Fixing Underused Races

[LazarX]

Headfirst wrote:

I don't know about you guys, but the games I'm in are pretty much all humans, elves, and half-orcs. The other races, especially the small/slow ones just can't keep up (ha!) with the big three as a fit for most classes. Now, obviously, if you're only concern is role-playing, you can stop reading right here. However, some of us would like to see the core races balanced out in terms of power, versatility, and overall effectiveness.

So, here's my challenge: What would you change or add to the dwarf, gnome, and halfling to make them more appealing, appropriate, and effective for any class?

Like you said that's more of a matter of the games you're in. I've seen plenty of dwarves and gnomes, not so much Haflings but I suspect it's the kender association factor. Nothing needs to be added to either of the three races. I don't think they SHOULD be as commonly played as Humans.

[Michael Sayre]

williamoak wrote:

A little note to the OP, what you observe can vary tremendously. Dwarves are exceedingly popular in my neck of the woods in campaign play (cant say for PFS). I had 2 players asking to play gnomes recently. I've yet to see any elves.

So it can vary quite a lot.

My experience reflects this as well. Dwarves are probably hands down the most popular race after humans in my neck of the woods, and I've seen more gnomes than elves in local gaming groups and PFS.

The order around here probably goes something like:

Humans
Dwarves
Half-orcs
Half-elves
Gnomes
Halflings
Planetouched (aasimar, tiefling, ifrit, oread, etc.)
Elves
Miscellaneous

Humans only have the top spot because there's often 2 or 3 in a given group; there has been a dwarf in literally every campaign I've ever played in.

[Orgborg of Mugwump]

Saint_Yin wrote:

I'd like to point out that Kobold is hands-down the most overpowered race when it comes to racial feats, favored class bonuses, and archetypes (generally). If you can get around the extremely garbage stat distribution and play up their strengths, once you play a kobold, you'll have spoiled yourself.

I'll have to go with Goblins rather than Kobolds. What other race has a built in bomber air force at it's command? Or Mad firebombers? Or a base +8 racial stealth bonus, PLUS a trait giving another +2, and high dex boosts, making them the stealthiest buggers in the game?

This message was payed for by the committee for Goblin perception bonification. Remember our jingle "Love a goblin today, and he wont set you on fire tomorrow"

[Michael Sayre]

Just thought I'd note, even Paizo acknowledges that dwarves are the superior race. A quick glance at the ARG shows that dwarves have the highest RP of any of the core races, higher than even exotic races like catfolk, duergar, and goblins, on par with dhampir, and nearly twice the value of any of the elemental races like ifrits, oreads, undine, and sylphs.

[Bwang]

Dwarves have been the munchkin race for 15 yrs now, with a war-god Cleric Dwarf being the easiest munchkin (yeah, I played several).

[Headfirst]

Maybe I should have named this thread: "balance all the races without homogenizing them." Or, better yet: "Evolve the system beyond Tolkien's stereotypes."

[Ragnarok Aeon]

Headfirst wrote:

Maybe I should have named this thread: "balance all the races without homogenizing them." Or, better yet: "Evolve the system beyond Tolkien's stereotypes."

The hilarious part is that they weren't actually stereotypes in Tolkien's works.