Half-breeds and race only items?

[Wolfie]

Hi all, I'm new to Munchkin but already addicted,

Am I right in my belief that a Half-Breed can use race only items from both of their races? E.g. a Half-Breed Elf-Halfling can use the Bow with Ribbons and would gain the +3 bonus from Horny Helmet for being an elf even if they are only half elf.

I was in no doubt to this myself until a friend, also a noob, said that as I got all of the disadvantages of both races too I couldn't use such 1 race only cards because a disadvantage of my halfling half was that I couldn't use these cards.

He was claiming that "Usable by elves only" meant that you had to be, only an elf and not therefore a half elf.

This seems like an over complicated logic to me and from what I've seen saps most of the intended power of the Halfbreed card.

[Brf]

You are correct they can use items "only usable by" either race.

A disadvantage would be if an item said "not usable by Elves" or "not usable by Halflings". You would not be able to use the item in either case.

[Clipper]

Other disadvantages are the bonuses some monsters get, like Drooling Slime's +4 against Elves. You can ignore those as a Half-Elf (but not as a Half-Elf-Dwarf).

[La1cajun]

I don't get it. If a monster has +4 against elves why wouldn't it get it's +4 against a half elf if the rest of bonuses applied to a half breed elf?

[Clipper]

Originally Posted by La1cajun

I don't get it. If a monster has +4 against elves why wouldn't it get it's +4 against a half elf if the rest of bonuses applied to a half breed elf?

Because a Half-Breed with only one race has all of the advantages and none of the disadvantages of the race. A Half-Breed Elf, with no other race, looks too human for the monster to get its bonus against Elves.

[Pleh]

Clipper is referring to a different use of the card than what the OP was suggesting.

If you use Half-Breed on a race and only attach a single race to the card, then you get all of the advantages and none of the disadvantages of that race. If you attach two races to the Half-Breed, then you get all the advantages and disadvantages of both.

"Half elf" was interpreted to be a Half-breed and Elf without another race and in his post, "Half elf dwarf" was meant to refer to a Half Breed and Elf used with Dwarf. It's a matter of notation and perhaps a little pedantic, but that's where your confusion is coming from.

In your original post, you gave the example of a Half-elf, Half-halfling. Since they get the disadvantages of both elves and halflings, such a character would give Drooling Slime a +4 to combat, just as you were thinking.

[La1cajun]

Ahh...I get it...thanks..if all else fails..read the card..lol

[kana63]

Can Human be just Halfbreed (with no disadvantages for that Race)? Does he losing Halfbreed card if he losing his (only) Class?
By the way, does "no disadvantages" mean that I can use Item (Not usable by Thief) forbiden for my Class if I am Supermunchkin Thief(only).
Grateful for all your answers so far

[Clipper]

Originally Posted by kana63

Can Human be just Halfbreed (with no disadvantages for that Race)?

No. Half-Breed says it must be put in play with at least one Race card and you lose it if you have no Race cards, so you cannot be just Half-Human.

By the way, does "no disadvantages" mean that I can use Item (Not usable by Thief) forbiden for my Class if I am Supermunchkin Thief(only).
Grateful for all your answers so far

Yes. It also means monsters that get bonuses against Thieves don't get a bonus against the Super Thief, along with a few other things. Basically, anything that is bad specifically for Thieves can be ignored by a Super Thief with no other Class.