And if racial bonuses didn't matter?

[The Human Target]

I want to play him anyway, but a Minotaur Assassin would get a lot sexier if my stats boosts didn't matter.

And while racial encounter powers are great, the +1 to hit and damage and all sorts of other class features does matter a lot. For some classes more than others.

 

[BASHMAN]

Halfling archer ranger. I even made this build for a con despite people griping at me for such a "sub optimal build". My favorite character of all time was a halfling from Basic D&D and I wanted to convert him to 4th. In basic D&D, halflings got bonuses w/ all ranged weapons & had a high chance to hide/move silently in woods, so they were already "ranger-y". In addition, Basic D&D shortbows & longbows did the same damage, so it wasn't handicapping the character at all.

In 4th ed though, not only were the ability score choices sub-optimal (+2CHA? I need Wisdom!) the weapon choices were laughably awful. Had I picked an elf ranger, I'd get faster move speed, the wisdom bonus, and be doing d12 damage w/ my great bow. The halfling was stuck w/ a d8 dmg shortbow.

I made the most of the character though, by sticking to powers with low W damage and instead had lots of extra effects, or could be used with Immediate actions. The character ended up almost being more of a martial controller than a striker, as he could shoot at an opponent to interupt their attack on an ally, etc.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Halfling Paladin

Seriously? Halfling Paladins rock. Charisma based, so they have a prime stat supporting them - and the important one for marking. Lost in the Crowd is seriously good for a defender. The only problem is, like any paladin, they need to choose two of the three good charisma at wills - the Melee basic attack, the sanction, and Enfeebling Strike.

Halfling Paladin tactics: Mark everyone in Close Burst 3, then dart out between their legs.

The obvious one to me is the Dwarf Artificer. Although I think that Dwarf Runepriest almost covers that concept niche these days. (Dwarf Rogue isn't so important; you don't need to be a rogue to take thievery in 4e).

Edit: And what's wrong with a halfling archery ranger other than needing to use a shortbow? Prime stat matchup there.

 

[Alaxk Knight of Galt]

Honestly, a +1 to hit and damage should never prevent you from playing a class/race combo. Don't ever let anyone sell you that class X can't work with race Y.

 

[babinro]

The problem with allowing racial bonuses anywhere is that many optimization players (myself included)...would likely focus far too much on one race. In 4e, I consider Dwarves to be the best all around race since day one with Dragonborn being the most fun race given the insanely good feat support they have.

I'd have liked to have seen the races with +2 to one static ability and then +2 on any other attribute of the players choosing. Humans would of course need some modification, possibly adding three +1 bonuses to ability scores as they please (keeping in line with the whole jack of all trades concept).


As for the above post though:

Eladrin Fighter/Warden/Barbarian - The idea of teleporting away in order to charge someone safely is a fun concept to me.

 

[Theroc]

Warforged (Arcane Powersource)
Revenant Anything
Dragonborn Anything
Deva Anything

 

[BASHMAN]

Honestly, a +1 to hit and damage should never prevent you from playing a class/race combo. Don't ever let anyone sell you that class X can't work with race Y.

Unfortunately with Halflings, Gnomes, etc you also have the problem of Weapon shrinkage screwing you over.

 

[darkwing]

Unfortunately with Halflings, Gnomes, etc you also have the problem of Weapon shrinkage screwing you over.

No, I didn't just get out of the bathtub...

 

[Neonchameleon]

Unfortunately with Halflings, Gnomes, etc you also have the problem of Weapon shrinkage screwing you over.

Not so badly for sword and board these days. The Rapier is martial, 1 handed, non-versatile +3/1d8. 2 handed on the other hand sucks for little guys.

 

[CovertOps]

Halfling Fighter/Slayer is something I really want to try once essentials is out...looks like a pretty good match up with the aforementioned Rapier.