Chapter 4: Gnome Character Kits

The kits introduced in this chapter allow players to define their characters with more detail and precision than are determined simply by race and character class. The gnome kits provide a selection of specialized PCs and NPCs, each designed for a specific character class or multi-class combination. Each kit has its own strengths and weaknesses, and each is tailored to illustrate some important aspect of gnomish life.

The kits are purely optional--no gnome must use one. They can be incorporated into characters already existing in the campaign, as long as the PC's background makes sense given the nature of the kit. Once a character has been assigned a kit, that selection remains for the life of the character.

These kits are specifically designed for gnomes and should not be employed by characters of other races. Gnomish characters who don't wish to use a kit from this book can select a kit from another handbook that is applicable to their character class: The Complete Fighter's Handbook, The Complete Thief's Handbook, The Complete Priest's Handbook, The Complete Wizard's Handbook, and The Complete Bard's Handbook all have kits that are available to gnomish characters of the appropriate class.

Gnomes can become clerics of up to 9th level, fighters of up to 11th level, thieves of up to 13th level, and illusionists of up to 15th level; exceptionally talented gnomes (those with high scores in their prime requisites) can exceed these maximums by up to 4 additional levels. Multi-class combinations are also allowed between any two classes available to gnomes, with illusionist/thief being a favorite. Priests are not terribly common among gnomes--the Svirfneblin have the most, Tinker Gnomes none at all--and multi-classed combinations including them are the rarest of all gnome character classes (and hence have no kits devoted to them).

Players and DMs may cooperate in the creation of original kits, as long as care is taken to balance the advantages and disadvantages with those presented here.

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