replacing FE

[geonova]

i want to play a ranger, but i really dislike favored enemy. what can i replace it with?

please help.

[Piggy Knowles]

It's kind of the iconic ranger class feature, so no ACFs that I'm aware of replace it outright, although several modify. For example, in Complete Mage, you can get Arcane Hunter in its place, which essentially acts as favored enemy versus spellcasters and those who can cast SLAs. Cityscape has rules for favored enemy organizations.

If you're talking what would be a fair replacement, that's a more complicated question. Personally I don't think giving a ranger, say, ferocity (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a) in place of favored enemy would be unbalancing, although it's almost certainly going to be a boost.

[Stux]

If you're playing Pathfinder there are several archetypes that replace favored enemy.

If you are playing D&D 3.5, there isn't much I'm aware of. There are some ACF and substitution levels that effect favored enemy, but all the ones I can find replace it with an altered form of favored enemy. The rare exceptions only replace certain levels of favored enemy, so you would still have favored enemies, just less of them.

[geonova]

It's kind of the iconic ranger class feature, so no ACFs that I'm aware of replace it outright, although several modify. For example, in Complete Mage, you can get Arcane Hunter in its place, which essentially acts as favored enemy versus spellcasters and those who can cast SLAs. Cityscape has rules for favored enemy organizations.

If you're talking what would be a fair replacement, that's a more complicated question. Personally I don't think giving a ranger, say, ferocity (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a) in place of favored enemy would be unbalancing, although it's almost certainly going to be a boost.

okay that sounds good, but what are SLAs?

[mattie_p]

One thing missing so far is favored environment (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/classFeatureVariants.htm#favoredEnemyVariantFavore dEnvironment).

SLAs are spell-like abilities, many monsters you might fight have them, so you get a bonus on quite a few things.

[Karnith]

okay that sounds good, but what are SLAs?
"Spell-like abilities." You can read up on them here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#spellLikeAbilities). Whenever you see an ability marked (Sp) in a creature or class feature description (or anywhere else, really), it is a spell-like ability.

You can also check out the Favored Environment (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/classFeatureVariants.htm#favoredEnemyVariantFavore dEnvironment) class feature variant, which is marginally different from Favored Enemy.

EDIT: Swordsage'd.

[Drachasor]

Pathfinder has two variant which are interesting.

1. (Freebooter Archetype) As a move action, you single out an enemy. All allies within 30' get +1 to attack and damage against that enemy until it is defeated or a new target is chosen. No use limit. Bonuses go up by 1 for at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter.

2. (Guide Archetype) Swift action to gain a +2 to attack and damage against a particular foe. You can use this ability 1/day. It lasts until you pick a new foe or you regain uses of this ability. At 4th level and every 3 levels thereafter you can use it an additional time per day. Bonuses increase by 2 at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter.

I think both are more sensible abilities than Favored Enemy.

I think a House Rule option might be to have Favored Enemy start at the standard +2 bonuses. Go up by 2 at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter. You pick one type of enemy at 1st, another at 5th, etc. All favored enemies get the full bonus. Add a line of spells that adds another type to this list for 1 round/level, 1 minute/level, 10 minutes/level, and then 1 hour/level. Swift action to cast. Or something like that.

[geonova]

thanks, i might go with arcane hunter since it seems to be the most versatile ability that's been recommended

[BowStreetRunner]

okay that sounds good, but what are SLAs?

Spell-like abilities. In this case, it only applies to Invocations, which means warlocks or dragonfire adepts. The ability gives favored enemy status to characters who are capable of "casting arcane spells or using invocations" and it explicitly states "but not other spell-like abilities".

[PaucaTerrorem]

If you don't mind me asking; What do you not like about Favored Enemies?

[Big Fau]

If you don't mind me asking; What do you not like about Favored Enemies?

How about "It's hilariously underpowered for TWFing"? The only reasons it is useful are Swift Hunter and Arcane Hunter.

[Drachasor]

If you don't mind me asking; What do you not like about Favored Enemies?

There something like 16 choices, that you can't know the frequency of in a particular game. Those choices vary in when they are threats during level (and you often don't know how long a campaign will last). Even making good guesses on what to use requires a fairly deep level of system mastery.

In short, it's the mechanics make it a horrible ability. It should not exist in its current form (or in Pathfinder's form either, for that matter).

[DeltaEmil]

I would allow Favored Enemy to be replaced by bonus feats, or by class features found on http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/genericClasses.htm#bonusFeats (you must fulfill the requirements, of course).

[Humble Master]

Arcane Hunter seems the best since there are a lot of monster that have Spell-Like Abilities. I would defiantly recommend it over Favored Enemy.

As for why Favored Enemy is under powered it basically boils down to unless you are fighting only one or two types of monsters you're not going to be able to get it's bonus that often. Also some favored enemy choices, like Humanoid (Orc) are effective against so few monsters that you barely ever get to use it.

[BowStreetRunner]

Arcane Hunter seems the best since there are a lot of monster that have Spell-Like Abilities.

Why does everone keep saying this? Arcane Hunter explicitly does not work this way. Spellcastng and Invocations "but not other spell-like abilities."

[NamelessNPC]

I don't know why no one said it yet, there's a pathfinder ranger archetype called Wild Stalker (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/ranger/archetypes/paizo---ranger-archetypes/wild-stalker) that trades favored enemy, hunter's bond and a feat for rage, uncanny dodge and rage powers.

[Prime32]

There something like 16 choices, that you can't know the frequency of in a particular game. Those choices vary in when they are threats during level (and you often don't know how long a campaign will last). Even making good guesses on what to use requires a fairly deep level of system mastery.

In short, it's the mechanics make it a horrible ability. It should not exist in its current form (or in Pathfinder's form either, for that matter).I like how this rewrite (http://dnd-wiki.org/wiki/Ranger,_Tome_%283.5e_Class%29) handled it, where having a favored enemy grants abilities that come up a lot when fighting the chosen type, but can be used in any situation. (eg. FE:dragon gives you Evasion, the better to defend against breath weapons)

Warning: High-powered class, and based on the Tome rules rather than standard 3.5.

[Humble Master]

Why does everone keep saying this? Arcane Hunter explicitly does not work this way. Spellcastng and Invocations "but not other spell-like abilities."
My apologies I missed that part.