Pathfinder 1E Why racial ability score penalties?

[Dannyalcatraz]

I like 'em; Crothian & Umbran stated my basic reasons.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

They're fine. If you're trying to optimize point buy you should be facing hard choices with regard to trade-offs; otherwise why not have 18s in every stat?

But if you prefer, you can delete them and instead give a +2 bonus to every other stat of every other race.

 

[Erekose]

I like them. I like the idea that some species are less then average with some attributes. It helps keep the different species mechanically different.

Sums up my feelings

 

[Ahnehnois]

I do not like that PF decided that every race needs a net bonus, or that humans need a bonus. I think the most intuitive baseline is to say that the average human is at 10-11 in everything, and that other races vary from that. I certainly have no problem with some races being worse than average at some things. I wish the game had more mechanics for weaknesses and flaws, not less.