So you're getting started with EF, eh? Good for you. Have a cookie. Seriously now, your race is pretty danged important, so I'll start with it.

• Human - Suckiest of all the races. Ignore them for the most part unless you know what you're doing. The reasoning for this is that their stats don't develop strongly one way or the other—it's all even, which means that 255 in multiple stats is hard without screwing yourself over in other ways. By total stat points (even counting cha), humans have really low stat totals compared to other races. "Old Tanith's" (i.e. kelban) stats were 255/255/255/200/168/100, while Teia's are 233/238/255/153/153/153. Note that while Teia is very strong, it's not her stats alone that make her powerful, it's skill, equipment, and very focused stats. Basically, if you want to go human, pick something and focus entirely on it.
• Half-Elf - Good with magic and some melee-type classes. They have low HP, but as long as you have around 6000 HP (or less if you know how to work with it) you'll be fine against the majority of mobs you'll be fighting.
• Elf - Good magic-user types. They have low Strength, so pure fighter classes like Samurai are a bad choice for them, but don't discount them entirely for that, although then again, they won't be as strong as fighter races.
• Half-Lunar - Paladin and Sensei. Enough said.
• Dwarf - Good stats but low dex. "New Tanith" was a Dwarf Holy Knight, and was the most recent prominent dwarf, after an older player by the name of Xlash quit. There are few dwarves on ef, but they have good stats and are worth considering.
• Kelban - Highest stats of all races. Bad with white magic. I wouldn't advise playing one, because not only does it make the game Eternal Fantasy Easy Mode, you'll get crap from people who'll call you a "dogface" among other names.
• Moogle - Ick. Good magic users I guess. Never played one, and I've only known one moogle who wasn't an idiot (and he only got to 45 as a moogle before quitting), so I have no real basis for knowing. Kuprin recently remade and plays sometimes, you can talk to him about it, he's usually friendly unless he's having a bad day.

Now you've got your race down. I'll quickly explain the stat system. I'll steal shamelessly from "help stats" in EF itself.

How do stats work here? What can I do to make mine unique?
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Everyone enters the MUD at level 1 and their stats increase until they obtain life level 99. But there are two factors affecting how they will raise.

Every race has different stats. To learn more about your chosen race, check 'help '.

Any race gain of 1 will be granted everytime you level. Those that are 2 or 3 will be granted on each even-numbered level achieved till level 50 is obtained, and from then on, on every level. ie. A race gain of 1 will add 98 to your starting stat, a race gain of 2 will add 148 to your starting stat, and a race gain of 3 will add 222 to your starting stat.

Knowing this, we can easily calculate the stats our particular race will naturally attain.

But there is the second factor which affects our stats. These are called stat bonuses. Each class offers these bonuses and you are allowed three per level once you have obtained level 10. Using 'command statbonus', you can set your bonuses as you wish. Again, your stats will not increase after level 99.

Therefore, the total number of bonuses you receive will be 267.
Note: When you achieve level 70, you are allowed to set 2 out of your 3 bonuses to one stat. Always set your bonuses wisely and doublecheck them. Any lost cannot be reimbursed. Also, neglecting to set your bonuses will default them to those offered by your class.

One last thing to keep in mind would be stat caps. The majority of stats will cap at 255, but one race may never be able to attain the strength of another or the wisdom of another, etc. eg. If you check 'help elf', you will notice that their strength and vitality cap at 200.
Note: It's best to make a statplan to ensure you don't get more than necessary in any stat. You won't be reimbursed wasted stats either.

Type "help stats " for help on the following topics.

charisma dexterity strength vitality willpower wisdom

Go with whatever stats make you happy in the end, even if you "Tyran" yourself and make yourself suck (Tyran's stats are so bad that the word "Tyran" has been taken to mean "make oneself suck") you aren't totally out of options, you just have to learn how to play to the strengths you'll have, unless you do something stupid like a perfectly balanced human (something like 190 in all stats). Look at Tyran, her stats are abysmal but it's been admitted by more than one person that "[they] don't know how she gets half the stuff done that she gets done." Not saying go make yourself suck, but... don't number-crunch too much and ruin the fun.