"Social" Favored Enemies for Bards? All in Favor Say....

[SocratesBastardSon]

I'd like to see the favored enemy (FE) system used more. This idea was inspired by the old p&p language system used in 3.5 edition of D&D. Different classes and races received varying numbers of languages learned, and knowing a language gave you certain benefits when dealing with that race. I don't expect SSG to invest in a language system for DDO (although it would be cool), but there's a way you could mimic it: favored enemies.

My thought was Bards should have FEs, but rather than getting melee and defensive buffs like Rangers do, they would get social skill buffs: bluff, intimidate, diplomacy. And if you really want to be nice, a bonus on their song and/or mind-affecting spell DCs (i.e., will saves). This could be awarded via

• an addition to their enhancement trees, e.g., add it to some cores
• assign them favored enemies in the same manner as Rangers gain them (Swashbucklers could convert Bard FEs to non-stacking Ranger style FEs)
• a feat that awards the ability to use FEs

Any enhancement, e.g., Falconry and Gnome, that have FE options could be chosen by a Bard to enhance their social skills and possibly spells when dealing with that additional creature type.

I'm not in favor of stopping there, however.

There are other FE-like systems being used now, just not used very flexibly. For instance, Knights of the Chalice have Censure Demons/Outsiders, Battle Engineers have Wracking Shot and Disable Construct, Clerics have domains (Animal, Elemental, etc.), different character races have inherent favored enemies (Dwarf racial bonus) or actual FEs (Gnome, Scourge). One could argue that the deity feat system touches on FEs, e.g., Aureon and undead.

If you created a more robust FE system, Cleric domains could be awarded FE bonuses when dealing with creatures impacted by turning, e.g., Ranger-style combat bonuses, or a penalty to spell DCs (perhaps limit it to after they have been exposed to a turn, like the way Sun domain imposes a short-term vulnerability to light damage). Convert the Dwarven racial bonus to a regular or even enhanced FE bonus, which would help out Dwarven rangers and bards (assuming there is such a thing). The most aggressive or combat-oriented Deities should give FEs, e.g., undead for Aureon.

And again, why stop there?

I already mentioned KotC and BE's having a single or small group of FE-like enemies. Why not make feat that provides an FE specialization path, with significant bonuses akin to Censure Demons and Wracking Shot/Strike? This path could even be handled through enhancements: if a tree grants a choice of FEs, or even any FE whatsoever, you can choose to devote that FE "slot" to doing more to a call it Favorite Favored Enemy (FFE), putting you on the way to greater damage than just a regular FE.

But wait, let's not be shy with our FEs. I'm in favor of keeping going!

What about the Archmage, which is desperately in need of a refresh? Give them FEs that improve DCs and/or spell levels/max spell levels for spells cast against them?

Soon FEs will be everyone's favorite, and a niche, mostly ignored skill becomes a fun new way to customize your builds.

All in favor?

[SocratesBastardSon]

Another idea related to FEs: do a tie-in with Monster Manual progression. The kind of intelligence (information) higher tiers of familiarity award is how Ranger FEs were supposed to work in older D&D, iirc. In other words, Monster Manual advancement should award FE abilities.

*** VIP IMPROVEMENT SUGGESTION ALERT ***

Of course, everyone who is VIP or purchases MM packs advance this way, so you would have to adjust it based on the class. Perhaps it gets limited to only those who have gained FE feats/enhancements, and acts as an "Improved" FE system for Rangers (and Bards, if my suggestion above is accepted). Or everyone benefits from a kind of "Lesser" FE set of awards, and only Rangers get full benefits.

I think my suggestions would encourage closer attention and motivation to discovering new species if the awards were move visible, i.e., had a role in game play.