Starting stats appropriate to the class.

The Elven Chain that you get near the end of the game is really nice. Archers, Rangers and Clerics like chain mail, so it's nice to have one of them be an elf. (It's so sad to get the Elven Chain and then realize that my only elf is a Sorcerer!)

Goblins hate dwarves. Later in the game, you'll have enough defense that monster attitudes toward player races won't matter too much, but in Harmondale, a dwarf will be a damage sponge. (I'm not saying not to use one.)

BV