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Monsters

id342
NameGnome:Forest Gnome
SizeAndTypeSmall Humanoid (Gnome)
HitDice1d8+1 (5)
Initiative+0
Speed20 ft., swim 40 feet.
ArmorClass16 (+1 size, +4 chain shirt, +1 small shield)
AttacksShort sword +2 melee; or light crossbow +2 ranged
DamageShort sword 1d6-1; or light crossbow 1d8
FaceAndReach5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft.
SpecialAttacksSpells
SpecialQualitiesGnome traits, speak with animals, pass without trace
Saves_Fort3
Saves_Ref0
Saves_Will0
AbilitiesStr 8, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 11, Wis 11, Cha 11
SkillsHide +4*, Listen +4, Spot +2
FeatsWeapon Focus (short sword)
ClimateAndTerrainAny forest, hill, and underground
OrganizationCompany (2-4), squad (11-20 plus 1 leader of 3rd-6th level and 2 3rd-level lieutenants), or band (30-50 plus 1 3rd-level sergeant per 20 adults, 5 5th-level lieutenants, 3 7th-level captains, and 2-5 dire badgers)
ChallengeRating_Value0.5
TreasureStandard
AlignmentUsually neutral good
AdvancementBy character class
Description

Forest Gnomes speak Gnome as well as Elf, Sylvan, and a simple language that enables them to communicate on a very basic level with forest animals.

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.
  • Forest gnomes have the innate ability to pass without trace (as the spell).
  • 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, goblinoids, orcs, and reptilian humanoids.
  • +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. Forest gnomes receive a +4 racial bonus to Hide checks, which improves to +8 in a wooded area.

Forest Gnome Characters

A forest gnome's favored class is illusionist.