Originally Posted by
azrael4h
Dwarf
1 - Free to play.
2 - +2 CON, extra Racial Toughness
3 - Axe damage and attack enhancements
4 - Free exotic weapon feat for classes with martial weapons.
5 - Extra Tactics and Armor/Shield mastery lines.
Warforged
1 - Disease, Poison, and Energy Drain immunity
2 - Underwater Action and Light Fortification inherent
3 - +2 CON and extra Racial Toughness enhancements
4 - WF Great Weapon Aptitude enhancements
5 - Arcane healing (which works through curses as well), Divine Healing at half effectiveness.
6 - Inherent DR
7 - Power attack line
Half-Orc
1 - +2 STR, STR enhancements.
2 - Extra two-handed weapon damage enhancements
3 - Orcish Fury enhancement line
4 - Power Attack line
Of course, I'm not as familiar with HOs as most others; I'm not remotely interested in playing one, and won't be buying them. But, for AC-tanks, Dwarves seem the more viable choice for more easily reached levels of viable AC. At least early on. For TWFing, DWA is a solid choice, and since it's free, viable for feat-starved classes. Most importantly, Dwarf is free, and that makes it many people's first, or only, choice. Half-Orcs seem best for pure, raw damage output, particularly with THF. Warforged are strong due to inherent immunities, more than any dps or AC reasons.
Of course, Elf is the best choice, for the butt. They don't look like Rick Steiner, like Dwarves, or Hulk Hogan, like HOs. And they certainly don't look like Warforged. The best butt in the game is the female elf's butt, and since I've got to be staring at it for hours on end, I'd rather it be a nice, attractive butt.