Race
 

While I know in later expansions racial differences basically became negligible, what about in Classic/Kunark (ignore Velious)? I am contemplating either a Dwarven or Half-Elf Rogue. Both have precedence in my mind, but the Dwarf has much better stats for a Rogue than a Half-Elf. I like leveling in Gfay, but Dwarf is close enough that the run is no big deal.

Do starting stats matter in Classic/Kunark? Or by time you get through Kunark even are starting stats basically a wash?

You'll be fine whichever you pick. Main objective for a rogue is to hit max strength, which means the highest atk rating.

Work for about 180-185 str and the shaman str buffs will do the rest. Dwarf or gnome, you'll hit it one way or another.

I went half elf for mine, can't bear to "leg stab" on my screen lol

Any negatives in equipment/quests with going Dwarf or Half-Elf?

hero bracer is nice to have, cheap... dwarves can't wear it :/

http://wiki.project1999.com/Hero_Bracers

Can't think of many other decent str pieces that are racially limited (beyond iksars which don't count in this case) :p

But Dwarves have a higher strength than Half-Elf to start with, so losing 5 Str here when compared to the next best option isn't too bad, right?

Edit: Although, the alternative doesn't have any AC.

Racial differences WILL still matter. IF you think having a DE Warrior is going to get to the skills a Ogre Warrior is well what can I say. Hope you belong to the highest Guild in the game and are great friends with the Guild leader. :D

We are talking a lot later Expansions in EQ to ever make that happen for the average Joe Blow. :(

So is a 180-185 Str something that is obtainable in Classic/Kunark (again, no Velious).

yes it is. IIRC Str is not that hard of a stat to stack. Esp when it is by a wide margin your main stat.

Still negligible.

Not negligible imo, but definitely not hugely important either, especially with a class like rogue since they only really need str (and mr and hp for raids) to be 95+% effective and str is super easy to come by.

I'd say starting stats make a "small but noticeable" difference overall, again moreso with something like gnome vs. ogre warrior or gnome vs. high elf cleric, and less so with any rogue or bard, etc.