Playing a ranger specialising in killing undead and the like, I've run across the problem that without begging a spell from the cleric/mage (who usually prefers to dump them on the fighter) I usually can't actually hurt my favoured enemies, even with the bonuses, if they have DR.

What I'd suggest is that anyone with two or more favoured enemies (Harper Scouts level 4+, ranger level 5+) ignores DR on their Favoured Enemies. By then, they should know how to hurt them.

Don't know if it's possible, but hoping.

I like this idea, it makes sense.

It's not a magical +1/2/whatever enchantment, it's just + to hit them.

Knowing how to hurt them would entail knowing that you need a magic weapon.

In less sensical terms, Favoured Enemy: Demon would let you pass Mephistotoles' 40/+6 DR, if you're a level 6 Ranger? :shock:

This would be difficult, but not impossible to script. It doesn't sound like it's desirable though.

It wouldn't make sense and it would favor picking some favored enemies over the others simply to get the free DR bypass, since some monster types have DR more regularly than others.

Having certain kinds of monsters as your favored enemy only implies that you know more about them, not that your attacks would be magical. You can read all the literature in the Realms on dragons that you want and they'll still have that magical hide. Staring at the problem real hard doesn't make it go away.

Don't skeletons have damage resistance anyway? for slashing and piercing, which can't be bypassed by having a magic weapon. Tyrantfogs are the lowest level undead I can think of that have /+X (Reduction) rather than /- (resistance)

I don't really see a reason for this either, at least not with the undead. They're immune to crits and sneaks for a reason, because they don't have that soft spot you could hit.

Also, it shouldn't be very hard to be snappy at the clerics/mages about not ignoring you. (At least if you're as keen on it as protecting the graves >_>).

This is one of the problems with having a low magic world, at certain levels and challenge ratings, it's assumed the PCs have enchanted weapons to deal with the monsters they fight. The best solution for this short of handing out +1 weapons like candy is co-operation, I guess. Find a cleric of your ranger's deity and team up with them all the time.

All clerics and most mages can cast Magic Weapon. Problem solved.

or....like me....you get your hands on a Ranger's blade and an enchanted short sword. Enchanted weapons problem solved there for me! Carrying many many magic arrows and saving them for special occasions is good too! :D

Just to round out things, in P&P DnD the ranger favoured enemy damage bonus is negated for enemies who are immune to criticals/sneak attacks. So an undead hunter would not get dmg bonus, same with oozes, constructs. etc.

This also supports the lines that it is not a magical ability, but a kind of skill bonus to damage, like sneak attack.