track, Bluff, Identify and Sense Motive them (makes you the king of 90% of the social encounters) is a bonus you really don't want to skip.
The real question you need to ask yourself is what should your SECOND FE be? That's what you need to think about.
I specifically say no to humans because I FE stack. I don't want to be stuck with a +2 to humans when the BBEG is human. I feel like taking FE Human is shooting yourself in the foot, unless you take them as your stacked FE.
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I specifically say no to humans because I FE stack. I don't want to be stuck with a +2 to humans when the BBEG is human. I feel like taking FE Human is shooting yourself in the foot, unless you take them as your stacked FE.
But you can take them as your FE at level 1 and keep them as your highest rated FE throughout your career. Indeed, doing things that way makes more logical sense than the alternative. So I'm really not seeing the problem here...
humans, unfortunately....unless you are playing kingmaker
ask your gm, always the best bet. They should be willing to give you some clue as to what favored enemies to choose. If you are playing in an AP check the players guide.
Start with Hu-mon and remember that once you gain access to 3rd level spells and Instant Enemy, you're just about always "on" after that.
One thing to keep in mind is Instant Enemy. It makes any creature type that is not already you favored enemy a favored enemey. If you stack you bonuses on one type of enemy then be careful in selecting you other favored enemies. You don't want to get Instant enemy and find you you can't use it to get you best attack bonus because the creature type is already a favored enemy with only +2 bonus instead of +6. I've seen this happen. Not huge deal but really sucks when you pick dragons as you 3rd favored enemy getting +2 for them when you rarely bump into dragons. Better to leave dragons and use Instant enemy on them.
Also has anyone looked at the Ranger10/HorizonWalker10? Treat you favored terrain bonus as your favored enemy bonus for creature native to Terrain Dominance. You can get +20 to hit and damage at 20th level against any creature native to that terrain with 9 favored terrains and terrain mastery.
Great insights! Thanks. I must admit I chose goblin at first and then went drragon. I will probably go human or undead. Skeletons have been the hardest thing to defeat at lvl 1 thus far.
+1 vote for Human. This get's you a bunch of different things :
1) Most games have more Humans in them than anything else.
2) Any mixed blood race that's half-human half something (Half-Elf, Half-orc, Dhampir, etc) also counts as human*.
3) Because they use class levels to advance, you don't have to worry about them fading out (goblins tend to fade out above 4th level, same with undead about 8th level).
*In most games, just make sure you know for sure how your GM rules.
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+1 vote for Human. This get's you a bunch of different things :
1) Most games have more Humans in them than anything else.
2) Any mixed blood race that's half-human half something (Half-Elf, Half-orc, Dhampir, etc) also counts as human*.
3) Because they use class levels to advance, you don't have to worry about them fading out (goblins tend to fade out above 4th level, same with undead about 8th level).*In most games, just make sure you know for sure how your GM rules.
Note: Dhampir are not human or part human. They are humanoid (dhampir).
Cursed from birth, dhampirs result from the rare and unnatural union of vampires and humans.
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Cursed from birth, dhampirs result from the rare and unnatural union of vampires and humans.
Whatever the fluff says, I have the Bestiary 2 open in front of me, and they are humanoid (dhampir). Not humanoid (human, vampire). If the sub-type isn't in the stat-block, it doesn't count for favoured enemy.
I'll remember that if I ever play in your game. There are some people who follow RAW to the point they destroy RAI. These are the sorts of people I like to make show me where in RAW it says I can't take full actions after my character has died. :)
You'll note I did specify you needed to ask the GM. Dhampir are, by definition, both undead and human (that's the definition of Dhampir). Unfortunately, Paizo, like WoTC before it, has been very bad about 'half' races and not putting the 'elf blood' and 'orc blood' stats like they did for the core races. This stems from them not considering them playable, and thus not needing the line item.
I would say I hope the ARG clears this up, but I doubt if it will.
