Elf PC Kits (CBE)

Kits are optional additions to the campaign, allowing a player to add detail to his or her PC. These kits are collections of various abilities and disadvantages that can help a player better define his or her character.
Most of these kits are uniquely elven; although other races may have similar kits, the kits in this book are for elves only. The kits in the other Complete Player's Handbook series are also available for elves to take, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Before using one of these kits, a player must first generate the character's initial statistics. First, roll ability scores and choose an elf subrace, an alignment, and a class. Then, choose the kit that's most appealing and assign proficiencies, money, equipment, and other details.
Once a player has chosen a particular kit for a PC, he or she cannot exchange it for a new one. Neither can a character have two kits. It is only possible to have one kit at a time.
If characters want to abandon a kit for any reason, they cannot select a new one, for the kit describes their development and growth. These PCs can abandon the kit's hindrances, but they also loses any benefits as well.
Characters can only use a kit that is specific to their class. That is, warriors may take one of the warrior kits, but cannot use the warrior/mage kits. Multiclass characters choose kits that are part of their class. For example, a mage/thief can use a mage kit, a thief kit, or a mage/thief kit. A warrior or a warrior/thief kit could not be selected, however, because they contain elements that are totally foreign to that character.
In addition, although a player might want a multiclass character to specialize in a weapon, this is not possible. While some of the kits may echo weapon specialization, no one who is not a pure fighter can have a weapon specialization—including rangers.
Each kit presented in this chapter is made up of twelve different parts. The first is a general description of the kit and the requirements of entry into that kit. Any who do not meet the requirements cannot take the kit for their character—No Exceptions! The remaining eleven parts are as follows:
* Role. This is the role of the PC in general and in elven society in particular. Note that the exclusion of either male or female pronouns does not mean the kit is restricted to gender. All kits are available to both sexes.
* Secondary Skills. If a campaign does not use the proficiency rules, the character must take his secondary skills from this section rather than randomly rolling for them.
* Weapon Proficiencies. These are the weapon proficiencies required of the elf to fill the slots available. Usually, not all of these slots will be filled by the required weapons, leaving some degree of choice. Please note that weapon proficiencies are not bonus proficiencies unless specified as such. Most are simply required, not actual bonuses.
* Bonus Nonweapon Proficiencies. Most kits provide some nonweapon proficiencies. These are free—even if they belong to other character classes. Note: All civilized elves know Reading/Writing.
* Recommended Nonweapon Proficiencies. These nonweapon proficiencies are recommended, but are not bonus slots. If an elf character wishes to take one of these proficiencies, he must pay the full cost of the proficiency. Again, these are recommended to maintain kit flavor, but are not required.
* Equipment. This is a list of equipment that the kit typically uses. Some kits use special equipment, while others require that their users refrain from using certain items.
* Distinctive Appearance. As if elves were not distinctive enough, certain kits accentuate appearance. They make the character easily recognizable as a certain type.
* Special Benefits. Most of the kits allow certain privileges to their users.
* Special Hindrances. To counterbalance the benefits received from these kits, most kits also have some specific hindrances.
* Wealth Options. This is the limit on how much money a PC receives when created and how wealth gained must be spent.
* Suggested Elf Subraces. Although any elf subrace can take any of the kits listed below, certain elf subraces are more likely to take some kits than others. This provides clues for the selection of kits by the various subraces.