In particular, how important/useful is it to be able to make reliably high rolls in the Knowledge skill(s) that cover your favored enemies?
AFAICT being able to ID something as a favored enemy is important, but identifying it really thoroughly doesn't pump up your abilities or anything. It kind of seems like it should.
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That really depends on your party, and the GM. It won't really make you hit harder, but you may find out about DR, energy resistance, or some other ability that changes how the party fights it. However some GM's are not really good about handing out useful information with knowledge checks. If you have someone else in the party who handles knowledge checks then you may not need it as much since speaking is a free action.
I was going to make a very similar point to wraithstrike's. Especially in a game where people aren't bringing OOC knowledge to bear on combat tactics (as they really shouldn't), it becomes very important to identify things like DR, dangerous attacks, or other vulnerabilities of enemies.
Favored Enemy gives you a bonus to that knowledge check (and lets you make it untrained). The knowledge gained from the check is itself the bonus, and depending on the combat, may be vastly more useful than another flat +2 atk/+2 dmg.
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That depends. To the best of my knowledge, you still get all of your Favored Enemy bonuses, even if you can't identify them. That didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but that is how it works. I personally choose to try to have moderate to high knowledges regarding my Favored Enemy/Enemies, just because it makes sense.
Okay, sounds like I had it backwards, especially since
To the best of my knowledge, you still get all of your Favored Enemy bonuses, even if you can't identify them.
which I'd managed to miss but see now is true.
Thanks all!
Okay, sounds like I had it backwards, especially sinceTo the best of my knowledge, you still get all of your Favored Enemy bonuses, even if you can't identify them.which I'd managed to miss but see now is true.
Thanks all!
I'm guessing it's a "Is that an Orc? It looks kinda Orc-ey from this distance. I'm just going to assume it's an Orc and try to kill it like I would an Orc" thing.
You can still suspect things without knowing them. I guess when you have multiple favored enemies it's shouldn't be that difficult to rule out that something is not undead, or a dragon, or an ooze without knowing exactly what it is.
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"My favored-enemy sense is tingling! That must be either a dragon, an ooze, or a dwarf. If only I could tell them apart!"
"My favored-enemy sense is tingling! That must be either a dragon, an ooze, or a dwarf. If only I could tell them apart!"
"Hm... it looks kind of blobby... no discernible anatomy whatsoever... definitely mindless... I think we're dealing with a Fire Drake, everyone!"
Since the knowledge check is added it would add to the modifier to help you realize "That is an orc".
Since the knowledge check is added it would add to the modifier to help you realize "That is an orc".
It should but passing the knowledge check to "identify a monster's abilities and weaknesses" shouldn't need to be passed in order to have some idea about what it is, and therefore how to fight it.
Like if there's a floating skull that's casting spells it's a DC 24 Knowledge: Religion check to identify that it's a demilich and that it can steal your soul, but it should be fairly obvious without rolling any dice that your character can tell that the floating skull is probably undead.
Having at least 5 ranks in Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (Dungeoneering), Knowledge (Local), Knowledge (Nature), Knowledge (Planes), and/or Knowledge (Religion) can be useful if the ranger has a cunning weapon.
At higher levels, the bonus from Favored Enemy to skill checks can help, as the Knowledge check DCs to identify special powers or vulnerabilities are based on CR.
Since the knowledge check is added it would add to the modifier to help you realize "That is an orc".....passing the knowledge check to "identify a monster's abilities and weaknesses" shouldn't need to be passed in order to have some idea about what it is, and therefore how to fight it.
Like if there's a floating skull that's casting spells it's a DC 24 Knowledge: Religion check to identify that it's a demilich and that it can steal your soul, but it should be fairly obvious without rolling any dice that your character can tell that the floating skull is probably undead.
That varies by monster. Some monsters such as the shadow demon could pass for being undead.