I could live with that, but you'd still have the issue of Ifrit, Oreads, Fetchlings, and other outsider (Native) races who are humans with outsider blood in them. Or half-dragons who are both dragon and original race, or half fiends, etc.
I think it would just be easier to specify that any race that combines multiple bloodlines counts as all those bloodlines, like half-elf and half-orc do already.
Things like mongrel-men would be in a world of hurt under that ruling, so I'd add a power for that race that says due to each one having a unique physiology, they can never be the target of ranger's favored enemy.
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I'll remember that if I ever play in your game. There are some people who follow RAW to the point they destroy RAI. These are the sorts of people I like to make show me where in RAW it says I can't take full actions after my character has died. :)
You'll note I did specify you needed to ask the GM. Dhampir are, by definition, both undead and human (that's the definition of Dhampir). Unfortunately, Paizo, like WoTC before it, has been very bad about 'half' races and not putting the 'elf blood' and 'orc blood' stats like they did for the core races. This stems from them not considering them playable, and thus not needing the line item.
I would say I hope the ARG clears this up, but I doubt if it will.
I primarily play PFS, so the rules as written are important to me. If you want to make houserules about it to keep the sense of continuity going for yourself, go for it. I post to inform people before they have a shouting match with a GM because they think they're getting ripped off while fighting a dhampir.
Talk to your GM and scope out what he's expecting to run. I made the grand mistake of taking dragons in a game where the GM had NO intentions of ever having them show up. Fortunately I was allowed a mulligan when the party lost/added multiple players.
1) Bane. You can't afford it right off (well maybe you can) but it's second only to seeking on my list of enchantments. You get this bane the same as your second FE. Once you are able to instant enemy you're getting bane (since you're treating that target as though it were a monster of that type).
I know I'm late to this tread (great thread!) but I don't think this works.
Instant Enemy doesn't change your enemy's type, it just changes your ability to attack it. If I have FE +6 Humans, a Human Bane weapon, and I encounter a Dragon, then I use Instant Enemy to change my Favored Enemy to Dragon (+6). The bow is still a Human Bane bow. My abilities have been modified (Human to Dragon) not the bows. As a GM, I'd never allow this.
-Swiftbrook
Just My Thoughts
I know I'm late to this tread (great thread!) but I don't think this works.
WHO DARES TO DISTURB MY THREE AND A HALF MONTH SLUMBER!?
I like to pick dragons and undead. Unless the campaign has a direction in monster theme.
Edit: Wait, wow is this thread dead. Dang.
I know I'm late to this tread (great thread!) but I don't think this works.Instant Enemy doesn't change your enemy's type, it just changes your ability to attack it. If I have FE +6 Humans, a Human Bane weapon, and I encounter a Dragon, then I use Instant Enemy to change my Favored Enemy to Dragon (+6). The bow is still a Human Bane bow. My abilities have been modified (Human to Dragon) not the bows. As a GM, I'd never allow this.
-Swiftbrook
Just My Thoughts
That's a great opinion! Did you read the spell before you came up with it?
"With this spell you designate the target as your favored enemy for the remainder of its duration. Select one of your favored enemy types. For the duration of the spell, you treat the target as if it were that type of favored enemy for all purposes."
I'm not sure what isn't clear about it. You consider that target as if it were that type of favored enemy for all purposes. You know, ALL PURPOSES.
I've had great success with taking FE Undead. In almost every adventure and AP there are undead a various points.
+1 to this. If you have a special campaign or AP you are playing in, then this may change. But Undead is pretty universal for all games in the long run and a solid choice.
See I go the other way.
My fe are usually
Human+ (1st, Improve to +4)
Undead+2 (or Campaign Monster) (2nd don't improve)
Evil outsider + (3rd, pump to +4 the level you get it)
Now generally rangers follow TWF or Archery/Switch hitter.
This means they get tons of attacks iteratives when they full attack.
By the time you can select a 4th FE, Instant Enemy can be bought with an EXPENSIVE wand.
But your perception and stealth mods are through the roof (favored terrain) so it's worth a standard to cast it from a wand.
