Favored Enemy Rationale

[moritheil]

I think the best answer here is, "It comes from the rules text."

 

[DreadArchon]

For the same reason that a trap can be set to magically detonate, without fail or any possibility of being fooled, if anything comes within thirty feet of it on any plane, but a Rogue, Scout, or Beguiler can safely just walk up to it and turn it off...



...without any magical (or, heck, even physical) aid. o_0

 

[pawsplay]

For the same reason that a trap can be set to magically detonate, without fail or any possibility of being fooled, if anything comes within thirty feet of it on any plane, but a Rogue, Scout, or Beguiler can safely just walk up to it and turn it off...



...without any magical (or, heck, even physical) aid. o_0

They call him the "trap whisperer"....

 

[mvincent]

Since D&D combat it abstract, we can just say that rangers (due to their training) are better against some foes. We don't know what that training is (just like we don't know how a rogue disable's magical traps, or avoids damage from a fireball), but for simplicity we rule that it works anytime the ranger faces such a foe.

 

[Felnar]

say the ranger has favored enemy(elf) +4 and favored enemy(human) +2
against sfedi's "a disguised elf, as a human.", what bonus should the ranger get?

 

[EyeontheMountain]

Presumably, he can deduce that fact by what he observes. A knowledge roll will tell you a lot, but not making one won't cause your brain to fall out of your head.

Obviously you are part of the player knowledge trumps knowledge ranks camp.

 

[mvincent]

say the ranger has favored enemy(elf) +4 and favored enemy(human) +2
against sfedi's "a disguised elf, as a human.", what bonus should the ranger get?

+4.

 

[sfedi]

+4.

And would the ranger know the difference before the attack?
And would the ranger know the difference after the attack?

 

[DreadArchon]

Obviously you are part of the player knowledge trumps knowledge ranks camp.

The Favored Enemy skill doesn't say anything about the character's Knowledge ranks. If a Vampire is trying to Dominate you while you have a Protection from Evil up, you don't have to roll Spellcraft to see whether you know what's happening and whether your Protection works.

Edit:

And would the ranger know the difference before the attack?
And would the ranger know the difference after the attack?

I'm inclined to say No and Yes, respectively, though perhaps a DC 10 Knowledge check of the appropriate category would be in order.

 

[mvincent]

And would the ranger know the difference before the attack?

Likely not.

And would the ranger know the difference after the attack?

Possibly not

A similar example might be a rogue's sneak attack ability. It still works even if the creature is disguised as a different creature that has different vital spots. The rogue could even be attacking a (disguised) undead without knowing it.