diff --git a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
index 69e3cdc53..4472b205f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
@@ -368,6 +368,7 @@ void OMW::Engine::prepareEngine (Settings::Manager & settings)
     mEnvironment.setWorld( new MWWorld::World (*mOgre, mFileCollections, mMaster, mPlugins,
         mResDir, mCfgMgr.getCachePath(), mNewGame, mEncoder, mFallbackMap,
         mActivationDistanceOverride));
+    MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->setupPlayer(mNewGame);
 
     //Load translation data
     mTranslationDataStorage.setEncoder(mEncoder);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
index 39e985890..bee744386 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ namespace MWBase
             virtual void changeVanityModeScale(float factor) = 0;
             virtual bool vanityRotateCamera(float * rot) = 0;
 
+            virtual void setupPlayer(bool newGame) = 0;
             virtual void renderPlayer() = 0;
 
             virtual void setupExternalRendering (MWRender::ExternalRendering& rendering) = 0;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/armor.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/armor.cpp
index 6791138d3..8a8f72c88 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/armor.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/armor.cpp
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ namespace MWClass
         ref->mBase = record;
     }
 
-    int Armor::canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const
+    std::pair<int, std::string> Armor::canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const
     {
         MWWorld::InventoryStore& invStore = MWWorld::Class::get(npc).getInventoryStore(npc);
 
@@ -317,10 +317,7 @@ namespace MWClass
                     {
                         if((*itr).mPart == ESM::PRT_Head)
                         {
-                            if(npc == MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayer().getPlayer() )
-                                MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->messageBox ("#{sNotifyMessage13}");
-
-                            return 0;
+                            return std::make_pair(0, "#{sNotifyMessage13}");
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -331,9 +328,7 @@ namespace MWClass
                     {
                         if((*itr).mPart == ESM::PRT_LFoot || (*itr).mPart == ESM::PRT_RFoot)
                         {
-                            if(npc == MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayer().getPlayer() )
-                                MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->messageBox ("#{sNotifyMessage14}");
-                            return 0;
+                            return std::make_pair(0, "#{sNotifyMessage14}");
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -344,7 +339,7 @@ namespace MWClass
                 MWWorld::ContainerStoreIterator weapon = invStore.getSlot(MWWorld::InventoryStore::Slot_CarriedRight);
 
                 if(weapon == invStore.end())
-                    return 1;
+                    return std::make_pair(1,"");
 
                 if(weapon->get<ESM::Weapon>()->mBase->mData.mType == ESM::Weapon::LongBladeTwoHand ||
                 weapon->get<ESM::Weapon>()->mBase->mData.mType == ESM::Weapon::BluntTwoClose || 
@@ -354,12 +349,12 @@ namespace MWClass
                 weapon->get<ESM::Weapon>()->mBase->mData.mType == ESM::Weapon::MarksmanBow || 
                 weapon->get<ESM::Weapon>()->mBase->mData.mType == ESM::Weapon::MarksmanCrossbow)
                 {
-                    return 3;
+                    return std::make_pair(3,"");
                 }
-                return 1;
+                return std::make_pair(1,"");
             }
         }
-        return 1;
+        return std::make_pair(1,"");
     }
 
     boost::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> Armor::use (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr) const
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/armor.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/armor.hpp
index 703d3af1e..9b8e9dd14 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/armor.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/armor.hpp
@@ -67,8 +67,9 @@ namespace MWClass
 
             virtual void applyEnchantment(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const std::string& enchId, int enchCharge, const std::string& newName) const;
 
-            virtual int canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const;
-            ///< Return 0 if player cannot equip item. 1 if can equip. 2 if it's twohanded weapon. 3 if twohanded weapon conflicts with that.
+            virtual std::pair<int, std::string> canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const;
+            ///< Return 0 if player cannot equip item. 1 if can equip. 2 if it's twohanded weapon. 3 if twohanded weapon conflicts with that. \n
+            ///  Second item in the pair specifies the error message
 
             virtual boost::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> use (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr)
                 const;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/clothing.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/clothing.cpp
index 6c231e0c6..3072f852d 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/clothing.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/clothing.cpp
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ namespace MWClass
         ref->mBase = record;
     }
 
