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

[Zaruthustran]

So what are the best favored enemy choices in 3.5? Anyone spend any time looking through the new MM, seeing which groups are most commonly encountered?

I've got a 4th level ranger / 1st level rogue who's about to take another level of ranger. That means he'll have two favored enemies, and I was planning on taking the Extra Favored Enemy feat as the 6th level feat.

The party has a Druid so Animal is covered. And we've got a sorcerer who likes llusions and Enchantments so Giants (with their low will saves) are covered. I'd like to pick an enemy that's susceptable to sneak attacks, what for to put that Bluff favored enemy bonus to good use during feints. So Undead are out.

Here's what I'm thinking:

Favored enemy 1: Human +6
Favored enemy 2: Evil Outsider +2
Favored enemy 3: Aberration +2

Any comments or advice for this character? Comments on general Ranger favored enemy choices also welcome.

-z

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

Humans are always great to take. Other than that, it really depends on what direction the campaign is heading.

 

[Xarls Taunzund]

I'm gonna go with Meepo on this one, though Evil Outsiders is a great choice in my experience. Magical beasts also is a good one as there are large quantities of them, especially since 3.5 got rid of the beast type and the vast majority became magical beasts.

 

[Norfleet]

For the first favored enemy, I'd go with "Dragon", if the campaign had dragons in it at all: They're one of the toughest, meanest things out there, so you want as large a bonus as you can get. Then I start running down the list player and NPC races in the campaign, starting with the most common, generally humans. Then I prioritize them in order of commonality and antagonism: How common are they, and how likely are they to be antagonistic? Therefore, my preferred order is generally to start with dragons, then humans, then elves, then maybe orcs, dwarves, and soforth....

And don't ask why elves make #3. It should be obvious with a moment's thought. Extend similar logic to dwarves.

 

[Keith]

I’m voting for the Goblinoids. They always seem to turn up, and often in numbers. I think that is the best time to really be able to trim the enemy down quickly. Even at higher levels, it is just so fun to mow through assorted Goblins, Hobgoblins, and Bugbears. The problem with Dragon is, what if you don’t encounter one? Also, two points of damage won’t sway the encounter that much, likely. With Goblins, on the other hand...well, I’ve already said, I guess.

Cheers

 

[Voadam]

Humans for many campaigns will be most common.

Undead always important to take down as soon as possible.

Evil outsiders for higher levels

 

[Beelzebub]

One word: Kobold

 

[Wippit Guud]

No one picked animal? Get bonuses on all those skills that Wild Empathy affects?

 

[Ferret]

He already said that that the animals were covered by the druid. The thing is if you get a bonus already from you race and it is fairly common pick that, but human is a very good choice.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Good points. Thanks all.

The campaign is a human-dominated world that features plenty of templated fiends, so I think I have to go with Human and Evil Outsider. That leaves one more. I don't think we've seen a single goblin, but we have encountered a few ogres and trolls. And a very few aberrations (aboleth, umber hulk). I think magical beasts will still be covered by the Druid. Aren't magical beasts vulnerable to Dominate Animal?

So I guess I'll go with giant.

Favored enemy 1: Human +6
Favored enemy 2: Evil Outsider +2
Favored enemy 3: Giant +2

Thanks for the tips!

-z