Your 4th and 5th FE's should be things which are EASY to hit (giants) with lots of hp's.
Why? Because +2 to hit over 7+ attacks upps dpr considerably NOT from the bonus damage, but from getting the iteratives to land.
Now with Bane weapons? I chose Human over Evil outsider.
Why?
Easy.
When you first take FE evil outsider both bonuses are +4.
Which is more common? Humans.
So now you rock it in human encounters +4FE AND Bane.
Outsiders (or Instant Enemy) will outscale bane once you get +6FE. (And you will be equal to a fighters dpr or Better in these scenarios). Take this FE to +8 and stop there.
Putting Bane on a +6 FE is overkill and keeps your human FE at +4.
Where
Human +4 And bane,
Evil Outsider +8 (and Instant Enemy)
Is better balanced and you rock in nearly.all encounters.
(Now all we need is a return on 3.5 spells- Rhino Rush, Lion's Pounce and Hunter's eye. Then.you own EVERYTHING)
What if I don't have access to instant enemy (such as from playing in a Core Rulebook only campaign)? How would you advance your FE options?
(Rise and shine, sleepy thread!)
Campaign-based. When you're going up against Orcs, you obviously pick Orcs.
But I'd still start with Humans, unless the character's background makes another choice the obvious one.
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Wow... I applaud all the advice, but in my opinion this is a ROLE playing game, not a ROLL playing one. Pick a FE that suits the character I think, not one that's going to give you the best statistical advantage.
That being said, my 1st favored enemies have changed every time I've played a ranger. My current one has Magical Beast.
There's certainly an element of truth here (as the wilderness guiding Ranger with FE 'Animal' I played once goes to show)...but it really isn't any fun to have a particular FE chosen and then never (or nearly never) show up, given that it's one of the Ranger's best options mechanically. It's not quite on par with playing a Paladin and never fighting anything Evil, but it sucks in a similar, if less severe, way. In a home game, a GM can work to add them in, but APs or other published adventures usually aren't quite flexible enough for that.
Now obviously, you should have roleplaying reasons for all Favored Enemies...but as you get to make up your character's background, you can pretty much always easily make it something useful.
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I applaud your ability to resurrect the dead.
What if I don't have access to instant enemy (such as from playing in a Core Rulebook only campaign)? How would you advance your FE options?
(Rise and shine, sleepy thread!)
Speak with the GM, read the players guide to the AP. If you're running homebrew he should provide what would be good FEs. If you're running an AP just read the guide carefully and it will tell you what would be good.
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I like to pick dragons and undead. Unless the campaign has a direction in monster theme.
Edit: Wait, wow is this thread dead. Dang.
Threads on this site never really die...People find them in search engines and add their 2 cents yet again. Here's mine:
I would second picking monsters that are really difficult in the rare circumstances you encounter them.
Sure, humans are the most common enemy, but there's no shortage of means to deal with humans. If one tactic doesn't work, you can try something else.
Against Dragons, you are going to really want that extra bonus to hit and damage, especially if the Dragon is sporting one of those anti-magic fields...Yeah, it may only come up once, but surviving that one encounter may be entirely up to having a PC in the party that can cope with that one dragon.
Other tough enemies are also good options, doesn't have to be dragons specifically.
Though in terms of other decision making regarding favored enemies, it is notable that certain prestige classes and feats require specific favored enemies. If planing the PC out ahead of time, selection of favored enemy may be more related to something you intend 10 levels from now, rather than something you expect to use regularly.
On a related point, Vermin Heart/Greater Wild Empathy is a really solid option for dealing with swarms, since avoiding combat is almost always the best option against such foes. Granted, not all swarms are vermin, but they are often vermin.
Stormwind Fallacy Alert! Danger!
I..would pick a class with less specific abilities than favored enemy. Its too specific to be useful. You would need to have insider information so you know what enemies you will fight in a campaign..
Ranger is ranked low because its somehow both overspecialized and underpowered.
