Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Limit 06-22-04, 01:43 PM	I was wondering if anyone had any experience choosing different favored enemies from the ones on the list in the PHB. My players were asking me about different things for RPing reasons - like, why would a ranger who only hunts bears know how to kill squirrels really well too. Some of the things they asked about were more restricted, like a succubus hunter. Other ideas included parts of two types, think "Exterminator" - insects and rats, things that plague our homes. Other ideas were original like someone who specializes in killing just spell-casters, or someone who speacializes in mounted foes. Flying creatures was another idea someone mentioned. I just wanted to see if anyone else had used an alternative approach, and what the general consensus was on the balances issues we'll face if we try something like this.
eggplantm 06-22-04, 03:53 PM	Many people use the idea of favored terrain. So if your ranger picks "underground" and encounters a creature that lists underground in its terrain entry, you get the favored enemy bonuses against it. This also makes more sense to some people but it has a downside when dealing with outsiders and takes close study from the GM. Do creatures with terrains of any land qualify for multiple categories or none? How do you handle planar enemies such as outsiders and elementals? Not difficult questions but they have to be decided upon. Look at the horizon walker prc for help.
roguebfl 06-22-04, 04:17 PM	Originally posted by eggplantm Do creatures with terrains of any land qualify for multiple categories or none? How do you handle planar enemies such as outsiders and elementals? Not difficult questions but they have to be decided upon. Look at the horizon walker prc for help. to the First oen the Offical ruling (ala Horizon Walker) is if th has Any land then the never get the terrian bonus. as for second part outsder tend to heve 'any' so via the first rulling they dont get it either.
Geethree 06-22-04, 04:25 PM	like, why would a ranger who only hunts bears know how to kill squirrels really well too.Because that ranger probably doesn't hunt only bears. He has probably spent time hunting animals in general for food (or other resources). Personally, if any ranger in my games wanted to limit his favored enemy to only one thing, I'd let them do it. Remember, favored enemy has to be something you can study. Spellcasters aren't anatomically different from other members of their race, so why should you be able to hurt them any more than you hurt another?
roguebfl 06-22-04, 04:47 PM	Originally posted by Geethree Remember, favored enemy has to be something you can study. Spellcasters aren't anatomically different from other members of their race, so why should you be able to hurt them any more than you hurt another? well remember Favoured enemy goes beyond just anatomy, but to Tactics and fighting styles, how then move etc.
Geethree 06-22-04, 07:42 PM	Originally posted by roguebfl well remember Favoured enemy goes beyond just anatomy, but to Tactics and fighting styles, how then move etc. Yeah, but "spellcasters" is very vague and not really legitimate. I didn't mean to imply that favored enemy is just about anatomy, but you have to be able to study your opponent. There are very few things that connect all spellcasters. I'm certainly consider allowing an organization as a favored enemy, as they would have distinct tactics.
Limit 06-22-04, 08:18 PM	True enough, but riddle me this: Are the tactics for hunting one wizard vastly different from hunting another wizard, moreso compared to the tactics you'd used to attack blink dog compared to the tarrasque (compared to a hellwasp swarm, etc) One favored enemy (magic beast) covers both the blink dog and tarrasque, but wouldn't cover two wizards unless they were the same race. I don't know, I think I'd personally approach a gnome caster in the same way I'd approach a human caster, but my tactics for a swarm versus a dog would vary greatly. I imagine it could be narrowed down, like Favored Enemy: Cleric --- And on the same token, if you have favored enemy animal, if a druid wild shapes, do you get to apply the bonus? No, because the type doesn't change, but they have the same anatomy.
Geethree 06-22-04, 08:43 PM	One favored enemy (magic beast) covers both the blink dog and tarrasque, but wouldn't cover two wizards unless they were the same race.Favored Enemy doesn't mean that you pick one monster and hunt it, and by extension you know how to hunt others. It's a field of study. Obviously, there are things that connect all magical beasts. Their magical nature means you have to track and hunt them in different ways. A ranger who has favored enemy (magical beast) studies them in general. He doesn't just apply Blink Dog tactics to the Tarrasque.