Let's take another swing at it...

[Jonathan of White Haven]

Back in March, I asked a question regarding whether racial abilities superceded class abilities or limitations:
http://www.freeyabb.com/trolllordgames/ ... llordgames

I can't say that I got a particularly clear answer from serleran, partially (I think) because the question involved a Cleric. So, allow me to try again, basing the question on a different character class.

Rogues' approved weapons include shortbows and short swords, but exclude longbows and longswords. By the book, they could use the latter, but at a penalty (-4, IIRC) to hit with them.

Elves, on the other hand, have a racial proficiency with longbows and long swords.

My question is: Does an elvish Rogue have to conform to the Rogue class weapon proficiencies (to avoid the -4 to-hit penalty) or does the elf's racial weapon proficiencies override the class weapon limitations?

Note that whatever the answer, I'm not going to change the existing ruling for my campaign which is that the racial proficiencies allow the elvish Rogue to use longbow and/or long sword. Like the bank robber in Dirty Harry, "Ah just gots ta know."
_________________
"You don't understand, Beaufingle", said Lungwort cryptically. "You ARE dinner." -- M.M. Moamrath

[serleran]

Quote:
Elves, on the other hand, have a racial proficiency with longbows and long swords.

No, they do not. They get a +1 to hit. Class determines all weapon proficiencies. An elf monk, for example, who wanted to fight with a sword would suffer the normal non-proficient penalty, but would get to add his elven +1 to hit, reducing it to a -4 rather than -5.
_________________
If it matters, leave a message at the beep.
Serl's Corner

[cleaverthepit]

robert is correct.

i would not worry about adjusting your game at all. you have, interestingly, place race over class as a determining factor in character abilities. so be careful, your one step away from racial classes - something i prefer infinately and i will be forced to call upon you to aid me in arguments with thise opposed to racial classes
davis

[gideon_thorne]

cleaverthepit wrote:
robert is correct.

i would not worry about adjusting your game at all. you have, interestingly, place race over class as a determining factor in character abilities. so be careful, your one step away from racial classes - something i prefer infinately and i will be forced to call upon you to aid me in arguments with thise opposed to racial classes
davis

I second the notion of Race classes. I even wrote all the standard 'races' up in the M&T as classes already.
_________________
"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley