Is human the best race?

[WindBlownLeaf]

I find that everything it provides is useful, unlike some other races that give bonuses I never use, weapon familiarity, for example.

[Applied Mediocrity]

Technically aasimars are, for they have no ability score penalties. I believe the word you're looking for is the most versatile.

[asame_akio]

Mechanically speaking, there’s no general best race. You’ll find that some are superior to others depending on what your build needs. Human is a very solid pick in many cases due to the extra feat, but sometimes you need an extra ability score bonus, or some other racial bonus. Elves are great casters due to their bonus to caster level against SR checks; dwarves have a +2 bonus to all saves against spells, spell-like abilities, and poison, which are something like 70-80% of the saves you’ll need to make in most campaigns; Gnomes make amazing illusionists due to their bonus to the DC of illusion spells. There’s plenty of other examples like that.

[WindBlownLeaf]

Originally posted by asame_akio:

Mechanically speaking, there’s no general best race. You’ll find that some are superior to others depending on what your build needs. Human is a very solid pick in many cases due to the extra feat, but sometimes you need an extra ability score bonus, or some other racial bonus. Elves are great casters due to their bonus to caster level against SR checks; dwarves have a +2 bonus to all saves against spells, spell-like abilities, and poison, which are something like 70-80% of the saves you’ll need to make in most campaigns; Gnomes make amazing illusionists due to their bonus to the DC of illusion spells. There’s plenty of other examples like that.

Given that combat is the most challenging part of the game, I consider any bonuses to stuff outside of that to be kind of a waste. So... maybe not human, then? Aasimar or Tiefling probably give the best general bonuses to combat.

EDIT: Okay, after reconsidering, Aasimar (Angelkin) seems to be pretty darn awesome. I don't know why I didn't notice that they don't take a -2 penalty to any stat.

[asame_akio]

Originally posted by WindBlownLeaf:

Given that combat is the most challenging part of the game, I consider any bonuses to stuff outside of that to be kind of a waste. So... maybe not human, then? Aasimar or Tiefling probably give the best general bonuses to combat.

Everything I said applies exclusively to combat, though?

[WindBlownLeaf]

Originally posted by asame_akio:

Originally posted by WindBlownLeaf:

Given that combat is the most challenging part of the game, I consider any bonuses to stuff outside of that to be kind of a waste. So... maybe not human, then? Aasimar or Tiefling probably give the best general bonuses to combat.

Everything I said applies exclusively to combat, though?

I was just clarifying my point of view, not responding to anything you said in particular.

[Applied Mediocrity]

Originally posted by asame_akio:

(snip)

Man, I love the way you talk, using four hundred words where four will do.

[asame_akio]

Originally posted by Applied Mediocrity:

Originally posted by asame_akio:

(snip)

Man, I love the way you talk, using four hundred words where four will do.

I invite you to summarize those five sentences in four words.

[Mork]

Yes and no

Human is pretty much always a good choice but not always the best.

[WindBlownLeaf]

Originally posted by Mork:

Yes and no

Human is pretty much always a good choice but not always the best.

IDC about the skill bonus, though. After reconsidering, I've converted to the Aasimar masterrace.

[Applied Mediocrity]

Originally posted by asame_akio:

I invite you to summarize those five sentences in four words.

Look, I didn't mean to slight you or anything. I find it exceedingly self-evident that ability score bonuses make some races better suited for some classes, specific archetypes and/or builds, and not others.

I was looking to take a bit of a dig at your lengthy theorycrafting and arguments in general (like in the Tristian thread). Playing the game like that? It's perfectly fine thing to do. Not my cup of tea, though. Perhaps I should have added some emoji to better convey that... lemme see... there's one -->

[Frostfeather]

When I do a full hired merc playthrough on Unfair, my entire group is usually Aasimar with 1-2 Elves. While you could probably argue Human is technically better for the early game as extra Feats have more value in the early game... I just can't do it.