Green Goblin give very good idea to RPG .
http://64.17.155.164/gr_files/black_company_pre.pdf
You choose ( or roll ) a background that give you favored classe, skill bonus, feat bonus and so on.
I think in this world ( Glen Cook's), there is only human race avaible. With this background, we give a lot of opportunity for player.
We could give each race a list of background.
Example from this pdf: Elfe could have Artistocrat, Hunter
Half orc could have Commoner, Fugitive
Dwarf could have Engineer, Commoner ...
This rules give the opportunity to have different character, different bonus from each race : two dwarf warrior will not be the same.
A forgot the problem of 1 favored class for each race.
Plus : give some race iconic +2 bonus, and the background give the other +2 -2.
Example : elf gain +2 Dex.
Hunter give +2 For -2Int ?
Artisocrat give +2Int -2St ...