Let me preface this with the caveat that I understand that there are many more considerations to picking class/race combos than ability scores. I get that, I really do. I just find looking at this aspect can reveal a few things.
I compared what ability scores are most commonly pumped among non-human races with what the classes list as key:
ABILITY #RACES #CLASSES
Str 1 6
Con 2 2
Dex 3 4
Int 2 3
Wis 2 5
Cha 4 5
I find this interesting because: 1) It seems to indicate an effort to keep Charisma from being the dump-stat it's been in the past; 2) An equal effort seems to be made to downplay the importance of strength
Looking at it another way, bonuses to key abilities by race v. class key skills:
#CLASS/ #CLASS/ #CLASS/ AGGREGATE
RACE 2 KEY +2 1 KEY +2 0 KEY +2 SCORE
Dragonborn 4 3 1 11
Dwarf 2 4 2 8
Eladrin 1 5 2 7
Elf 3 3 2 9
Half-elf 1 5 2 7
Halfling 1 7 0 9
Human 0 8 0 8
Tiefling 2 4 2 8
The aggregate score is arrived at by adding up the number of ability bonuses which can potentially add to key skills.
It seems that the Dragonborn, Halflings, and Humans are designed to have the most class flexibility in 4ed, while Eladrin and Half-elfs have the least.
One more way to look, Class vs. Race:
#RACES/ #RACES/ #RACES/ AGGREGATE
CLASS 2 +2's 1 +2's 0 +2's SCORE
Cleric 1 6 1 8
Fighter 2 5 1 9
Paladin 1 6 1 8
Ranger 2 4 2 8
Rogue 2 5 1 9
Warlock 2 5 1 9
Warlord 2 4 2 8
Wizard 2 4 2 8
Taken from this perspective, there's a bit more balance in class/race choice.
-Dan'L
I compared what ability scores are most commonly pumped among non-human races with what the classes list as key:
ABILITY #RACES #CLASSES
Str 1 6
Con 2 2
Dex 3 4
Int 2 3
Wis 2 5
Cha 4 5
I find this interesting because: 1) It seems to indicate an effort to keep Charisma from being the dump-stat it's been in the past; 2) An equal effort seems to be made to downplay the importance of strength
Looking at it another way, bonuses to key abilities by race v. class key skills:
#CLASS/ #CLASS/ #CLASS/ AGGREGATE
RACE 2 KEY +2 1 KEY +2 0 KEY +2 SCORE
Dragonborn 4 3 1 11
Dwarf 2 4 2 8
Eladrin 1 5 2 7
Elf 3 3 2 9
Half-elf 1 5 2 7
Halfling 1 7 0 9
Human 0 8 0 8
Tiefling 2 4 2 8
The aggregate score is arrived at by adding up the number of ability bonuses which can potentially add to key skills.
It seems that the Dragonborn, Halflings, and Humans are designed to have the most class flexibility in 4ed, while Eladrin and Half-elfs have the least.
One more way to look, Class vs. Race:
#RACES/ #RACES/ #RACES/ AGGREGATE
CLASS 2 +2's 1 +2's 0 +2's SCORE
Cleric 1 6 1 8
Fighter 2 5 1 9
Paladin 1 6 1 8
Ranger 2 4 2 8
Rogue 2 5 1 9
Warlock 2 5 1 9
Warlord 2 4 2 8
Wizard 2 4 2 8
Taken from this perspective, there's a bit more balance in class/race choice.
-Dan'L