Gnomes and Eberron

[Vorput]

Do gnomes really get the standard abilities given in the PHB in Eberron?

Specifically

+1 racial bonus on attack rolls against kobolds and goblinoids.

and

+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.

I would think not, since they don't make any sense in the world of Eberron, but I can't find anywhere that says that. Am I just missing something? or is this one of those things I shouldn't dwell too deeply on?

Vorp

 

[blargney the second]

The attack bonuses actually make plenty of sense. There are jewel mines in Zilargo where the gnomes fight kobolds frequently. Darguun is directly to the east, and there's no shortage of aggressive goblinoids there.

As for the dodge bonus against giants, it's not too hard to imagine that there would be plenty of trolls in a swampy/jungly area like Zilargo. Xen'drik isn't the exclusive source of giants.

 

[Destil]

Yeah. That's the default Eberron gnome abilities. Elves make less sense (should replace longsword and raiper with scimitar)...

 

[Solarious]

Well, Valenar Elves do replace the sword/rapier proficiencies with the more exciting scimitar/martial Valenar double scimitar proficiencies, meaning the Valenar all have Scimitar proficiencies, while those with levels granting access to martial weapons can also use the Double Scimitar without an EWP feat.

Khorvarian elves are as default, while Aerenal elves... are also default. I wouldn't change Khorvarian elves, but you could change Aerenal elves as well to the Valenar model, although since they're much more focused on magic/ancestor worship, it honestly wouldn't make a great difference.

 

[shilsen]

I would think not, since they don't make any sense in the world of Eberron, but I can't find anywhere that says that. Am I just missing something? or is this one of those things I shouldn't dwell too deeply on?

I think Eberron gnomes get exactly the same racial abilities as PHB gnomes. As for whether you shouldn't dwell too deeply on it, you're already thinking about how to play a member of a fantasy race of midget Machiavellis, so it's too late I suggest talking to your DM and seeing if he feels the same way and is willing to change those abilities. Maybe a +2 bonus to some skills (Bluff & Sense Motive come to mind) instead?

 

[Destil]

Zilargo Upbringing cribbed from OneWinged4ngel on the wizards boards at http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=690601 does a pretty good job of giving gnomes a bit more Eberron flavor:

Zilargo Upbringing
Req: Zilargo Gnome, Level 1
Effect: Pick two skills from a choice of Gather Information, Sense Motive, and Bluff. These are class skills for you. In addition, you gain +2 in one of these skills (Your choice).

In my own Eberron campaign I use the following for gnomes (note that I tore all the races apart and rebuilt them, gnomes just got some of the heaviest adjustments):

* +2 Constitution, -2 Strength.
* Small.
* Gnome base land speed is 20 feet.
* Low-Light Vision.
* Love of Lore: Gnomes add Knowledge (all skills) to their list of class skills for any class they adopt. Gnomes gain 1 bonus skill point every level (and 4 bonus skill points at 1st level) that can only be spent on knowledge skills.
* Zilargo Upbringing: A gnome gains +2 bonus to Gather Information, Sense Motive, and Bluff.
* Researched Arcana: Gnomes excel at the arcane sciences. They treat their spellcasting ability score for any arcane casting class as if two points higher for determining the number of bonus spells per day and the highest level spell they can cast.
* +2 racial bonus on Craft (alchemy) checks due to a keen sense of smell.
* Dragonmarks: Mark of Scribing.
* Automatic Language: Common Gnome.

 

[shilsen]

Zilargo Upbringing cribbed from OneWinged4ngel on the wizards boards at http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=690601 does a pretty good job of giving gnomes a bit more Eberron flavor:

Zilargo Upbringing
Req: Zilargo Gnome, Level 1
Effect: Pick two skills from a choice of Gather Information, Sense Motive, and Bluff. These are class skills for you. In addition, you gain +2 in one of these skills (Your choice).

In my own Eberron campaign I use the following for gnomes (note that I tore all the races apart and rebuilt them, gnomes just got some of the heaviest adjustments):

* +2 Constitution, -2 Strength.
* Small.
* Gnome base land speed is 20 feet.
* Low-Light Vision.
* Love of Lore: Gnomes add Knowledge (all skills) to their list of class skills for any class they adopt. Gnomes gain 1 bonus skill point every level (and 4 bonus skill points at 1st level) that can only be spent on knowledge skills.
* Zilargo Upbringing: A gnome gains +2 bonus to Gather Information, Sense Motive, and Bluff.
* Researched Arcana: Gnomes excel at the arcane sciences. They treat their spellcasting ability score for any arcane casting class as if two points higher for determining the number of bonus spells per day and the highest level spell they can cast.
* +2 racial bonus on Craft (alchemy) checks due to a keen sense of smell.
* Dragonmarks: Mark of Scribing.
* Automatic Language: Common Gnome.

Very nice!

 

[Vorput]

Very nice!

I agree, those are some very nice rules... I'll see if my DM will go for it

 

[Wolfwood2]

Zilargo Upbringing cribbed from OneWinged4ngel on the wizards boards at http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=690601 does a pretty good job of giving gnomes a bit more Eberron flavor:

I don't care for it.

It's not necessary to build racial features entirely around a particular and transitory culture. I prefer the scattershot approach of PHB gnome features to building everything around supporting the current Zilargo culture, which might have been different a couple of hundred years ago and might be different still a couple of hundred years in Eberron's future.

 

[Vorput]

Destil, I e-mailed you asking for more info on the races you changed- lemme know if you get it