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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Zaruthustran" data-source="post: 1140226" data-attributes="member: 1457">According to the rules, the ranger's perception of belief is not relevant. Only the FE and the monster's current Type are relevant. A ranger with favored enemy human gets his FE bonus when he fights humans. Target not a human? No favored enemy bonus.The Change Shape ability of monsters does not change the type: SRD "The creature retains the type and subtype of its original form."Whether the DM tells the ranger that the bonus does not apply is an issue not covered by the rules. But I would. I'd say "You strike him over where a human's kidney should be--usually a very painful hit on a human--but your target doesn't grimace the way you'd expect."A ranger trained to spot and fight humans should be able to tell that the "human" thing he is looking at/fighting does not actually act like a human. It's like that scene in Tom Sawyer when Tom dresses up like a girl, but the woman he's having tea with spots him as a boy because despite appearances Tom doesn't quite behave like a girl. A ranger would pick up on that. Especially during a fight.It's not free. The ranger still has to hit/interact with the target.The DM doesn't need to tell the player about damage bonuses to monsters. The DM tracks damage to monsters, not players. Like the other reply said, the DM can always secretly deduct the FE bonus that the player adds.But I think it's cool that a ranger would be able to pick up on the disguise. Example: the ranger stabs the rakshasa, and the rakshasa screams. The grizzled ranger cocks his head, then mutters "this thing doesn't scream like a human."Or:DM: You see a human.Ranger: I attack! I roll a 19 to hit and a 10 for damage, including +4 from favored enemy: human.DM: Okay that's a hit but you don't get the +4--you swing high and then low, a trick that always works on a human to expose its tender belly, but your target simply doesn't go for it.Ranger: Hey guys! I know how humans fight, and this thing doesn't fight like a human!Others: Good job ranger! You're fulfilling your class role of an expert hunter!That's cool.Yep. That's the way it works. A pixie that has assumed the shape of an orc is still Type: Fey. So, it moves and fights like a fey even though it looks like an orc.Example: DM: You see an orc.Ranger: I attack! I roll a 19.DM: That's a hit. As you strike, you notice that the creature hops back in a distinct way that triggers a trained counter-manouver from you. You get to add your favored enemy: fey bonus to this damage.Ranger: Hey guys! This orc isn't an orc--it fights like a fey creature!Others: Good job, ranger! You're fulfilling your class role of an expert hunter! That's cool.-z</blockquote>

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