Re: Living sphere project

In the 3e PH, gnomes are mentioned as being technicians and inventors.  They are
skilled engineers with a curiousity for mechanical devices.  It sounds like they
tried to mix standard AD&D gnomes with tinker gnomes.  Especially since they say
the lawful gnomes are the engineers and researchers while chaotic gnomes are the
tricksters (i.e. the illusionists).

I think we can keep the ability score adjustments (+2 CON, -2 STR).  Tinker
gnomes need a high CON to survive all of the smoke and other hazardous
conditions their engineering can create.  Perhaps the STR penalty should be
replaced with a -2 WIS instead.  The tinkers are more bulked up due to all of
the construction they engage in, and the lower WIS will reflect that some of
their inventions and devices aren't such great ideas (like the gnomeflingers).

However, I do think that the cantrips have to go for tinkers (the lawful gnomes)
and the preferred class should not be Illusionist.  Speak with Animals also has
to go.  Also, the bonus to Alchemy checks should be changed to something
engineering-related.  Finally they should lose the save bonus versus illusions.
  Maybe give them a +2 bonus versus poisons (those industrial toxics again).  I
like the idea of a Tinker prestige class.  I am not sure on a preferred class,
however.

Someone mentioned including kenders.  The 3e halflings look like kender than the
traditional hobbit-like AD&D halflings.  Perhaps kender are now just halflings
with societal differences (like _borrowing_ things!).

David Caveney wrote:

>
> Um, the stats as presented in the PHB won't really work.. I could go for
> a mixed gnomish society (years of interbreeding) but it couldnt be as in
> the PHB. Tinker gnomes have never had great constitution.. and the other
> stuff isnt totally accurate either. The tinker variety wouldnt really
> have those cantrips. Hmm. One new breed that can do either illusion or
> inventing? that sound good? We could call it Gnome, Spacefaring, then
> people wouldnt need to worry abotu two races of gnomes to learn.

John McCloud
jmccloud@????????.???.net