seems like there is no build for which Human is the optimal race
That really depends a lot on what do you concider to be "optimal" ...
Sure, humans dont start with any 17s ... but since 17 makes your modifier to be +3, just as 16 does ... what does it matter?
Humans are able to start with 3x 16 score in point buy system ... how is that not "optimal"?
(
I remember that someone told me once that Humans are only race that can do this ... but i feel like Half-Elves have it too.)
And even if you start concidering later levels and Ability Score Incerases ...
Race that starts with 17 still needs two ASI to get to 20 ... just as Human does.
And Race that starts with 17 still (usualy, but i know there are some exceptions where you just take feat with +1 to some score) need to put that second point somewhere else, when they take second ASI ... humans just allready did that on level 1.
And for roleplay perspecitve ...
Basicaly this:
Regardless of what you'd like to be good at, one of the other racial choices will be better than the standard human.
Yeah ...
You decided to play boring, regular, generic Human ... so its to be expected that your stats will be boring, regular, generic, and you will hardly exceed in anything compared to specialized races.
This is what Humans are, bcs this is what Humans are supposed to be ...
Good enough in everything, not excellent in anything.
