Gnome

Some scholars in gnomish culture recount tales of gnomes shaped from ancient, magical gems, perhaps with the aid of a god. Gem crafting is a skill valued in gnomish culture to this day.

Ancestral Traits

Your gnome character has certain characteristics in common with all other gnomes.

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. Your ancestors were accustomed to life underground. You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.

Cultural Traits

Rock Gnome

Rock gnomish culture and education tend to promote cleverness and ingenuity, qualities that produce many inventors of great renown.

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Alignment. Gnomish culture also values kindness and harmony. Many culturally gnomish people work to uphold harmonious relations or apply their ingenuity to better their fellows, often as sages, engineers, researchers, scholars, investigators, or inventors. Others take a more personal approach to these values, becoming minstrels, tricksters, wanderers, or fanciful jewelers. Those raised among gnomish society are generally good-hearted, and even the tricksters among them are more playful than vicious.

Artificer’s Lore. Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to magic items, alchemical objects, or technological devices, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.

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.

Tinker. You have proficiency with artisan’s 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.

Dark Gnome

Source More Ancestries & Cultures, Copyright 2020, Arcanist Press LLP.

High mountain dwellers, worshippers of the spirits of storm and avalanche., which makes them pariahs.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2 and Charisma by 1.

Alignment. Dark gnomish culture reflects the harsh environments in which they choose to live. Most folk in these communities have little pity or sympathy for anyone who is not contributing to the community. As such, they tend somewhat away from goodness.

Dark Gnome Magic. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the fog cloud spell once with this trait. When you do so, the 27 fog resembles swirling snow. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the blindness/deafness spell once with this trait. When you do so, the blinded target experiences it as snow blindness. You regain the ability to cast these spells when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Weapon Focal Training. Dark gnomes train in the use of daggers mixed with the arcane arts. When you wield a dagger, you may cast the true strike cantrip. Furthermore, whenever you cast a spell, you may use the dagger as a spellcasting focus.

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.

Wood Gnome

Source More Ancestries & Cultures, Copyright 2020, Arcanist Press LLP.

Wood gnomish culture revolves around the connection to the forests in which they live. Whereas rock gnomish cultures value ingenuity and craft, wood gnomish communities tend to value harmony with and the comprehension of nature.

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 2 and Dexterity by 1.

Alignment. Gnomish culture values kindness and harmony. Many culturally gnomish people work to uphold harmonious relations with each other and their environments, serving as caregivers of their fellows and stewards of the natural world.

Arborist’s Lore. Whenever you make an Intelligence (Nature) check related to the forest or its creatures, you can add twice your proficiency bonus, instead of any proficiency bonus you normally apply.

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.

Herbalist. You have proficiency with the herbalism kit. Using the kit, you can spend 1 day and 25 gp worth of materials to concoct either an antitoxin or a basic potion of healing.