Fun with Templates - The Gnome Who Fell to Earth

STERNKIND GNOMES

• –4 Strength, Intelligence +4, Wisdom +4, Charisma +2.
• Small: As a Small creature, a sternkind gnome gains a +1 size bonus to Armor Class, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, and a +4 size bonus on Hide checks, but he uses smaller weapons than humans use, and his lifting and carrying limits are three-quarters of those of a Medium character.
• Sternkind gnome base land speed is 20 feet.
• Low-Light Vision: A sternkind gnome can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. He retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
• Weapon Familiarity: Sternkind gnomes may treat gnome hooked hammers as martial weapons rather than 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 sternkind gnomes. This adjustment stacks with those from similar effects.
• +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against kobolds and goblinoids.
• +4 dodge bonus to Armor Class against monsters of the giant type. Any time a creature loses its Dexterity bonus (if any) to Armor Class, such as when it’s caught flat-footed, it loses its dodge bonus, too.
• +2 racial bonus on Listen checks.
• +2 racial bonus on Craft (alchemy) checks.
• Automatic Languages: Common and Gnome. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Goblin, and Orc. In addition, a gnome can speak with a burrowing mammal (a badger, fox, rabbit, or the like, see below). This ability is innate to gnomes. See the speak with animals spell description. A sternkind gnome with an Intelligence score of at least 8 gains the ability to speak Fraal.
• Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day—speak with animals (burrowing mammal only, duration 1 minute). A sternkind gnome with a Charisma score of at least 10 also has the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—dancing lights, ghost sound, prestidigitation. Caster level 1st; save DC 10 + Cha modifier + spell level.
• Psionics (Sp): At will - lesser mindlink; 3/day - suggestion. Manifester level 5th, save DC 10 + key ability modifier + power level.
• Favored Class: Bard. A multiclass sternkind gnome’s bard class does not count when determining whether he takes an experience point penalty.
 

log in or register to remove this ad


True enough, the Menace Manual didn't provide a LA. It seems a bit more powerful that a Aasimar or Tiefling, but less powerful than a Svirfneblin. I'd eyeball the LA for the Sternkind Gnome at +2. Does that sound right?
 

Twiggly the Gnome said:
True enough, the Menace Manual didn't provide a LA. It seems a bit more powerful that a Aasimar or Tiefling, but less powerful than a Svirfneblin. I'd eyeball the LA for the Sternkind Gnome at +2. Does that sound right?

gah!

Other than the ability scores this guy just doesnt have all that much above a normal race in the phb. Bump them down a little and you will be fine at +0. It is really hard to use LA with only stats, especially when the difference in this case isnt really huge, +6 difference is nice but not extreme. If you cut out either the intelligence or wisdom bonus it'd probably be fine at +0.

If you want to leave it as is then make their powers scale with level somehow and it'd be +1 more or less.

This guy is only really scary as a wizard with 22 base int and lots of illusion spells. Thats the only thing I'd try to avoid having happen.
 

A little gnome action

I would probably drop the Wisdom bonus and let it ride

Scion said:
gah!

Other than the ability scores this guy just doesnt have all that much above a normal race in the phb. Bump them down a little and you will be fine at +0. It is really hard to use LA with only stats, especially when the difference in this case isnt really huge, +6 difference is nice but not extreme. If you cut out either the intelligence or wisdom bonus it'd probably be fine at +0.

If you want to leave it as is then make their powers scale with level somehow and it'd be +1 more or less.

This guy is only really scary as a wizard with 22 base int and lots of illusion spells. Thats the only thing I'd try to avoid having happen.
 


The Sternkind are 3.5e Gnomes with the Half-Fraal template from the D20 Menace Manual. On reflection a +2 LA is a bit harsh. Keeping the stats by the book, a +1 LA seems sufficient.
 

Pets & Sidekicks

Remove ads

Top