Hey Rangers! What is the *best* choice in Favoured Enemy?

[Boojum]

As already mentioned, humans and undead are nearly always good choices. However, the ranger in my game picked evil outsiders, which has come up many, many times. Of course, a lot of that depends on the overall plot of the game and the fact that Green Ronin's Book of Fiends is my favorite monster book (along with Monsternomicon). So to second what other people have said, try to be aware of what types of monsters your DM likes to use, and pick accordingly.

 

[irdeggman]

From the 3.5 SRD
Favored Enemy (Ex): At 1st level, a ranger may select a type of creature from among those given on Table: Ranger Favored Enemies. The ranger gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, and Survival checks when using these skills against creatures of this type. Likewise, he gets a +2 bonus on weapon damage rolls against such creatures.
At 5th level and every five levels thereafter (10th, 15th, and 20th level), the ranger may select an additional favored enemy from those given on the table. In addition, at each such interval, the bonus against any one favored enemy (including the one just selected, if so desired) increases by 2.
If the ranger chooses humanoids or outsiders as a favored enemy, he must also choose an associated subtype, as indicated on the table. If a specific creature falls into more than one category of favored enemy, the ranger’s bonuses do not stack; he simply uses whichever bonus is higher.

For 3rd edition, if I remember correctly, it is the reverse of what you said, your older ones get stronger when you pick up a new one.

Yet one more reason I prefer 3.5.

Yup and another reason to take somethinglike goblinoids or some other type of classed humanoid as the first favored enemy. It will work fairly well for the first 5 levels and then select a different one, one that the game is more favoring as far as encounters go.

All in all find out (or determine frompast experience) what type of creatures the DM likes to use and and go with it. Heck he'll probably like that you've taken his favoritve monster as your PC's favored enemy - works real well story wise most of the time.

 

[Laurel]

I will dare to say as many before- humans and undead.

DM should be able to give some guidance- for me it was 'have you noticed a pattern with all these undead attacks and fights' but as a ranger advances the DM can hint for the next enemy choose such and such. As the ranger gets them he can move aorund the bonus' This making his choice from the first levels take the least bonus, but if he just choose poorly he can change them to his advantage.

The DM also gets lots of say to make it a useful bonus or a worthless bonus....

 

[Aristotle]

Magical Beast and Abherration are the two that will show up all over the place. Very safe choices.

I have to agree, these two are your safest bets in a generic D&D game. They are good at high levels, so regardless of what others you take one or both of these will likely be your focus for future increases in power.

I would probably take one of those two first and then take others depending on the campaign. Don't forget how easy it is in third edition (all versions) to give creatures templates or class levels to keep them competitive.

I've worked up a campaign recently where the characters start off (low levels) facing orc raiders and culminates in a battle against a very powerful orcish cleric (who has been organizing the orc tribes to further his own evil goals). Sure I'll throw in other critters and side quests to keep it interesting, but the characters will likely face orcs of every possible CR on their way through. In such a campaign a Ranger with a powerful "favored enemy: Orcs" class ability would do very well.

All I'm saying is, after the "safe" choices, it really does depend on the campaign...

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Hmm.

Favored Enemy (Half-X)
Favored Enemy (Templated Creatures)

 

[Quickbeam]

For 3.0 Ranger rules, I'd have to say Undead, Giants and Goblinoids are the three I've found most useful. Magical Beasts is also good. As noted herein, the 3.5 adjustments make this choice somewhat less problematic.

 

[dead]

From the 3.5 SRD
Favored Enemy (Ex): At 1st level, a ranger may select a type of creature from among those given on Table: Ranger Favored Enemies. The ranger gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, and Survival checks when using these skills against creatures of this type. Likewise, he gets a +2 bonus on weapon damage rolls against such creatures.
At 5th level and every five levels thereafter (10th, 15th, and 20th level), the ranger may select an additional favored enemy from those given on the table. In addition, at each such interval, the bonus against any one favored enemy (including the one just selected, if so desired) increases by 2.
If the ranger chooses humanoids or outsiders as a favored enemy, he must also choose an associated subtype, as indicated on the table. If a specific creature falls into more than one category of favored enemy, the ranger’s bonuses do not stack; he simply uses whichever bonus is higher.

For 3rd edition, if I remember correctly, it is the reverse of what you said, your older ones get stronger when you pick up a new one.

Yet one more reason I prefer 3.5.

Thanks. I'm still going by the 3.0 rules but this helps out.

 

[scourger]

I recently played a half-orc ranger and selected orc as favored enemy. I thought it worked to represent certain "social" skills for the character.

 

[Testament]

Thanks. I'm still going by the 3.0 rules but this helps out.

GAH! Talk about living up to your name! You do realise that there is only one level of ranger in 3.0, don't you?

 

[Gort]

How about Undead and Constructs?

They're the monsters that normally take least damage due to the lack of critty fun - plus Golems have immunity to magic as well, so you'll probably out-damage the entire rest of the party when fighting these two sets of enemies.

Just be sure to be an archer, okay?