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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Spatzimaus" data-source="post: 420014" data-attributes="member: 3051">IMC we did something a bit different.  The problem with the PHB system, as others have pointed out, is that it depends on the DM and really leads to some unusual Favored Enemy choices at low level (taking Dragon or Demon instead of Goblin just because you know you'll need the large bonus later).  You can't specialize in one or two types, and you can't generalize with one in every group.At high level the DM ends up having to check each encounter against your specialties, since a +5 Favored Enemy is much easier to beat.  If he gives you the type you've specialized against the encounter is too easy, if he doesn't you have a wasted ability.So, here's what we did.At levels 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 a Ranger gets one Favored Enemy Point, to put into a category.  At levels 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19 he gets 2 points, which can be split up.(By level 20 you'll have 15 points, the same as the PHB system, in roughly the same progression; the difference is flexibility)Each point gives the PHB bonus.  The limits:> At Ranger level 1-5 you can't have more than 2 points in any one group; at 6-10 it's at most 3, 11-15 max 4, 16-20 max 5.  If you have any other way of gaining Favored Enemy Points (prestige classes, for example) these caps won't move.> You can only spend points in a number of groups equal to your WIS-10; so, a WIS 13 Ranger can only have three groups.(You won't see high-level Rangers with WIS less than 14 anyway, for the spellcasting, so it's not a drop in power, I just want to keep people from putting 1 point into every group)> You can't put a point into a group if you haven't studied the enemy in the two levels since your last point gain.  "Study", in this context, means either you fought them repeatedly or spent extensive time gathering information about them.(i.e., if you spent the last year fighting bugbears and goblins, you can't increase your abilities against Dragons.)This, overall, is an increase in power over the old system.  You get the same number of bonuses, but add flexibility.  It also allows Rangers to grow more "organically", no pun intended, by gaining bonuses appropriate to what they've been fighting.The bigger difference is that since you might have more groups with small bonuses, the DM doesn't need to tailor adventures to you as much.For example, let's say I have a level 15 Ranger.  Under the old system he'd have 4 in the group chosen at level 1 (let's say Goblin), 3 in the group chosen at level 5 (let's say Dragon), 2 in the group from level 10 (let's say Elemental), and 1 in the level 15 group (let's say Magical Beast).Under my system he'd have 11 points to be spent as he wishes, with no more than 4 in one group.  Let's say he's got a really high WIS.So, maybe he goes Goblin, Giant, Dragon, Dragon, Magical Beast, (Elemental, Dragon), (Elemental, Magical Beast), (Magical Beast, Demon)So that's +1 Goblin, +1 Giant, +1 Demon, +2 Elemental, +3 Magical Beast, +3 Dragon.  More groups, and it matches better with what he's encountered.End result: Happier player, less balance headaches for the DM.  Overall it's a small boost in the class.You should also add two Feats:Favored Enemy Focus: Gain 2 Favored Enemy Points.  These are subject to all the standard limitations (cap by level, and the study requirement), and can only be allocated to groups you already have Favored Enemy Points in.  Prerequisite: must have at least 3 Favored Enemy pointsFavored Enemy Specialization: The cap for Favored Enemy Points increases by 1, and you gain one Favored Enemy Point to be spent as you wish.  Example: a level 20 Ranger normally can put no more than 5 points into any one group; with this Feat that Ranger could put 6 into a group.  Prerequisite: Favored Enemy Focus.(Still tweaking these a bit for balance)</blockquote>

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