Gnomes were small humanoids known for their eccentric sense of humour, inquisitiveness, and engineering prowess. Having had few overt influences on the world's history but many small and unseen ones, gnomes were often overlooked by the powers that be, despite their craftiness and affinity for illusion magic. Gnomes were present in nearly every human city and most caravan-stop villages where other cultures and non-human races were at least tolerated.
Gnomes were very small compared to most other races. While halflings were commonly said to resemble short humans, gnomes were more comparable with elves, with whom they shared pointed ears and high cheekbones, or even dwarves, due to their tendency to grow beards and live underground. Many gnomes had a more feral appearance than either, however, with hair that often sprouted from their heads in odd directions. The skin of gnomes ran in hue from reddish tans to earthy browns or even shades of gray, with exact hue somewhat dependent upon the ethnic origin of a gnome. Similarly, gnomish hair varied wildly in color from blond and brown to more exotic colors like white, orange, or even green.
Gnomes were very long-lived, often living as long as elves, which meant living over three centuries was not uncommonly rare and five centuries was not unheard of. Generally, gnomes were considered to reach maturity at forty years of age. However, unlike elves or eladrin, gnomes showed a greater degree of aging as they grew older and once a gnome had passed his or her first century, their hair began to gray, if it was not already white, and their skin began to wrinkle as in humans or dwarves. However, even the oldest gnome retained a vitality that would be extraordinarily unusual among many of the younger races.
Gnomes were an intelligent and innately curious race and had a strong affinity for all things magical, particularly the arcane. Gnomes might have lacked the drive and ambition of other races, particularly humans, but their creativity gave them a strong ability for ingenuity. Most gnomes were content to live simple lives, acquiring knowledge merely as a hobby but others explored lost ruins, delved deep into the heart of the world, and conducted dangerous research in their unquenchable thirst for knowledge, leading more than a few to an untimely demise.
A constant hum of busy activity pervades the warrens and neighborhoods where gnomes form their close-knit communities. Louder sounds punctuate the hum: a crunch of grinding gears here, a minor explosion there, a yelp of surprise or triumph, and especially bursts of laughter. Gnomes take delight in life, enjoying every moment of invention, exploration, investigation, creation, and play.
Gnomes, or the
Forgotten Folk as they were sometimes known, were small humanoids known for their eccentric sense of humour, inquisitiveness, and engineering prowess. Having had few overt influences on the world's history but many small and unseen ones, gnomes were often overlooked by the powers that be, despite their craftiness and affinity for illusion magic. Gnomes were present in nearly every human city and most caravan-stop villages where other cultures and non-human races were at least tolerated.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by +2.
- Age. Gnomes mature at the same rate as humans, and most are expected to settle into adult life around the age of 40. They can live to 350 years on average, but it's not too uncommon for them to reach 500 years of age.
- Alignment. Gnomes are generally Good. Those who tend towards Law are sages, engineers, researchers, scholars, investigators, or inventors. Those who tend towards Chaos are often minstrels, tricksters, wanderers, or fanciful jewellers. Gnomes are light-hearted, and even the tricksters amongst them favour harmless pranks over vicious schemes.
- Size. Gnomes are between 3 and 4 feet tall and weigh around 40 pounds. Your size is Small.
- Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.
- Darkvision. Accustomed to life underground, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern colour in darkness, only shades of grey.
- Gnome Cunning. You have advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saves against magic.
- Languages. You can read, speak, and write Common and Gnomish.
SUBRACES
Forest Gnome
Forest gnomes have a knack for stealth and illusion and are generally rather secretive. They gather in hidden forest communities, befriending the local fey and animals.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by +1.
- Natural Illusionist. You know the Minor Illusion cantrip. Intelligence is your spellcasting modifier for it.
- Speak with Small Beasts. Through sound and gestures, you may communicate simple ideas with Small or smaller beasts.
