I understand the reasoning behind the +2 to both a physical ability score and mental ability score, -2 to one other ability score... to prevent the pigeon-holing of nonhuman characters into 1 character class.
Unfortunately, I don't dig the implementation of those bonuses and penalties. In particular, I don't get how dwarves get a CHA penalty while 1/2 Orcs don't and that gnomes and halflings get a CHA bonus. It doesn't gel with the representation of those races over the years or with the fact that CHA counts for MUCH more than how likeable a race is. CHA should encompass one's leadership abilities and force of presence.
My proposed changes (which are not too drastic and are in keeping with the +2/+2/-2 scheme):
Dwarves: +2 to CON, +2 to WIS (strong-willed and tough), -2 to DEX (short-legged and stoutly built).
Favored class: Fighter or Cleric.
Elves: +2 to DEX, +2 to INT (Graceful and learned), -2 to CON (slight of build).
Favored class: Ranger or Wizard.
Gnomes: +2 to CON, +2 to WIS (surprisingly tough and attuned to the surroundings... intuitive/perceptive), -2 to STR (their size limits their strength).
Favored class: Bard or Druid... like the Pathfinder iconic druid.
These changes are more in line with the fey background of gnomes in Pathfinder.
Half-Elves: +2 to any one ability score.
Favored class: Any
Half Orc: +2 to any one ability score (just like half-elves and humans).
Favored class: Barbarian or Druid.
Halflings: +2 to DEX, +2 to WIS (Nimble, perceptive and surprisingly strong-willed), -2 to STR (their size limits their strength).
Favored class: Rogue or Cleric. Rogues are well-suited to adventuring, nomadic halflings while clerics are a good fit for halflings who are strongly tied to their community... though clerics of trickster or merchant/travel-themed gods would be like itinerant priests (or charletans, gyspy fortune-tellers, etc).
Humans: +2 to any one ability score.
Favored class: Any
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I like all of these suggestions except those for halflings. I'd keep halflings +2 DEX, +2 CHA, -2 STR.
(1) The iconic D&D halfling has been anything but wise. You can argue that Wisdom in Pathfinder isn't really "wisdom" as the English language uses it, but most people I know tend to roleplay a low-Wisdom PC as a low-wisdom PC.
(2) Doesn't the halfling racial identity sorta depend on being likable?
(3) Keep halflings more differentiated from gnomes.
(4) Giving a third race +2 to Wisdom is IMO too much.
I'd also keep favored class as rogue or bard. Again, the iconic D&D halfling has become "roguish." I don't get the cleric idea at all.
Oh, and as an afterthought, using your suggestion for gnomes: why not favored class druid or ranger? Aren't gnomes supposed to be linked with nature? (I have to admit I never really cared for the "gnome bard" archetype introduced in 3.5 as a substitute for the gnome illusionist. I suppose I'm okay with sorcerer, but I'd still rather see "sorcerer or druid" over "bard or druid" or "bard or sorcerer.")
I like all of these suggestions except those for halflings. I'd keep halflings +2 DEX, +2 CHA, -2 STR.
(1) The iconic D&D halfling has been anything but wise. You can argue that Wisdom in Pathfinder isn't really "wisdom" as the English language uses it, but most people I know tend to roleplay a low-Wisdom PC as a low-wisdom PC.
(2) Doesn't the halfling racial identity sorta depend on being likable?
(3) Keep halflings more differentiated from gnomes.
(4) Giving a third race +2 to Wisdom is IMO too much.
I'd also keep favored class as rogue or bard. Again, the iconic D&D halfling has become "roguish." I don't get the cleric idea at all.
Oh, and as an afterthought, using your suggestion for gnomes: why not favored class druid or ranger? Aren't gnomes supposed to be linked with nature? (I have to admit I never really cared for the "gnome bard" archetype introduced in 3.5 as a substitute for the gnome illusionist. I suppose I'm okay with sorcerer, but I'd still rather see "sorcerer or druid" over "bard or druid" or "bard or sorcerer.")
Good points... I'm sold! The reason I went with WIS is that halflings (not including kender and their 3rd edition halfling clones) have always been described as prudent, perceptive and intuitive creatures in Tolkien and, to a lesser extent, in D&D.
Funny you mention the ranger or druid as favored classes for gnomes because I originally typed that BUT changed it so that my changes weren't too "radical". I'll change it back and change halflings (making their favored classes rogue and bard once more).
I understand the reasoning behind the +2 to both a physical ability score and mental ability score, -2 to one other ability score... to prevent the pigeon-holing of nonhuman characters into 1 character class.
Dwarves: +2 to CON, +2 to WIS (strong-willed and tough), -2 to DEX (short-legged and stoutly built).
Favored class: Fighter or Cleric.
Elves: +2 to DEX, +2 to INT (Graceful and learned), -2 to CON (slight of build).
Favored class: Ranger or Wizard.
Gnomes: +2 to CON, +2 to WIS (surprisingly tough and attuned to the surroundings... intuitive/perceptive), -2 to STR (their size limits their strength).
Favored class: Ranger or Druid... like the Pathfinder iconic druid.
These changes are more in line with the fey background of gnomes in Pathfinder.
Half-Elves: +2 to any one ability score.
Favored class: Any
Half Orc: +2 to any one ability score (just like half-elves and humans).
Favored class: Barbarian or Druid.
Halflings: +2 to DEX, +2 to CHA (Nimble and persuasive, halflings are well-received in most societies), -2 to STR (their size limits their strength).
Favored class: Rogue or Bard.
Humans: +2 to any one ability score.
Favored class: Any