Gnome

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.  

Vibrant Expression

A gnome’s energy and enthusiasm for living shine through every inch of his or her tiny body. Gnomes average slightly over 3 feet tall and weigh 40 to 45 pounds. Their tan or brown faces are usually adorned with broad smiles (beneath their prodigious noses), and their bright eyes shine with excitement. Their fair hair has a tendency to stick out in every direction as if expressing the gnome’s insatiable interest in everything around.   A gnome’s personality is writ large in his or her appearance. A male gnome’s beard, in contrast to his wild hair, is kept carefully trimmed but often styled into Curious forks or neat points. A gnome’s clothing, though usually made in modest earth tones, is elaborately decorated with embroidery, embossing, or gleaming jewels.  

Delighted Dedication

As far as Gnomes are concerned, being alive is a wonderful thing, and they squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of their three to five centuries of life. Humans might wonder about getting bored over the course of such a long life, and elves take plenty of time to savor the beauties of the world in their long years, but gnomes⁠ seem to worry that even with all that time, they can’t get in enough of the things they want to do and see.   Gnomes speak as if they can’t get the thoughts out of their heads fast enough. Even as they offer ideas and opinions on a range of subjects, they still manage to listen carefully to others, adding the appropriate exclamations of Surprise and appreciation along the way.   Though Gnomes love jokes of all kinds, particularly puns and pranks, they’re just as dedicated to the more serious tasks they undertake. Many gnomes⁠ are skilled⁠ engineers, Alchemists, tinkers, and inventors. They’re willing to make mistakes and laugh at themselves in the process of perfecting what they do, taking bold (sometimes foolhardy) risks, and dreaming large.  

Bright Burrows

Gnomes make their homes in hilly, wooded lands. They live underground but get more fresh air than Dwarves do, enjoying the natural, living world on the surface whenever they can. Their homes are well hidden by both clever construction and simple illusions. Welcome visitors are quickly ushered into the bright, warm burrows. Those who are not welcome are unlikely to find the burrows in the first place.   Gnomes who settle in human lands are commonly gem cutters, engineers, sages, or tinkers. Some human families retain gnome tutors, ensuring that their pupils enjoy a mix of serious learning and delightful enjoyment. A gnome might tutor several generations of a single human family over the course of his or her long life.  

Gnome Names

Gnomes love names, and most have half a dozen or so. A gnome’s mother, father, clan elder, aunts, and uncles each give the gnome a name, and various nicknames from just about everyone else might or might not stick over time. Gnome Names are typically variants on the names of ancestors or distant relatives, though some are purely new inventions. When dealing with Humans and others who are “stuffy” about names, a gnome learns to use no more than three names: a personal name, a clan name, and a nickname choosing the one in each category that’s the most fun to say.   Male Names: Alston, Alvyn, Boddynock, Brocc, Burgell, Dimble, Eldon, Erky, Fonkin, Frug, Gerbo, Gimble, Glim, Jebeddo, Kellen, Namfoodle, Orryn, Roondar, Seebo, Sindri, Warryn, Wrenn, Zook   Female Names: Bimpnottin, Breena, Caramip, Carlin, Donella, Duvamil, Ella, Ellyjobell, Ellywick, Lilli, Loopmottin, Lorilla, Mardnab, Nissa, Nyx, Oda, Orla, Roywyn, Shamil, Tana, Waywocket, Zanna   Clan Names: Beren, Daergel, Folkor, Garrick, Nackle, Murnig, Ningel, Raulnor, Scheppen, Timbers, Turen   Nicknames: Aleslosh, Ashhearth, Badger, Cloak, Doublelock, Filchbatter, Fnipper, Ku, Nim, Oneshoe, Pock, Sparklegem, Stumbleduck  

Seeing the World

Curious and impulsive, Gnomes might take up Adventuring as a way to see the world or for the love of exploring. As lovers of gems and other fine items, some gnomes⁠ take to adventuring⁠ as a quick, if dangerous, path to Wealth. Regardless of what spurs them to adventure, gnomes⁠ who adopt this way of life eke as much enjoyment out of it as they do out of any other activity they undertake, sometimes to the great annoyance of their adventuring⁠ companions.   Always Appreciative It’s rare for a gnome to be Hostile or malicious unless he or she has suffered a grievous injury. Gnomes know that most races don’t share their sense of humor, but they enjoy anyone’s company just as they enjoy everything else they set out to do.  

Gnome Traits

Your gnome character has certain characteristics in common⁠ with all other Gnomes.   Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 2.   Age. Gnomes mature at the same rate Humans do, and most are expected to settle down into an adult life by around age 40. They can live 350 to almost 500 years.   Size. Gnomes are between 3 and 4 feet tall and average about 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 color in darkness⁠, only Shades of Gray.   Gnome Cunning. You have advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma Saving Throws against magic.   Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Gnomish. The Gnomish language, which uses the Dwarvish script, is renowned for its technical treatises and its catalogs of knowledge about the natural world.   Variation. Not all Gnomes are the same, some were raised among other races. You can replace Darkvision or Gnome Cunning with a Feat of your choice.  

Sub-Races

Forest Gnome

As a Forest gnome, you have a natural knack for illusion⁠ and inherent quickness and stealth⁠. In the worlds of D&D, Forest Gnomes are rare and secretive. They gather in hidden communities in sylvan⁠ forests, using illusions and trickery to conceal themselves from threats or to mask their escape should they be detected. Forest gnomes⁠ tend to be friendly with other good-spirited woodland folks, and they regard elves and good fey as their most important allies. These Gnomes also befriend small Forest animals and rely on them for information about threats that might prowl their lands.   Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.   Natural Illusionist⁠. You know the Minor Illusion cantrip. Intelligence is your Spellcasting Ability for it.   Speak with Small Beasts. Through sounds and gestures, you can communicate simple ideas with Small or smaller beasts⁠. Forest Gnomes love animals and often keep squirrels, badgers, rabbits, moles, woodpeckers, and other creatures as beloved pets.  

Rock Gnome

As a Rock Gnome, you have a natural inventiveness and hardiness beyond that of other Gnomes. Most gnomes⁠ in the worlds of D&D are Rock Gnomes, including the Tinker gnomes⁠ of the Dragonlance setting.   Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.   Artificer’s Lore. You gain the Artificer's Lore skill specialization. Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to magic items, alchemical objects⁠, or technological devices, you can add twice your Proficiency Bonus, instead of any Proficiency Bonus you normally apply.   Tinker. You have proficiency with artisan’s tools (tinker’s tools). Using those tools, you can spend 1 hour and 100 silver 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.
Party limit: no limit   Sub-Races
  • Forest Gnome - Ability Score Increase: +1 DEX
  • Rock Gnome - Ability Score Increase: +1 CON
  Ability Score Increase: +2 INT