Classes & Races

I just had an idea about races and how to integrate them with the 9-class structure I described earlier.

Give each race two "primary" attributes. For example, elves are traditionally INT & DEX (although one could make a case for elves being WIS & DEX, especially Tolkien Elves). Every elvish character must have at least one of those scores as their one of their two primary.

If you want, you can even give elves +3 to INT & DEX, but that'd be optional (and I'd feel a need to give humans a similar bonus). So it might better to just requires elves to have a minimum of 9 in each score (i.e., if you have 7 DEX you can't play an elf). That also helps with the "funneling" of character based on rolling dice.

So, with intelligent and dexterous elves, an elf would have a choice of five different classes:

		MECHANICAL SUBSYSTEM
		CON-1d20	INT-Spell Matrix	WIS-2d6
STYLE	STR-Tank	Warriors	Eldritch Knights	Paladins
	DEX-Mobility	Swashbucklers	Wizards	Monks
	CHA-Leader	Skalds	Beguilers	Priests

Dwarves, another fantasy staple, are definitely STR prime -- they make stout front-line warriors, always. I think you could make a good argument for wither CON or WIS secondary. So dwarves would look like one of the following:

		MECHANICAL SUBSYSTEM
		CON-1d20	INT-Spell Matrix	WIS-2d6
STYLE	STR-Tank	Warriors	Eldritch Knights	Paladins
	DEX-Mobility	Swashbucklers	Wizards	Monks
	CHA-Leader	Skalds	Beguilers	Priests

Or, could could just say that dwarves must be STR prime, restricting them to three viable class choices (Warriors, Eldritch Knights aka Runecasters or something, and Paladins).

Each race might have a few things that affect derived statistics (speed, encumbrance, languages spoken, etc) independent of ability scores or unique special abilities. Humans could be balanced out by either an ability score bonus (+3 to prime attributes or something) or some other generic benefit.

Anyways, I think its a viable way to easily integrate race into my options here, especially in a way that funnels choice based on the random scores rolled.