Are the skills offered to races during creation free? Or are they offered as additional choices beyond the career skills?

For example, it's obvious that the high elf gets education for free, because it says so. All the others just say that the player MAY choose one. So if they do, do they spend a skill point on it?

The dwarf gets to train weapon skill for free(off hand I think it replaces one of their choices - not sure been awhile since I saw a dwarf).

The elf gets to aquire education, which means he can use the skill - as an advanced skill it otherwise could not be used. If he wants to train it he has to pay for it like anyone else.

Children of Grungni : Before investing any creation points, an Azgaraz dwarf may train one of the following skills for free – Discipline, Resilience, or Weapon Skill.

~They get to pick one of the skills listed, and if Weapon Skill is chosen then groovy. The skills they get to choose from are all basic skills so training is done for free per the wording of Children of Grungni~

Ishas Chosen : Before investing any creation points, a high elf may train one of the following skills to train for free – Discipline, Intuition, or Observation

~Ditto for elfs~

Erudite : High elves acquire (but do not train) the advanced skill Education for free during character creation.

~This lines up with what CMtheGM said above.~

Is there any FAQ clarifications which note that dwarves/elves get these skills for free? Because, the way the rule is written in the book, it really seems like they merely get it as another choice in regards to something that they can train...

I know its in the rulebook in the corebox - dwarfs pg 24 box bottom left.

High Elves - bottom right pg 25 box.

Ishas chosen is a little less clear IMO as it says may choose - to me this implies it replaces one of the normal choices. Plus elves already get a free talent, adding a free skill (in addition to the acquisiton of education) seems like a lot and IMO gives them the "best" starting package, its pretty even otherwise. As ever, your mileage may vary.

I don't know think there is a further clarification anywhere.

Callidon said:

Is that wording from the Players Guide? The core box rules leave out the word "free" on Children of Grungni and Chosen. Certainly makes it clearer if that's an updated version of the rule.

Otherwise, I agree with CyberDave, the box set rules make them appear to be further options to choose from, but must be paid for.

They are free 'choose' only referring to picking one skill over the other. If you look at all the races each one gets a few special abilities humans basically get the xp advantage when switching careers the other races get skills and special vision options.

Yeah, got a reply back from Dan at FFG. Racial skill additions are freebies.