Racial Starting Stat Bonuses

[Zephrin the Lost]

With the release of the PHB2, it seems that there's a race that gives a +2 to every class's primary and secondary stats. Is that true?

And if it is, since players can always choose a race that boosts their two most important stats, would it be too unfair to humans to do away with racial bonuses as written and just say that any race can raise any two stats by two points at character creation? Does it matter if a PC elf is as good a paladin as a dragonborn or a dwarf as good a warlock as a tiefling at the start?

--Z

 

[Drakhar]

With the release of the PHB2, it seems that there's a race that gives a +2 to every class's primary and secondary stats. Is that true?

And if it is, since players can always choose a race that boosts their two most important stats, would it be too unfair to humans to do away with racial bonuses as written and just say that any race can raise any two stats by two points at character creation? Does it matter if a PC elf is as good a paladin as a dragonborn or a dwarf as good a warlock as a tiefling at the start?

--Z

Wait why aren't Dwarves good warlocks again? Honestly there's more to class/race synergy then just the ability bonuses. I plan on playing a Drow Avenger in an upcoming campaign, a pretty suboptimal race/class combo from a stat stand point, but concidering I'm planning on being stealthy it's going to work wonders.

 

[jgsugden]

I do not beleive we have a wisdom / charisma combination race. That is a combination for clerics...

 

[Drkfathr1]

Thankfully my players don't try to optimize/maximize every aspect of their characters.

Gasp. They actually sometimes use the racial bonuses to shore up a low score!

 

[Spatula]

Clerics & paladins are indeed lacking a +CHA & WIS race. Like others have said, I don't think the stats are all of it, though. Dwarves make good fighters despite not having a STR bonus, for example - CON & WIS are very useful fighter stats, and the racial abilities play very well to the fighter's strengths.

 

[Dice4Hire]

Man, I get tired of people talking about optimal this and optimal that based on the race's ability modifiers..

There is a lot more to an optimal race than that. Dwarves make excellent fighters because they can second wind easily in the midst of a fight without slowing down the damage dealing, get the excellent feat that gives +2 to hammers and axes, and they do not get pushed around as easily.

But if you absolutely need a 20 in your prime stat at first level, then I guess race is important. A 16 or 18 is fine for me, so the race does not matter all that much. It is important, and I look at heir racial abilities, but flavor counts for a lot too.

 

[Drkfathr1]

Man, I get tired of people talking about optimal this and optimal that based on the race's ability modifiers..

There is a lot more to an optimal race than that. Dwarves make excellent fighters because they can second wind easily in the midst of a fight without slowing down the damage dealing, get the excellent feat that gives +2 to hammers and axes, and they do not get pushed around as easily.

But if you absolutely need a 20 in your prime stat at first level, then I guess race is important. A 16 or 18 is fine for me, so the race does not matter all that much. It is important, and I look at heir racial abilities, but flavor counts for a lot too.

This!

 

[Nymrohd]

Truth be told Dwarves make excellent everything for the simple reason that their racials and feats are a bit OP.

 

[Badwe]

It’s worth noting that unless you count monster manual races, there’s no DEX + CON race (otherwise kobold), and unless I missed something there are no INT/CON or WIS/CHA races whatsoever. Also keep in mind that size, racial feats, racial powers and racial paragon paths differentiate even races with the same stat combo (eg: Halfling vs. drow).

 

[Tarril Wolfeye]

It’s worth noting that unless you count monster manual races, there’s no DEX + CON race (otherwise kobold), and unless I missed something there are no INT/CON or WIS/CHA races whatsoever. Also keep in mind that size, racial feats, racial powers and racial paragon paths differentiate even races with the same stat combo (eg: Halfling vs. drow).

Well, for DEX + CON there's the Gnoll article in Dragon. There's no WIS/CHA race whatsoever, but INT/CON is the githyanki (a MM race), the ultimate shielding swordmage.