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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ValhallaGH" data-source="post: 4808702" data-attributes="member: 41187">Given that the designers apparently felt that humanoid races (humans, orcs, goblins, drow, etc.) and extra-planar creatures (outsiders) would be the most common foes in a campaign, building in subdivisions makes a sort of sense.It's easier to remove than it would be to introduce.  If the DM says "You don't have to pick subtypes when you choose Humanoid or Outsider as a Favored Enemy" then the DM looks like a nice guy.  If the DM said that you had to choose subtypes when you didn't then the DM would look like a jerk.  So, from that perspective, the design choice makes a lot of sense, providing a level of granularity that can be stripped out as desired.In many settings, humanoids are the primary antagonists.  Both as the major villains (dudes with class levels), and as sword-fodder for major organizations (cults, armies, city guards, etc.).  This means that DMs who have multiple humanoid races can swap up the races used and limit the impact of PCs with humanoid favored opponents, giving the DM better control over the course, pacing, and fun of his campaign.  For that point, subdivisions almost make sense.Further, there may have been some sort of historic perspective involved (I don't know, I came in at 3rd Edition).Favored Enemy is powerful.  If you don't agree, just ask any DM that's run an undead campaign and had a ranger (or two) in the party.  That said, it's not unbalancing.Killing golems and killing lions is probably pretty different, and I haven't run into many people who would argue with separating Constructs and Animals.  But is killing elves and killing orcs really that different?  According to the rules, yes; according to common sense, no.My advice, which I do follow, is to compress Humanoid into a single category, and Outsider into a single category.  This makes them as useful and appealing as Undead, Animal, Magical Beast, Aberration, or any of the other big categories.Good gaming, all.</blockquote>

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