Originally Posted by
Aielyn
For instance, a Wizard would start at 90% of potential for Learning, but 50% of potential for Strength. A Beastfighter would probably be the other way around.
So go roll a starting GE Wizard. With potentials usually close to 40 in Le, Dx, Ma and Ap, at 90% that you mentioned, you're looking at a wizard with 30-35+ learning, dex and mana.
You will read the initial spellbooks and get enough castings to last you for the rest of the game. By level 10, you will have 250 PP.
Way to go, OP wizards.
Similarly, a trollish barbarian will start with typical 40-45 St and To. You will slash through early and mid and late game one-hitting everything with a simple dagger 1d4.
Dark elven archers will start with ~25 Le for 6 points per level to increase all those nice skills like alertness, find weakness and archery. You will have a 1-shotter archer by level 10, with that starting 35 dex.
You see where I'm going with this?
This isn't the way to go. Many r/c combinations that have synergies over the same attributes and this makes it so important to select the right race for the right profession.
Without extensive rework of attribute system, their potentials and starting values, you can't possibly consider introducing changes like these.
I also understand and agree with what JellySlayer says - more differentiation between races is attractive and makes sense from the role playing point of view.
This forces players to play their r/c combinations differently, with respect to their parameters.
The game benefits from hard caps but only if they are REALLY hard caps - i.e. you can't raise potentials with herbs; only respective potions and training for gold with Garth can do that.
It takes time and some micromanagement, as well as a dose of luck. Makes sense.
I generally still agree with SirTheta's approach of class having a bigger impact on starting attributes, but perhaps it's a good idea for race to be the only determining factor on potentials (not actual attribute values, which should only be determined by class).
Some stats like To and St for elves could get a slight increase of possible starting potentials at the cost of lower overall pool of points.
This way you cover situations like mist elven beastfighters or barbarians not having enough of those to justify their choice of profession.