Half-elf and Improved Weapon Familiarity

[Particle_Man]

Would a half-elf fighter with Improved Weapon Familiarity gain proficiency with exotic weapons with “elven” in their name? I wasn’t sure how far the “elf blood” feature of the half-elf goes.

[Nihilarian]

I would be more inclined to allow it than not. You might argue about what "effect" means exactly from the elven-blood feature, but that seems like sophistry

[Biggus]

Hmm, I see the difficulty: on the one hand, elven blood says "all effects related to race", but on the other hand, half-elves don't get weapon familiarity. Given that's it's a cultural rather than inborn trait, it might make sense to allow it only if at least one elven parent was involved in the characters' upbringing.

In borderline cases I'd be inclined to be generous, half-elves need all the help they can get.

[Gruftzwerg]

1. The benefit of a feat (e.g. Imp. Weapon Familiarity) produces an "effect".

2. The effect of "Imp. Weapon Familiarity" is targeting you

3. you count as elf for "all effects related to race"

Seems to work imho