Well, I'm sure there are some people out there that would say that paying 20 BP to have an elf even without the stats is worth it in some cases. But yeah, it does seem a little odd.

Of course, it also seems odd that you get the full benefits of the race while paying less than the race itself. Why is it fair that an elf pays more to be an elf than a shifter does to be an elf?

As for the last bit, we're back to the silly metavariant costs that a whole different thread.

Ok, lets check what an elf gets for the 30 build points the elf pays to be an elf.

* +1 minimum agility, +1 maximum agility
* +2 minimum charisma, +2 maximum charisma
* low light vision
* -1 edge

In pure build point terms, this means you get 20 BP worth of stat points, and Low Light vision, for 30 bp.

Lets check what a Fox, Wolf, Jaguar, Leopard, Tiger, or Lion Shifter gets for their 20 bp for being an elf.

* -1 edge

Well, there you have it.

This edit brought to you by Platinum Dragon.

Fixed that for you. >.>

On the other hand, for 15 as a dwarf you get +2 dice for resistance and thermo graphic vision, for 30 as a troll you get +1 reach, armor and thermo, as an ork you pay 10 for nothing...and some of the shifters do get benefits (Eagle and Bear).

Meh, damned devs and their arbitrary costs

Nobody is claiming all options are equally bad. Ork is 10 less and gives the same lot of nothing.

Dwarf is 15, and gives what I'd claim are lousy benefits, but at least you CAN call them benefits.

Troll is 30, and gives the best stuff of the bunch, but it still isnt worth anywhere near 30 bp.