Favored enemy is far less useful than say Fighter with weapon training, or Slayer with Study Target.
I actually picked the Slayer, my current favorite class, because its basically the Slayer, but better.
I have to respectfully disagree with many of the "Human" suggestions.
Most seemed to choose it solely for a game mechanic advantage and 'playing the odds'.
Yes. From a min/max point of view, it makes logical sense.
But I would like to throw in the 'role-playing' vote.
Favored ENEMY should, IMO, be a creature type the PC has a particularly reason to despise, or see as their primary foe.
Seems shallow to me to pick FE solely for mathematics, and not have some character reason for it.
Either as a player or GM, my criteria for favored enemy, fall into one of 3 categories.
*Common Foe:
A creature type that the PC would see as a primary threat, by virtue of being among the top enemies he or his people have to face regularly .
As others pointed out; it makes sense that in an area often raided by say...goblinoids; they would be the primary foe that the people learn to fight and deal with. The bonuses for favored enemy make sense in that you would be taught/learn things about the primary threats.
*Hated Foe.
Either by long standing enmity between races, or a personal reason that fits the PC's history, a particular creature is HATED. Not not just one in particular, but ALL of them.
Was his family wiped out undead? Is the type a traditional/long-standing enemy of his people? (i.e Elf vs. Orc).
Sure, a halfling or dwarf could have human as a favored enemy; but I would expect to see a character reason for that, since they are not traditional enemies; and a human with FE-Human would have to have a pretty unusual reason to hate his own race (or a really messed up psyche).
*Experience.
A particular FE could be gained through game-play. Over time during a campaign, often running into undead, or aberrations, could certainly point towards picking them up as a FE at some point.
I have to respectfully disagree with many of the "Human" suggestions.
Most seemed to choose it solely for a game mechanic advantage and 'playing the odds'.Yes. From a min/max point of view, it makes logical sense.
But I would like to throw in the 'role-playing' vote.Favored ENEMY should, IMO, be a creature type the PC has a particularly reason to despise, or see as their primary foe.
Seems shallow to me to pick FE solely for mathematics, and not have some character reason for it.Either as a player or GM, my criteria for favored enemy, fall into one of 3 categories.
*Common Foe:
A creature type that the PC would see as a primary threat, by virtue of being among the top enemies he or his people have to face regularly .
As others pointed out; it makes sense that in an area often raided by say...goblinoids; they would be the primary foe that the people learn to fight and deal with. The bonuses for favored enemy make sense in that you would be taught/learn things about the primary threats.*Hated Foe.
Either by long standing enmity between races, or a personal reason that fits the PC's history, a particular creature is HATED. Not not just one in particular, but ALL of them.
Was his family wiped out undead? Is the type a traditional/long-standing enemy of his people? (i.e Elf vs. Orc).
Sure, a halfling or dwarf could have human as a favored enemy; but I would expect to see a character reason for that, since they are not traditional enemies; and a human with FE-Human would have to have a pretty unusual reason to hate his own race (or a really messed up psyche).*Experience.
A particular FE could be gained through game-play. Over time during a campaign, often running into undead, or aberrations, could certainly point towards picking them up as a FE at some point.
The two don't have to be mutually exclusive. Just because something works mathematically, doesn't mean it has to lack flavor. Maybe you could say your town was frequently pillaged by a nearby Barbarian tribe. To overcome their brute force, you study the human form and weaknesses to compensate.
Uh oh...
Stormwind Fallacy Alert! Danger!
In the name of Cthulhu!...
Err, well the closest explanation for the Ranger's abilities especially favored enemy is that the Ranger is a Serial killer stalking targets and learning about them, having a special hatred for certain species.
The Slayer just makes that more clear.
You can bring up the Stormwind Fallacy if you like, but one of the results of the mechanics is most Rangers taking humans as a favored enemy. Seeing a lot of backstory reasons for Ranger characters "hating" humans makes them start to feel like excuses. So while the optimization doesn't prevent the character from being roleplayed well, it can introduce an additional burden to overcome.