Your character has a specific race. We all have our favorites. Each race has its own racial abilities that go beyond infravision or characteristic modifiers. They have unique abilities that enable them to see and interact with the world around them. Many times these things are overlooked or glossed over. This can be the same for your character’s class. Yes, each class has abilities, but beyond the most typical combat skills, their talents are often underutilized.
During my creation of the Dwarven Dungeon, I have made it a point to include countless instances where a dwarf might use their ability to detect a sliding or shifting wall to find something, a gnome’s ability to determine depth underground might help in locating a secret area discussed in ledgers they found, an elf’s talent of finding secret doors (which is very commonly used and not really worth mentioning) can located hidden rooms, or maybe areas that only those of small stature, gnomes and halflings, can traverse. The use of racial abilities, and even the races themselves, contributes to a blended party becoming more successful. For example, there is a dresser with a hidden drawer. A search of the area will uncover the drawer on a 2 in 6 chance, but elves and thieves would cumulatively increase the chance by 1 in 6. An elf would have a 3 in 6 chance of finding the drawer, while an elf thief would have a 4 in 6 chance. In some places, I included classes. Characters might have a 2 in 6 chance of finding something in an overgrown garden, but a ranger would automatically find it. Because the dungeon is so immense, there are thousands of instances where certain races or classes will prevail. The players will never find them all, but a diverse group of characters will have a much better chance of uncovering great treasures and mysteries.
Making racial abilities important is a necessary element of the game. It allows the individual characters to stand out, earn their reputation by finding things only they could find, and allows the group to flourish. These special abilities, after all, are why there are level caps to the races. At least give them the opportunity to use the skills and justify their choices. Humans are unlimited in their progress, but they cannot detect sloping passageways, move silently when alone, detect traps involving pits and falling blocks, detect unsafe walls or floors, or determine direction underground. These skills are important, and without elves, dwarves, gnomes, halflings, half-elves, and half-orcs, many treasures would remain hidden from searching eyes.
I am not saying that the racial skills need to be tested in every room or hallway, and they should not be used to hide something that must be found for the adventure to succeed. But, they are just as important as a dwarf’s saving throw adjustments and an elf’s resistance to sleep and charm. Hide interesting things behind areas that require those skills, and watch your players respond to their success when they are found. I am doing that all around the Dwarven Dungeon. I wonder how many of them the players will find?