Gnome 2.0

They're Tiny! They're Bards! They're...

Gnome 2.0

Tiny size (+2 Attack & AC, +8 Hide checks, 50% carrying capacity)
Base Speed 20 ft.
Str -4, Cha +2
Weapon Familiarity: Gnomes may treat gnome hooked hammers as Martial rather then Exotic weapons.
+2 racial bonus on saving throws against illusions
Add +1 to the Difficulty Class for all saving throws against illusion spells cast by gnomes
+1 racial bonus on attack rolls against kobolds and goblinoids (including goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears)
+4 dodge bonus to Armor Class against monsters of the giant type (such as ogres, trolls, and hill giants)
+2 racial bonus on Listen and Craft (alchemy) checks
Low-light Vision: Gnomes can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
Automatic Language: Common.
Bonus Languages: Sylvan, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Goblin, Orc and Terran. In addition, a gnome can speak with animals once per day. This ability is innate to gnomes. See the speak with animals spell description.
Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day -- Speak with Animals (duration 1 minute). A gnome with a Charisma score of at least 10 also has the following spell-like abilities: 3/day -- Prestidigitation. Caster level 1st or Gnome's character level, whichever is higher; save DC 10 + gnome's Cha modifier.
Favored Class: Bard.



Special: Gnomes may take a 4-level Racial Prestige Class. (As a PrC, these levels cannot cause an XP penalty.)

Gnome PrC
HD: d6
BAB: Half (as Sorcerer)
Good Saves: Reflex, Will / Bad Save: Fortitude
Skill Points: 6 + Int bonus
Class Skills: Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowlege (any) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis) and Swim (Str).


Special Abilities:

• Faerie Fire (Special): The Gnome gains the spell Faerie Fire as an extra known 1st level Bard spell. If the Gnome cannot yet cast 1st-level Bard spells, he gains Faerie Fire as a spell-like ability usable once per day until he can cast 1st-level Bard spells.
• Speak with Animals (Sp): The Gnome can use his Speak with Animals spell-like ability thrice per day, and his caster level increases
• Improved Illusion (Ex): The Gnome's racial bonus to Illusion spell DCs increases to +2.
• Fey Sight (Su): The Gnome perceives the world as though under a constant See Invisibility spell, which cannot be dispelled. Due to his improved visual acuity, he gains a +2 racial bonus to Spot and Search checks.
• Fey Wings (Ex): The Gnome gains faerie wings, which give him a fly speed of 40 ft., with Good maneuverability. He may choose dragonfly, butterfly or bird wings.
• Charisma Increase: This bonus is gained as though through level advancement.

-- N

Just wanted to drop by and say that I like your gnomes a lot (feels kinda funny referring to them as gnomes)! They remind me of the trixies (gnome/pixies half-breed) from Bastards & Bloodlines guidebook.

Shouldn't they have a base speed of 15 ft., since they are tiny or are they remarkably fleet on foot? I think it's kinda fair since they gain a fly speed of 40 ft. (good) at 4th level, provided that they take levels in the PrC. Otherwise, I think the racial traits of the gnome is balanced.

Why don't they have gnome as an automatic language?

The PrC looks good, but I think that being able to cast speak with animals 3/day might be a tad powerful at 1st level. One additional time per day seems more reasonable to me. Either that or remove faerie fire, but I think this spell fits the theme of the race better, as they seem to be more akin to pixies than gnomes.

i really like your fey gnome. i think the racial PrC is good (though +1 spellcaster level instead of +1 bard would make more gnome 2.0's likely to take it). it makes sense of the bard preferred class fiasco

I think that this is a nice addition, but I agree that the spellcasting should be any spellcasting class, not just bard.

Although I do not have Arcana Unearthed, your PrC seems similar to Monte Cook's Racial Class concept. By taking levels in your race, you become more the epitome of your race. Perhaps another name would be appropriate as Gnome no longer seems to fit unless you refer to them as fey gnomes. I think that this race could coexist with the standard PHB gnomes.

Sertimon said:

Shouldn't they have a base speed of 15 ft., since they are tiny or are they remarkably fleet on foot? I think it's kinda fair since they gain a fly speed of 40 ft. (good) at 4th level, provided that they take levels in the PrC. Otherwise, I think the racial traits of the gnome is balanced.

Why don't they have gnome as an automatic language?

Click to expand...

No such language IMC.

IMC, Humanoid (Fey) consists of Elves, Halflings and Gnomes -- all "humanoid-ized" forms of True Fey. Elves have Elven ("Low Sylvan"), Gnomes & Halflings can speak Elven and/or Sylvan if they want.

As to the speed issue, I'd rather reduce their fly speed to 30 ft. than their land speed to 15 ft. -- that's just too slow, as 3.0e Dwarves discovered. Also, I don't want to force Gnome PCs to take this PrC -- it should be a strong option, but no stronger than any Core Class.

handforged said:

Although I do not have Arcana Unearthed, your PrC seems similar to Monte Cook's Racial Class concept. By taking levels in your race, you become more the epitome of your race. Perhaps another name would be appropriate as Gnome no longer seems to fit unless you refer to them as fey gnomes. I think that this race could coexist with the standard PHB gnomes.

Click to expand...

I'm not a fan of PHB Gnomes. They've got too much overlap with 3.5e Halflings, esepcially with the Bard vs. Rogue thing. I *do* like the idea of them being "Trixie", since that's what Gnomes are all about -- stealing underpants, lowering property values, etc. -- so this is what I've done with them IMC. I think I've kept the basic "Gnome-ness", but made them distinct from Halflings -- and all other races.

However, you should feel free to steal them and call them "Fey Gnomes" in your campaign!

I've had ideas for race-specific PrCs ever since I saw the Arcane Archer & Dwarven Defender, but I do also own MC's AU, and it's been an inspiration. He only grants 3-level Racial PrCs, while I prefer 4-level Racial PrCs. (It seems to me that 4 levels is a natural "block" of experience -- 2 spell levels, Weapon Specialization, Uncanny Dodge, another Rage, etc. -- and the BABs line up better using 4-level blocks.)

As to general spellcasting, I don't think it's gonna happen. Gnomes have a Favored Class, and their Racial PrC is gonna reflect that. I'd rather give them an extra point of BAB (3/4 instead of 1/2 -- Bard BAB vs. Fey BAB) than give them better spellcasting.

True, this means that Gnome Clerics are unikely to take this PrC -- oh well, not all race/class combos are created equal. I see Bard Spellcasting being good for many non-primary-casters (Rogue, Ranger, Paladin, Fighter) and of course for Bards.

-- N