D&D 3E/3.5 Best favored enemy choices in 3.5?

[The Souljourner]

Just a few points -

Zaruthustran - in 3.0 extra favored enemy didn't increment the rest of your favored enemies, it just gave you another one at +1. I think for a proper translation to 3.5 it wouldn't give you the extra +2 to put anywhere.

Norfleet - you mentioned "the very hefty to-hit bonus against dragons" - please note that favored enemy does *not* give a bonus to hit, only to damage.

I think undead make fine favored enemies... too often turning doesn't work against undead who are any kind of challenge to your party, since their hitdice are so much higher than their CR, and how many clerics do you know with high charisma? Not many. You get to pick up the slack from the rogue who suddenly is useless in that fight (or nearly so). Clerics really just aren't that uber great against undead, their main benefit is that their most common weapon happens to be bludgeoning

I like magical beast because there are so many... dragon is not a good choice in my opinion. You just don't see enough of them for it to be worth it. Compare that to humans - tons of those around, and sure, they're not as difficult as dragons, but at least you get to *use* your special ability more than a couple times a campaign that way.

-The Souljourner

 

[Sanackranib]

going for what you are likly to encounter the most is usually a good idea. I usually go:
1] goblinoids. remember these guys can have class levels so you are likly to keep encountering them as you level up.
2] giants since ettins and ogres are included that seems like a no brainer
3] undead you want to drop them asap and since they are imune to sneak attacks the extra damage is nice

 

[Plane Sailing]

The cleric will be way better at bashing undead than you are, anyway.

Often only at low-mid level though. At high level there are plenty of undead around with far too many HD for the cleric to affect with his turning, and from that point on any means of doing additional hp damage is welcome.

Cheers

 

[marshaldwm]

Just a few points -
I like magical beast because there are so many... dragon is not a good choice in my opinion. You just don't see enough of them for it to be worth it. Compare that to humans - tons of those around, and sure, they're not as difficult as dragons, but at least you get to *use* your special ability more than a couple times a campaign that way.
-The Souljourner

I agree mostly about the more powerful creatures. Remember in 3.5 you can ad the +2 bonus at 5th elvel tothe favored enemy you just chose, thus getting an auto +4 at 5th level.

For example
1st level +2 vs orcs(They are everywhere IMC)
5th level +2 vs Giants (and then add the bonus +2 to giants also)

Total at 1st-4th +2 Orcs
Total at 5th +2 Orcs, +4 Giants

A really useful bit of the rules for favored enemies