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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Westgate Polks" data-source="post: 1624250" data-attributes="member: 13524">This analysis really should be done "on paper", because once the game starts then aspects of that game can change the balance.  For example, a combat-heavy campaign will produce different results than a combat-light game.Having said this, the weakest race "on paper" is the half-orc.  To see this for yourself, make a generic character with 11's in all 6 abilities.  Then apply all applicable racial modifiers and DO NOT assign any classes.  This represents the "average" PC of each race and provides a baseline for comparative purposes.Half-Orcs are the only race to take -4 in abilities at creation.  Further, their INT penalty robs them of 4 skills points at first level and 1 skill point every level after that.  Even using the simplest skill point distribution, this means Half-orcs have 1 less skill maxed than other races.  Half-orcs are the only base race that gets ability modifiers that don't bump one saving throw (Dwarves and Gnomes: Con, Elves and Halflings: Dex).Worse yet is the comparison of special abilities.  In essence, this can be summarized as 'Half-orcs are considered orcs w/ darkvision'.  This is wrong for a number of reasons.  First off, Half-orcs are the only base race to suffer from an attack bonus against them possessed by another base race:  the Dwarves (+1 attack vs. orcs).  Second, Half-orcs and humans are the only races that do not get a bonus to at least 1 saving throw.  Third, a closer examination reveals that a Half-orc is at LEASE 8 skill points behind any other race; let me explain.  Dwarves get a +2 bonus to 2 skills, Elves get a +2 bonus to 3 skills, Gnomes get a +2 bonus to 2 skills, half-eves a total of +7 bonus to skills, Halflings get a +2 bonus to 4 skills, and humans get their human bonus (+4 at first level).  Half-orcs get no bonus and suffer from a -1 to Int. that robs them of 4 skill points at first level.Consider also the other abilities the remaining races get:  stonecunning, stability, +4 dodge v. giants, immune to sleep, all the gnome spell-like abilities, etc.  Half-orcs get none of them.This is not to see that Half-Orcs cannot make viable characters; they certainly can.  It is just appearant that Half-Orcs are not as strong as their base race kin and must be built with care.I have the following house rules in place to help balance the races a bit:1.  Intimidate - works as either a CHR-based skill OR a STR-based skill.  It makes no sense to me that the average Half-Orc (w/ a -2 CHR penalty) would be WORSE at intimidate than your average Elf or Human.2.  Half-Orcs get a +2 bonus to Intimidate (STR-based).3.  Half-Orcs gain weapon familiarity:  Orc double-axe (identical to the Dwarven and Gnomish abilities pertaining to their ancestral weapons).4.  Half-orcs gain a +2 bonus to jump.I believe these adjustments significantly close the gap between Half-Orcs and the other base races.</blockquote>

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