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT TABLE
| GENDER |
BASE HEIGHT |
HEIGHT MODIFIER |
HEIGHT RANGE |
AVERAGE HEIGHT |
| MALE |
2'11'' |
+(2d4) |
3'1''-3'7'' |
3'4'' |
| FEMALE |
2'10'' |
+(2d4) |
2'11''-3'6'' |
3'3'' |
| GENDER |
BASE WEIGHT |
WEIGHT MODIFIER |
WEIGHT RANGE |
AVERAGE WEIGHT |
| MALE |
35 lbs |
x(1) |
37-43 lbs |
40 lbs |
| FEMALE |
30 lbs |
x(1) |
32-37 lbs |
35 lbs |
Rock Gnome
Rock gnomes are naturally inventive and quite hardy for such a small creature. Also known as tinker gnomes, they are well known for their contraptions, ranging from revolutionary to eccentric.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by +1.
- Artificer's Lore. Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to magical, alchemical, or technological items, you can add twice your proficiency bonus instead of any other proficiency bonus that may apply.
- Tinker. You have proficiency with artisan tools (Tinker's Tools). Using those tools, you can spend 1 hour and 10 gp worth of materials to construct a Tiny clockwork device (AC 5, 1 HP). The device ceases to function after 24 hours (unless you spend 1 hour repairing it to keep the device functioning), or when you use your action to dismantle it; at that time, you can reclaim the materials used to create it. You can have up to three such devices active at a time. When you create a device, choose one of the following options:
- Clockwork Toy. This toy is a clockwork animal, monster, or person, such as a frog, mouse, bird, dragon, or soldier. When placed on the ground, the toy moves 5 feet across the ground on each of your turns in a random direction. It makes noises as appropriate to the creature it represents.-- Fire Starter. The device produces a miniature flame, which you can use to light a candle, torch, or campfire. Using the device requires your action.-- Music Box. When opened, this music box plays a single song at a moderate volume. The box stops playing when it reaches the song's end or when it is closed.-- At your DM's discretion, you may make other objects with effects similar in power to these. The Prestidigitation cantrip is a good baseline for such effects.
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT TABLE
| GENDER |
BASE HEIGHT |
HEIGHT MODIFIER |
HEIGHT RANGE |
AVERAGE HEIGHT |
|---|
| MALE |
3'0'' |
+(2d4) |
3'2''-3'8'' |
3'5'' |
| FEMALE |
2'11'' |
+(2d4) |
3'1''-3'7'' |
3'4'' |
| GENDER |
BASE WEIGHT |
WEIGHT MODIFIER |
WEIGHT RANGE |
AVERAGE WEIGHT |
|---|
| MALE |
40 lbs |
x(1) |
42-48 lbs |
45 lbs |
| FEMALE |
35 lbs |
x(1) |
37-43 lbs |
40 lbs |
Svirfneblin (Deep Gnome)
Forest gnomes and rock gnomes are the gnomes most commonly encountered in the lands of the surface world. There is another subrace of gnomes rarely seen by any surface-dweller: deep gnomes, also known as svirfneblin. Guarded, and suspicious of outsiders, svirfneblin are cunning and taciturn but can be just as kind-hearted, loyal, and compassionate as their surface cousins.
Ability Score Increase. Your
Dexterity score increases by +1.
Superior Darkvision. Your darkvision has a radius of 120 feet.
Stone Camouflage. You have advantage on Dexterity (
Stealth) checks to hide in rocky terrain.
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT TABLE
| GENDER |
BASE HEIGHT |
HEIGHT MODIFIER |
HEIGHT RANGE |
AVERAGE HEIGHT |
|---|
| MALE |
2'11 |
+(2d4) |
3'-3'6'' |
3'4'' |
| FEMALE |
2'10 |
+(2d4) |
2'11''-3'5'' |
3'3'' |
| GENDER |
BASE WEIGHT |
WEIGHT MODIFIER |
WEIGHT RANGE |
AVERAGE WEIGHT |
|---|
| MALE |
38 lbs |
x(1) |
40-45 lbs |
42 lbs |
| FEMALE |
36 lbs |
x(1) |
38-43 lbs |
40 lbs |
