Elven proficiencies

[Li Shenron]

...sorry for the mean question!

I am taking a look at the SRD and just got this doubt: are all Elves proficient with both Longsword AND Rapier? We used to play that an Elf can CHOOSE either the first OR the second, but from the SRD it seems both. Is there a difference between PHB's Elf and MM's Elf??

And what about Half-Elves? From the SRD it seems that they also get the same free proficiencies, but we played that Half-Elves don't have those extras, there was nothing in PHB about it! Or was it?

Thanks

 

[Kamard]

My copy of the SRD says longsword OR rapier.

 

[Crothian]

And half elves don't get any weapon proficiencies

 

[Li Shenron]

The doubt came to me when I was looking at the Wild Elf, it's in Monsters(E) page of the SRD, but it seems slightly different from the Basic Races page of the same SRD (emphasis mine):

Elven Traits (Ex): Elves benefit from a number of racial traits.

Proficient with longsword, rapier, longbow, composite longbow, shortbow, and composite shortbow, regardless of character class.
Immunity to magic sleep spells and effects.
+2 racial bonus to Will saves against enchantment spells or effects.
Low-Light Vision: Elves can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, etc.
+2 racial bonus to Search, Spot, and Listen checks. An elf who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check as though actively looking for it.


Subraces

Half-Elves: A half-elf can choose any class as his or her favored class.

Half-Elven Traits (Ex): These are in addition to the basic elf traits, except where noted here.

Racial bonus to Search, Spot, and Listen checks decreases to +1. Half-elves cannot notice secret doors just by being near them.

I don't think it should be different for NPCs... is it the same on the MM?

 

[Drawmack]

The monsters section of the SRD has not yet been released. Also the player races that appear in the MM are stated as 1st level warriors so there are descrpencies in them like this. It isn't that this elf is more powerful then the PHB elf it is that this elf is a 1st level warrior.

 

[Li Shenron]

Also the player races that appear in the MM are stated as 1st level warriors (...) It isn't that this elf is more powerful then the PHB elf it is that this elf is a 1st level warrior.

I really didn't know this!

 

[mkletch]

I don't think it should be different for NPCs... is it the same on the MM?

It's just that most NPCs will have one of those items, and not three or four of each, so it does not matter a whole lot. It is a 'reduce bookkeeping for DM' trick, not a 'character options for players trick'.

IMO, there is no reason that any non-drow elf would have different starting proficiencies than standard high elves.

-Fletch!

 

[Wolf72]

I think it was supossed to be OR ...

 

[Li Shenron]

Thank you.

I have just agreed with our DM to substitute Rapier/Longsword proficiency for my Wild Elf with Battleaxe proficiency, which is more in style with my character.