OSR [Shadowdark] How would you make a gnome?

[CleverNickName]

In my head, gnomes aren't a completely new species...they are just dwarves that live in forests. So I'd basically just make them dwarves, and handle any distinctions with flavor text and descriptions. If the player wants/needs something more specific than that, I'd work with them.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I’d go with speak with small burrowing animals and skill with illusion as key gnome characteristics, but my players who have gnomes don’t do either. I’m big on talking to critters when I play a gnome!

Oh, man, my D&D gnome illusionist is 1) 24/7 illusions and 2) all about working with critters.

 

[Thourne]

Isn't the obvious choice automatic crits on any social interaction rolls?
What, everyone dosen't love gnomes?!?
Now you really do want me believing it is a fantasy world!

 

[haakon1]

Oh, man, my D&D gnome illusionist is 1) 24/7 illusions and 2) all about working with critters.

For GenCon Online games, since it started in 2020, my PC is usually my Gnome Bard.

His back story - which I spare others in GenCon - is that he was originally a 3.5e Greyhawk character, had an accident with a teleportal to end up in the d20 Stargate’s SG1 HQ (explaining why he has a MagLite), then ended up on the my friend Adam’s homebrew world in 5e (ackk, physics change), and now has been to 5e Forgotten Realms and Ravenloft.

A bit of a Quantum Leap type character, except he’s always just him, the Gnome Bard with a MagLite.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

A bit of a Quantum Leap type character, except he’s always just him, the Gnome Bard with a MagLite.

I can only imagine those DMs' responses to "and he has a MagLight flashlight."

 

[haakon1]

I can only imagine those DMs' responses to "and he has a MagLight flashlight."

I think when you DM GenCon Online, you gotta roll with it. That was the 2020 slogan.

 

[FallenArchon]

Gnome: +1 spellcasting. Ignores one miscast per day.

Aasmir: start the day with a luck token, Once per day and can cast bless

Tiefling: (Infernal resistance) gains 4 hitpoints vs non-mundane sources per day.

Karhu: Always equipped with Powerful claws 1D6+str mod (if positive), +2 gear slots

Lizardfolk: Always equipped with leather armour, Advantage on climbing

Kobold: (dodges) Ignores one attack per day

Construct: Alway equipped with plate armour (AC 15)

Treefolk: Immune to critical strikes, Canopy blessing +2 gear slot for rations.

Dhampir: Death Timer is rolled on a 1D8.

 

[Autumnal]

For tieflings, I wonder if it’d be too metatextual to boost reaction rolls against them: mild positivity and above intensifies up, mild hostility and below intensifies down.

 

[Bill Zebub]

Make what kind of Gnome? Soufflé? Casserole? BBQ?

 

[JohnSnow]

I’d go with speak with small burrowing animals and skill with illusion as key gnome characteristics, but my players who have gnomes don’t do either. I’m big on talking to critters when I play a gnome!

Personally, I'd go with the latter. The animal-speaking thing is one of the oldest gnome traits, both in folklore and D&D. The illusion thing is, as was pointed out, a little too close to elves.