Howland says gnomes are supposed to receive +2 to engineering, but I never recall them having that bonus, however humans seem to have +2 to engineering as a racial bonus. A bug perhaps?
I have +2 Racial Engineering on a human PC with ten points invested, but no modifier to a second human PC without any Engineering. Using another test character, it doesn't seem like putting points into Engineering causes the racial mod to pop up even after relogging (though I only had enough points to put nine in).
Were these characters Rogues with the Engineer perk? Irith's engineering EFUSS bonus appeared as a 'Racial Bonus.'
My char with the +2 is a Bard. I think his perk is Jack of All Trades, if that matters.
10 Engineering with the +2 racial boost myself.
I like to chalk it up to human ingenuity. We love us some machines and for our short livespans we are quite industrious as a peoples.
Well that and full disclosure I like having the boost given my PC's career!
Currently playing a gnome- No +2 racial bonus here.
A gnome spellcaster I had had the bonus. I believe it was applied after a death or reset.
Hmm, Gnome spellcaster here as well (and I have it). I was wondering whether it was a bonus from completing the engineering assignment in halls of knowledge, by using engineering. I haven't had the time to test it. But I am certain I had it on an elf as well.