diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/study.c b/src/common/gamecode/study.c
index 1827a55aa..ec9b5f0a3 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/study.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/study.c
@@ -151,6 +151,14 @@ const attrib_type at_learning = {
 	ATF_UNIQUE
 };
 
+static int
+study_days(unit * student, skill_t sk)
+{
+  int speed = 30 + student->race->study_speed_base;
+  if (student->race->study_speed) speed += student->race->study_speed[sk];
+  return student->number * speed;
+}
+
 static int
 teach_unit(unit * teacher, unit * student, int nteaching, skill_t sk, 
 			  boolean report, int * academy)
@@ -171,7 +179,7 @@ teach_unit(unit * teacher, unit * student, int nteaching, skill_t sk,
     return 0;
   }
 
-  n = student->number * 30;
+  n = study_days(student, sk);
   a = a_find(student->attribs, &at_learning);
   if (a!=NULL) {
     teach = (teaching_info*)a->data.v;
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/eressea.c b/src/common/kernel/eressea.c
index 8a611b186..77aa35b6c 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/eressea.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/eressea.c
@@ -207,21 +207,6 @@ HelpMask(void)
   return value;
 }
 
-/** specifies modes that are restricted to members of the same alliance.
- * if this returns a non-zero value, then you cannot give those modes to a
- * faction unless they are in the same alliance.
- */
-int
-HelpMask(void)
-{
-  static int help_mask = 0;
-
-  if (help_mask==0) {
-    help_mask = get_param_int(global.parameters, "rules.help.mask", HELP_ALL);
-  }
-  return help_mask;
-}
-
 int
 AllianceRestricted(void)
 {
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/race.c b/src/common/kernel/race.c
index 80411b928..e62791d5f 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/race.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/race.c
@@ -125,6 +125,8 @@ rc_new(const char * zName)
 
   rc->attack[0].type = AT_COMBATSPELL;
   rc->attack[1].type = AT_NONE;
+  rc->speed = 0;
+  rc->study_speed_base = 0;
   return rc;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/race.h b/src/common/kernel/race.h
index 9d98c06ec..7cf79f6e5 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/race.h
+++ b/src/common/kernel/race.h
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ typedef struct race {
   const spell * precombatspell;
   struct att attack[10];
   char bonus[MAXSKILLS];
+  char study_speed_base;
+  signed char * study_speed; /* study-speed-bonus in points/turn (0=30 Tage) */
   boolean __remove_me_nonplayer;
   int flags;
   int battle_flags;
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/xmlreader.c b/src/common/kernel/xmlreader.c
index 4beef377e..1bbda02f5 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/xmlreader.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/xmlreader.c
@@ -1565,6 +1565,7 @@ parse_races(xmlDocPtr doc)
     rc->speed = (float)xml_fvalue(node, "speed", 1.0F);
     rc->hitpoints = xml_ivalue(node, "hp", 0);
     rc->armor = (char)xml_ivalue(node, "ac", 0);
+    rc->study_speed_base = xml_ivalue(node, "studyspeed", 0);
 
     rc->at_default = (char)xml_ivalue(node, "unarmedattack", -2);
     rc->df_default = (char)xml_ivalue(node, "unarmeddefense", -2);
@@ -1626,17 +1627,21 @@ parse_races(xmlDocPtr doc)
     for (k=0;k!=result->nodesetval->nodeNr;++k) {
       xmlNodePtr node = result->nodesetval->nodeTab[k];
       int mod = xml_ivalue(node, "modifier", 0);
+      int speed = xml_ivalue(node, "speed", 0);
+      skill_t sk;
 
       propValue = xmlGetProp(node, BAD_CAST "name");
       assert(propValue!=NULL);
-      if (mod!=0) {
-        skill_t sk = sk_find((const char*)propValue);
-        if (sk!=NOSKILL) {
-          rc->bonus[sk] = (char)mod;
-        } else {
-          log_error(("unknown skill '%s' in race '%s'\n",
-            (const char*)propValue, rc->_name[0]));
+      sk = sk_find((const char*)propValue);
+      if (sk!=NOSKILL) {
+        rc->bonus[sk] = (char)mod;
+        if (speed) {
+          if (!rc->study_speed) rc->study_speed = calloc(1, MAXSKILLS);
+          rc->study_speed[sk] = speed;
         }
+      } else {
+        log_error(("unknown skill '%s' in race '%s'\n",
+          (const char*)propValue, rc->_name[0]));
       }
       xmlFree(propValue);
     }
diff --git a/src/res/e2k9/races.xml b/src/res/e2k9/races.xml
index bdceba083..1e24b51ac 100644
--- a/src/res/e2k9/races.xml
+++ b/src/res/e2k9/races.xml
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@
   <race name="uruk" magres="-0.05" maxaura="1.0" regaura="1.0" recruitcost="70" maintenance="10" weight="1000" capacity="540" speed="1.0" hp="20" damage="1d5" unarmedattack="-2" unarmeddefense="-2" playerrace="yes" walk="yes" giveitem="yes" giveperson="yes" giveunit="yes" getitem="yes" equipment="yes">
     <ai splitsize="10000" moverandom="yes" learn="yes"/>
     <function name="itemdrop" value="defaultdrops"/>
-	<param name="other_race" value="troll"/>
-	<param name="other_cost" value="500"/>
+    <param name="other_race" value="troll"/>
+    <param name="other_cost" value="500"/>
     <skill name="armorer" modifier="1"/>
     <skill name="building" modifier="1"/>
     <skill name="cartmaking" modifier="-1"/>