Favored Enemy Question

[FalcWP]

In a Sharn-centered Eberron game I'm preparing to run, one of the PCs is going to be an urban ranger with an organization, the Tyrants, as a favored enemy. I'm trying to figure out just when he would receive the favored enemy benefits against members of the Tyrants.

Generally speaking, it should be difficult to know if a member of the Tyrants is a member. The organization is made up of changelings and dopplegangers, and they don't advertise their membership. It wouldn't be like having undead or goblinoids as a favored enemy, where you can identify them on sight.

If he can only benefit from the favored enemy when he knows he's fighting a member of the Tyrants, it could end up being a very weak class feature. But if he always benefits from it, regardless of if he's aware he's facing a Tyrant, it could end up being a major clue that he is faicng a Tyrant, which I believe could be harmful in a game with a fair amount of intrigue, which is what I'm going for.

Anyone have any idea just how things would work in this case?

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Speaking about the Favored Enemy ability in general, it applies even if the ranger doesn't know what he's facing. (E.g., it would work on a disguised goblin.) In some ways it doesn't make much sense, but given that D&D has a results-oriented combat system (meaning you wait to see the results of something before describing how it worked), it's not too big a deal.

As for it being a big clue, just keep the modifiers secret. When he damages am unknown Tyrant and gives you his damage roll, just add 2 to your ongoing tally. When he gives you the result of a skill check, same thing.

 

[Caeleddin]

Don't tell him the creature's current hps. Add 2 to the damage he does everytime. Chances are, unless he knows the MM back to front, and is solo-ing the monster, he won't even know if his FE bonus kicked in or not.

 

[werk]

Favored Enemy is a type/subtype of creature. If you are going to apply it to an organization, I guess I'd ask if the members of the organization all behave alike on all levels. I would say probably not alike enough to warrant the bonuses of favored enemy.

If you are getting the Favored Enemy: Tyrants from a book or supplement, they should detail it there. If you are cooking it up on your own, stick with the standard type-based favored enemies. (.02)

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Favored Enemy is a type/subtype of creature. If you are going to apply it to an organization, I guess I'd ask if the members of the organization all behave alike on all levels. I would say probably not alike enough to warrant the bonuses of favored enemy.

It's a variant form of Favored enemy which first appeared in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. Instead of a creature type, pick an organization. Your FE bonus applies against all members of the organization.

 

[Ranger5]

I have the same thing happening in my current FR campaign I am running. One of the characters is an urban ranger with the Night Masks as one of his favored enemies. In the past how I have handled it is that either he has been able to recognize Night Masks for who they are while fighting them (ie they have a distinctive fighting style that only he can pick up on). But generally just on sight he has not been able to just "spot" out Night Masks, and he has met a few that he does not know they are.