-    int Clothing::canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const
+    std::pair<int, std::string> Clothing::canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const
     {
         // slots that this item can be equipped in
         std::pair<std::vector<int>, bool> slots = MWWorld::Class::get(ptr).getEquipmentSlots(ptr);
@@ -260,12 +260,7 @@ namespace MWClass
                     for(std::vector<ESM::PartReference>::iterator itr = parts.begin(); itr != parts.end(); ++itr)
                     {
                         if((*itr).mPart == ESM::PRT_Head)
-                        {
-                            if(npc == MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayer().getPlayer() )
-                                MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->messageBox ("#{sNotifyMessage13}");
-
-                            return 0;
-                        }
+                            return std::make_pair(0, "#{sNotifyMessage13}");
                     }
                 }
 
@@ -274,19 +269,12 @@ namespace MWClass
                     for(std::vector<ESM::PartReference>::iterator itr = parts.begin(); itr != parts.end(); ++itr)
                     {
                         if((*itr).mPart == ESM::PRT_LFoot || (*itr).mPart == ESM::PRT_RFoot)
-                        {
-                            if(npc == MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayer().getPlayer() )
-                            {
-                                MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->messageBox ("#{sNotifyMessage15}");
-                            }
-
-                            return 0;
-                        }
+                            return std::make_pair(0, "#{sNotifyMessage15}");
                     }
                 }
             }
         }
-        return 1;
+        return std::make_pair (1, "");
     }
 
     boost::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> Clothing::use (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr) const
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/clothing.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/clothing.hpp
index 1be42adbd..a6de0cb4f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/clothing.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/clothing.hpp
@@ -61,8 +61,9 @@ namespace MWClass
 
             virtual void applyEnchantment(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const std::string& enchId, int enchCharge, const std::string& newName) const;
 
-            virtual int canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const;
+            virtual std::pair<int, std::string> canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const;
             ///< Return 0 if player cannot equip item. 1 if can equip. 2 if it's twohanded weapon. 3 if twohanded weapon conflicts with that.
+            ///  Second item in the pair specifies the error message
 
             virtual boost::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> use (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr)
                 const;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/weapon.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/weapon.cpp
index fbac6d89e..6c6b3daa6 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/weapon.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/weapon.cpp
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ namespace MWClass
             ref->mBase = record;
     }
 
-    int Weapon::canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const
+    std::pair<int, std::string> Weapon::canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const
     {
         std::pair<std::vector<int>, bool> slots = MWWorld::Class::get(ptr).getEquipmentSlots(ptr);
 
@@ -402,12 +402,12 @@ namespace MWClass
                 ptr.get<ESM::Weapon>()->mBase->mData.mType == ESM::Weapon::MarksmanBow || 
                 ptr.get<ESM::Weapon>()->mBase->mData.mType == ESM::Weapon::MarksmanCrossbow)
                 {
-                    return 2;
+                    return std::make_pair (2, "");
                 }
-                return 1;
+                return std::make_pair (1, "");
             }
         }
-        return 0;
+        return std::make_pair (0, "");
     }
 
     boost::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> Weapon::use (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr) const
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/weapon.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/weapon.hpp
index 314f6bc21..05b1aee22 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/weapon.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/weapon.hpp
@@ -67,8 +67,9 @@ namespace MWClass
 
             virtual void applyEnchantment(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const std::string& enchId, int enchCharge, const std::string& newName) const;
 
-            virtual int canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const;
+            virtual std::pair<int, std::string> canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const;
             ///< Return 0 if player cannot equip item. 1 if can equip. 2 if it's twohanded weapon. 3 if twohanded weapon conflicts with that.
+            ///  Second item in the pair specifies the error message
 
             virtual boost::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> use (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr)
                 const;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
index 4a2a2ecc6..d34c4b97f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -155,6 +155,18 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             stat.setCurrent (stat.getModified());
             creatureStats.setDynamic (i, stat);
         }
+
+        // unequip any items that may not be equipped. we need this for when the race is changed to a beast race
+        MWWorld::InventoryStore& invStore = MWWorld::Class::get(ptr).getInventoryStore(ptr);
+        for (int i=0; i<MWWorld::InventoryStore::Slots; ++i)
+        {
+            MWWorld::ContainerStoreIterator it = invStore.getSlot(i);
+            if (it != invStore.end())
+            {
+                if (!MWWorld::Class::get(*it).canBeEquipped(*it, ptr).first)
+                    invStore.equip(i, invStore.end());
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     MechanicsManager::MechanicsManager()
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionequip.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionequip.cpp
index 84d1a3d15..85e73a056 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionequip.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionequip.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,13 @@ namespace MWWorld
         MWWorld::Ptr object = getTarget();
         MWWorld::InventoryStore& invStore = MWWorld::Class::get(actor).getInventoryStore(actor);
 
