Gnomes speak their own language, Gnome. Most gnomes who travel outside gnome lands (as traders, tinkers, or adventurers) know Common, while warriors in gnome settlements usually learn Goblin or Kobold.

Combat

Gnomes make heavy use of illusion magic and carefully prepared ambushes and traps whenever they can.

Spells: Gnomes with Intelligence scores of 10 or higher may cast dancing lights, ghost sound, and prestidigitation, each once per day as a 1st-level wizard (spell failure penalties for armor apply).

Speak with Animals (Sp): Once per day a gnome can use speak with animals as a 1st-level druid to communicate with a burrowing mammal (badger, fox, rabbit, etc.).

Gnome Traits (Ex): Gnomes benefit from a number of racial traits.

• Small: Gnomes gain a +1 size bonus to AC and attack rolls and a +4 size bonus to Hide checks, but they must use smaller weapons than humans use, and their lifting and carrying limits are three-quarters of those of Medium-size creatures.
• Low-light Vision. Gnomes can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination.
• +2 racial bonus to saving throws against illusions.
• +1 racial bonus to attack rolls against kobolds and goblinoids.
• +4 dodge bonus against giants.

Skills: Gnomes receive a +2 racial bonus to Listen checks, for their keen hearing, and to Alchemy checks, because their sensitive noses allow them to monitor alchemical processes by smell.

Gnome Characters

A gnome's favored class is illusionist.