diff --git a/res/e3a/armor/towershield.xml b/res/e3a/armor/towershield.xml
index e80c03523..dcd2858cf 100644
--- a/res/e3a/armor/towershield.xml
+++ b/res/e3a/armor/towershield.xml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <?xml version="1.0"?>
 <resource name="towershield">
-  <item weight="200" score="60">
+  <item weight="200" score="60" allow="1">
     <function name="canuse" value="lua_canuse_item"/>
     <construction skill="armorer" minskill="4">
       <modifier function="mod_dwarves_only"/>
diff --git a/res/e3a/races.xml b/res/e3a/races.xml
index 2e5a81aee..fc16645c6 100644
--- a/res/e3a/races.xml
+++ b/res/e3a/races.xml
@@ -71,7 +71,11 @@
     <familiar race="ghost"/>
   </race>
 
-  <race name="halfling" defensemodifier="1" magres="5" maxaura="1.0" regaura="1.0" recruitcost="100" maintenance="10" weight="1000" capacity="540" speed="1.0" hp="20" damage="1d5" unarmedattack="-2" unarmeddefense="-2" playerrace="yes" walk="yes" giveperson="yes" giveunit="yes" getitem="yes" equipment="yes">
+  <race name="halfling" defensemodifier="1" magres="5" maxaura="1.0"
+  regaura="1.0" recruitcost="100" maintenance="10" weight="1000"
+  capacity="540" speed="1.0" hp="20" damage="1d5" unarmedattack="-2"
+  unarmeddefense="-2" playerrace="yes" walk="yes" giveperson="yes"
+  giveunit="yes" getitem="yes" equipment="yes" items="8">
     <ai splitsize="10000" moverandom="yes" learn="yes"/>
     <param name="other_race" value="dwarf"/>
     <param name="luxury_trade" value="600"/>
@@ -116,7 +120,11 @@
     <familiar race="ghost"/>
   </race>
 
-  <race name="elf" magres="10" maxaura="1.0" regaura="1.1" recruitcost="200" maintenance="10" weight="1000" capacity="540" speed="1.0" hp="20" damage="1d5" unarmedattack="-2" unarmeddefense="-2" playerrace="yes" walk="yes" giveperson="yes" giveunit="yes" getitem="yes" equipment="yes">
+  <race name="elf" magres="10" maxaura="1.0" regaura="1.1"
+  recruitcost="200" maintenance="10" weight="1000" capacity="540"
+  speed="1.0" hp="20" damage="1d5" unarmedattack="-2"
+  unarmeddefense="-2" playerrace="yes" walk="yes" giveperson="yes"
+  giveunit="yes" getitem="yes" equipment="yes" items="2">
     <ai splitsize="10000" moverandom="yes" learn="yes"/>
     <skill name="armorer" modifier="-1"/>
     <skill name="bow" modifier="2"/>
@@ -156,7 +164,11 @@
     <familiar race="rat"/>
   </race>
 
-  <race name="dwarf" magres="5" maxaura="1.0" regaura="0.9" recruitcost="240" maintenance="10" weight="1000" capacity="540" speed="1.0" hp="20" damage="1d5" unarmedattack="-2" unarmeddefense="-2" playerrace="yes" walk="yes" giveperson="yes" giveunit="yes" getitem="yes" equipment="yes">
+  <race name="dwarf" magres="5" maxaura="1.0" regaura="0.9"
+  recruitcost="240" maintenance="10" weight="1000" capacity="540"
+  speed="1.0" hp="20" damage="1d5" unarmedattack="-2"
+  unarmeddefense="-2" playerrace="yes" walk="yes" giveperson="yes"
+  giveunit="yes" getitem="yes" equipment="yes" items="1">
     <ai splitsize="10000" moverandom="yes" learn="yes"/>
     <skill name="armorer" modifier="2"/>
     <skill name="bow" modifier="-1"/>
diff --git a/res/races/goblin-3.xml b/res/races/goblin-3.xml
index a65d4c99a..8deb33f5e 100644
--- a/res/races/goblin-3.xml
+++ b/res/races/goblin-3.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 recruitcost="60" maintenance="6" weight="600" capacity="440"
 speed="1.0" hp="16" damage="1d5" unarmedattack="-2" unarmeddefense="0"
 playerrace="yes" walk="yes" giveperson="yes" giveunit="yes"
-getitem="yes" equipment="yes" healing="2.0">
+getitem="yes" equipment="yes" healing="2.0" items="4">
   <ai splitsize="10000" moverandom="yes" learn="yes"/>
   <param name="hunger.damage" value="1d8+7"/>
   <param name="other_race" value="demon"/>
diff --git a/scripts/tests/e3/items.lua b/scripts/tests/e3/items.lua
index b2100f5ed..5594eed67 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/e3/items.lua
+++ b/scripts/tests/e3/items.lua
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ function test_goblins()
     local f1 = faction.create("goblin@eressea.de", "goblin", "de")
     local f2 = faction.create("dwarf@eressea.de", "dwarf", "de")
     local f3 = faction.create("elf@eressea.de", "elf", "de")
-    local u1 = unit.create(f1, r, 1)
+    local ud = unit.create(f1, r, 1)
+    local uh = unit.create(f1, r, 1)
+    uh.race = "halfling"
     local u2 = unit.create(f2, r, 1)
     local u3 = unit.create(f3, r, 1)
 
@@ -24,12 +26,15 @@ function test_goblins()
     "plate", "rustyhalberd", "halberd", "greatsword"
     }
     for k, v in ipairs(restricted) do
-        u1:add_item(v, 1)
+        ud:add_item(v, 1)
+        uh:add_item(v, 1)
         u2:add_item(v, 1)
         u3:add_item(v, 1)
     end
 
-    u1:add_order("ATTACKIERE " .. itoa36(u2.id))
-    u1:add_order("ATTACKIERE " .. itoa36(u3.id))
+    uh:add_order("ATTACKIERE " .. itoa36(u2.id))
+    uh:add_order("ATTACKIERE " .. itoa36(u3.id))
+    ud:add_order("ATTACKIERE " .. itoa36(u2.id))
+    ud:add_order("ATTACKIERE " .. itoa36(u3.id))
     process_orders()
 end
diff --git a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
index af0a9dd23..3a6ba6d81 100644
--- a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
+++ b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
@@ -782,6 +782,8 @@ static item_type *xml_readitem(xmlXPathContextPtr xpath, resource_type * rtype)
     itype = rtype->itype ? rtype->itype : it_get_or_create(rtype);
     itype->weight = xml_ivalue(node, "weight", 0);
     itype->capacity = xml_ivalue(node, "capacity", 0);
+    itype->mask_allow = xml_ivalue(node, "allow", 0);
+    itype->mask_deny = xml_ivalue(node, "deny", 0);
     itype->flags |= flags;
 
     /* reading item/construction */
@@ -1575,6 +1577,7 @@ static int parse_races(xmlDocPtr doc)
         rc->speed = (float)xml_fvalue(node, "speed", rc->speed);
         rc->hitpoints = xml_ivalue(node, "hp", rc->hitpoints);
         rc->armor = (char)xml_ivalue(node, "ac", rc->armor);
+        rc->mask_item = (char)xml_ivalue(node, "items", rc->mask_item);
         study_speed_base = xml_ivalue(node, "studyspeed", 0);
 
         rc->at_default = (char)xml_ivalue(node, "unarmedattack", -2);