Arent the cost for various race abilities a bit too much unbalanced?

[carn]

Checking out the race build rules for the first time, i realized that crap like +4 stealth cost the same as +2 to any ability score, which is at least as good as +1 stealth, + 1 dodge ac and lots of other stuff.

It seems, if i ever went to build an optimized race with 10 RP, i would never get anything near the standard races.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/arg-creating-new-races

How does it come those costs are so skewed?

[Cheapy]

The system attempts to fit values to pre-existing abilities that were assigned before any point value. They also were meant to cluster around 9-11 for the core races, so the cost of abilities were made to fit this. When you combine those two facets, yea, the costs can get a bit wonky. But they're generally OK if you don't try to optimize them and use them as they're intended.

[carn]

But even although its fitting cost to preexisting abilities, its still of. A chosen feat cost 2 and +4 on a skill cost 4, so instead of +4 one could have for the same price +5 on one skill (from skill focues+the respective feat benefitting 2 skills) and +2 on another, with both bonuses doubled at 10 skill ranks.
Or instead of the second feat, just skill focus and a climb speed. Climb speed as expensive as a chosen feat? Climb speed gives +8 to one skill and nearly removes the need to roll that skill and makes a lot of fun (moving fully armored with shield and weapon along the ceiling and attacking for example). But getting plain +4 to climb costs double the RP.

[Caimbuel]

Many here seem to forget the spirit of the rules type thing. I have been known to break things at will for fun. What I bring to the table to any game I am lucky enough to play in is a tame multifaceted character that is semi optimized to shine on need, but give others plenty of time to shine themselves. No one like a spot light hog.

The truly final arbitrary thought is the GM you play with, don't matter what ya bring, if he/she is worth their salt then can glance at the abomination or not and tell.

[Claxon]

The simple answer is, ONLY THE GM GETS TO USE THE RACE BUILDER RULES!

MWUAHAHAHAHAHAH!

But seriously, players shouldn't ever be allowed to use the race builder. If they want a custom race, they can ask you as a DM to take into consideration their idea and make something that seems fitting. If you let a player pick and choose, of course they're going to make sometihng optimized for their character selection and build.

[Dorian 'Grey']

We have just began a new campaign where we all used the race builder to create our characters. Our DM--who is a sucker for punishment--allowed us 16 points and Advanced build. So far we have only gamed once, but everyone involved is having a blast trying this new twist to the game. It's all about fun!

[Ximen Bao]

I don't mind players using it as a starting point for negotiation, but it's going to done with the foreknowledge that I'm nerfing that formulation to the level of the other available races.

[RJGrady]

Short answer: it was based on the existing core races, and the designers didn't want to mess with figuring out synergies. You can use the ARG system as a starting point; you may have to tweak some stuff at the end.

[Mortuum]

Yes, they are completely unbalanced. Apparently it's ok to make a points system in which the points don't really mean anything, because the GM can fix it. I fixed it by absolutely forbidding it. If I want to assess the power of a new race myself, there's no need for a race builder system full of arbitrary limitations.