I'm currently a L13 Half-elf brawler.
My base stats:
Str: 17 / Agi: 25 / Sta: 18 / Int: 21 / Wis: 19
With fighter and brawler modes (Str+8, Agi+7, Sta+5)
Str: 25 / Agi: 32 / Sta: 23 / Int: 21 / Wis: 19
Add in my L8 Talent: Nimble ( Agi+4 )
Str: 25 / Agi: 36 / Sta: 23 / Int: 21 / Wis: 19
Now add in bonuses from items (Str+13, Agi+4, Sta+6, Wis+1)
Str: 38 / Agi: 40 / Sta: 29 / Int: 21 / Wis: 20
It should be noted that my armor is almost all store bought, with high armor value, and no other bonuses. The bonuses from items come from my tunic (Str+3, Agi+1) and from various assorted accessories.
Ratonga have low strength and stamina, and so it'll hurt you some. Starting stats DO matter. Those who say they don't, are wrong. The real deal is that starting stats aren't crippling for any race. 10 Str, 15 Sta is bad, but 30 Agi does help some.
Lets compare L20
Ratonga-: 10/30/15/25/20
Fighter--: +5/+2/+3
Crusader: +5/+0/+3/+0/+2
ShdwKnt: +5/+3/+0/+0/+2
Rat-ShKt: 25/35/21/25/24
Hef-ShKt: 32/30/24/21/23
Hum-ShKt: 35/25/26/20/24
Org-ShKt: 45/20/31/15/19
Lets say, like me, you've got alot of AC gear, and just bonuses from accessories mostly. We'll speculate L20 as being Str+20, Agi+5, Sta+10, Wis+5, as Str is the most common bonus, followed by stamina. I doubt you'll use any int items, unless it also gives something else good. But you will use some wis items.
Keep in mind that you also can choose a trait at L8 for a +4 stat bonus. Lets choose STR for you.
Rat-ShKt: 25/35//21/25/24
ItemMod:+24/+5/+10/+0/+5 (items and Str+4 trait)
Rat-ShKt: 49/40//31/25/29
Org-ShKt: 45/20//31/15/19
ItemMod:+20/+5/+10/+0/+9 (items and Wis+4 trait)
Org-ShKt: 65/25//41/15/28
The ogre still has a 16pt lead in strength ( 45 vs 65 ) and a 10pt lead in stamina ( 31 vs 41 ) but is behind 15pts of agility ( 40 vs 25 ) and their wisdom is almost equal. Notice, that other than the trait mods, the ogre is still leading by the same amount, but relatively speaking, the gap in stats is starting to narrow. By endgame, roughly L50 or so, you can imagine that stats will be in the triple digets, all 100+ At that point, 20 strength, and 10 stamina will be nice, but it's nothing close to the lead at the start.
Thats why people say stats only matter in the beginning. From what i've seen, i'm going to go out on a limb, and say that the stats will still matter endgame, it just won't matter as much.
Really, choose the race you want. If you want to be an ogre, go for it. If you want to be a ratonga, more power to you. Even though ratonga are probably the worst race for shadowknights, the way stats are done means no race is crippled, for any class.
Edited, Fri Nov 12 23:32:17 2004 by Yuniko