Using Human, Half-Elf, and Elf races as a rosetta stone, you can figure out how balanced each racial trait is worth and then compare to other races to gage what other traits are valued at. Elves get racial weapon training, which is equal to +1 to any ability score (typically a “primary”* score, so I would balance it to that).
*During point buy it takes (2) points to raise a “Primary score” above 13.
Weapons have a low impact, typically +1 damage. So not a huge balance issue even if you are way off.
If a wizard used a 2d8 melee weapon it doesn’t really affect the balance as much as a fighter using a 2d8 weapon. Giving a wizard longsword for free doesn’t matter, as they are balanced around cantrips, but giving it to a monk might. You need to balance it to the class, not to the game.
Some easy points to quickly adjust sub/races:
All races have 12 points built into them:
2 pts each:
+1 to any ability score
1 skill
1 cantrip
Ribbons (worth 0 points)
-languages
-darkvision
-trance
-fey ancestry
I won’t bother posting the whole chart, but I have a pretty robust racial chart where characters can be a half-dwarf, half-halfling character, or any other pair by selecting racial traits to reflect their parentage and/or upbringing. Ex: a Half-Orc raised in a city to reflect a less tribal-like upbringing that the standard race block pushed towards Fighter or Barbarian.
I run a pretty cosmopolitan world, and find this just increases character options beyond race/class/background. Players have enjoyed it and I haven’t seen any balance issues, even when a couple of them try to optimize it.
Thank you!