-        switch(MWWorld::Class::get (object).canBeEquipped (object, actor))
+        std::pair <int, std::string> result = MWWorld::Class::get (object).canBeEquipped (object, actor);
+
+        // display error message if the player tried to equip something
+        if (!result.second.empty() && actor == MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayer().getPlayer())
+            MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->messageBox(result.second);
+
+        switch(result.first)
         {
             case 0:
                 return;
@@ -48,8 +54,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
         assert(it != invStore.end());
 
-        std::string npcRace = actor.get<ESM::NPC>()->mBase->mRace;
-
         bool equipped = false;
 
         // equip the item in the first free slot
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp
index 4321fc46b..451f0c5c1 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp
@@ -264,9 +264,9 @@ namespace MWWorld
         throw std::runtime_error ("class can't be enchanted");
     }
 
-    int Class::canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const
+    std::pair<int, std::string> Class::canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const
     {
-        return 1;
+        return std::make_pair (1, "");
     }
 
     void Class::adjustPosition(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr) const
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp
index 32941c633..b901950e3 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp
@@ -245,8 +245,9 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
             virtual void applyEnchantment(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const std::string& enchId, int enchCharge, const std::string& newName) const;
 
-            virtual int canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const;
+            virtual std::pair<int, std::string> canBeEquipped(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &npc) const;
             ///< Return 0 if player cannot equip item. 1 if can equip. 2 if it's twohanded weapon. 3 if twohanded weapon conflicts with that.
+            ///  Second item in the pair specifies the error message
 
             virtual Ptr
             copyToCell(const Ptr &ptr, CellStore &cell) const;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/inventorystore.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/inventorystore.cpp
index 5495d6a02..ac5586266 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/inventorystore.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/inventorystore.cpp
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ void MWWorld::InventoryStore::autoEquip (const MWWorld::Ptr& npc)
                 }
             }
 
-            switch(MWWorld::Class::get (test).canBeEquipped (test, npc))
+            switch(MWWorld::Class::get (test).canBeEquipped (test, npc).first)
             {
                 case 0:
                     continue;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
index e70aedd55..424f6f508 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "manualref.hpp"
 #include "cellfunctors.hpp"
 #include "containerstore.hpp"
+#include "inventorystore.hpp"
 
 using namespace Ogre;
 
@@ -210,9 +211,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
         mStore.setUp();
 
-        mPlayer = new MWWorld::Player (mStore.get<ESM::NPC>().find ("player"), *this);
-        mRendering->attachCameraTo(mPlayer->getPlayer());
-
         // global variables
         mGlobalVariables = new Globals (mStore);
 
@@ -1369,6 +1367,18 @@ namespace MWWorld
         return mRendering->vanityRotateCamera(rot);
     }
 
+    void World::setupPlayer(bool newGame)
+    {
+        const ESM::NPC* player = mStore.get<ESM::NPC>().find ("player");
+        mPlayer = new MWWorld::Player (player, *this);
+        mRendering->attachCameraTo(mPlayer->getPlayer());
+        if (newGame)
+        {
+            MWWorld::Class::get(mPlayer->getPlayer()).getContainerStore(mPlayer->getPlayer()).fill(player->mInventory, "", mStore);
+            MWWorld::Class::get(mPlayer->getPlayer()).getInventoryStore(mPlayer->getPlayer()).autoEquip (mPlayer->getPlayer());
+        }
+    }
+
     void World::renderPlayer()
     {
         mRendering->renderPlayer(mPlayer->getPlayer());
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
index 7b12babee..99e7cc79d 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
@@ -363,6 +363,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
             virtual bool vanityRotateCamera(float * rot);
 
+            virtual void setupPlayer(bool newGame);
             virtual void renderPlayer();
 
             virtual void setupExternalRendering (MWRender::ExternalRendering& rendering);