* nd Player's Handbook 2 Edition Rules Supplement The Complete Book of Gnomes Sample file Halflings by Douglas Niles TSR Inc. Table of Contents Introduction: The Small Folk 5 Chapter 4: Cooperation 5 Gnome Character Kits 44 The Invisibility Factor 8 Structure of the Kits 44 Fighting Small 8 Fighter Kits 45 Breachgnome 45 GNOMES Goblinsticker 46 Introduction: Gnomes . 9 Thief Kits 48 Gnomes in AD&D® 2nd Edition 10 Mouseburglar 48 New Stuff About Gnomes 10 Tumbler 49 Illusionist Kits 50 Imagemaker 50 Chapter 1: Vanisher 51 Myths of the Gnomes 11 Multiclass Kits 52 Gods of the Gnomedom .... 14 Buffoon (T/I) 52 Garl Glittergold 14 Stalker (F/T) 53 Baervan Wildwander .... 14 Priest Kits 54 Callarduran Smoothhands 14 Rocktender 54 Flandal Steelskin 1lll4 Treetender 5hlgh5 Segojan Earthcaller 14 Urdlen, The Crawler Below 14 Chapter 5: Granitehome 1 '1 Chapter 2: —A Typical Gnomish Village ... 56 Gnome Subraces 15 Description of Granitehome 56 Rock Gnomes 15 Map of Granitehome 57 Svirfneblin (Deep Gnomes) 21 Ik Tinker Gnomes (Minoi)Sample ... 26 file 1 Forest Gnomes 30 HALFLINGS Introduction: Halflings 59 Chapter 3: Halflings in AD&D® 2nd Edition 60 34 Gnomish Culture .. New Stuff About Halflings 60 Festivals 34 Fires 35 Marriage and Family 35 The Nose Knows ... 35 Food and Drink 35 Chapter 1: Gems 36 Myths of the Halflings 61 Craftsmanship 36 The Story of Littleman 61 Trade 37 A General History Taboos 37 of the Halfling Race 63 Emotions 38 Gods of the Halflings 63 Humor 39 Yondalla the Provider 65 Animal Friends 39 Sheela Peryroyl 65 Warfare 40 Cyrrollalee 65 Magic 41 Arvoreen the Defender 65 Wandering .... 42 Brandobaris 65 2 • Table of Contents Chapter 2: Bilker 106 Halfling Subraces 66 Burglar 108 The Wanderings of Littleman 67 Smuggler 110 Hairfoot 68 Urchin 112 Stout 69 Fighter/Thief Kits 113 Tallfellow 70 Cartographer 113 Kender 71 Trader 115 Athasian Halfling 73 Traveler 117 Furchin 75 Cleric Kits 118 Healer 118 Leaftender 119 Oracle 120 Chapter 3: Halfling Culture 77 The Name "Halflings" 77 The Hearth and the Burrow 77 Chapter 5: The Family 79 Lindendale Growing Up 80 -A Typical Halfling Village ... 121 Sustenance, and More 81 Description of Lindendale 122 The Village 82 Map of Lindendale 123 Crafts, Labor, and Products 82 Trade 83 Appendix: Adventure Suggestions Society Norms and Taboos 84 for Gnome and Halfling Campaigns 126 Joy and Humor 85 Sorrow and Anger 86 AD&D, ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, DRAGONLANCE, FORGOTTEN REALMS, and SPELLJAMMER are registered trademarks Riddles 86 owned by TSR, Inc. AL-QADIM, DARK SUN, DM, DUNGEON MASTER and Sample87 the TSR log ofile are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. Villages and Shires e1993 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in U.S.A. Warfare 87 Random House and its affiliate companies have worldwide distribution rights 88 in the book trade for English language products of TSR, Inc. Tactics Distributed to the book and hobby trade in the United Kingdom by TSR Ltd. Magic 89 Distributed to the toy and hobby market by regional distributors. 90 This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of Why Most Halflings Are Homebodies . America. Any reproduction or other unauthorized use of the material or art- Why Some Halflings Pursue Adventure 90 work printed herein is prohibited without the express written permission of TSR, Inc. ISBN 1-56076-573-9 TSR, Inc. TSR Ltd. Chapter 4: POB 756 120 Church End, . 91 Lake Geneva, Cherry Hinton Halfling Character Kits . WI 53147 Cambridge CB1 3LB The Structure of the Kits . 92 U.S.A. s United Kingdom Fighter Kits . 93 The Archer . 93 CREDITS Designer: Douglas Niles Forestwalker . 94 Editor: John D. Rateliff Homesteader . 96 Color Artists: Larry Elmore, Keith Parkinson, Mercenary .. 98 and Clyde Caldwell Sherriff . 99 Black and White Artists: James Crabtree and Ned Dameron 101 Additional Black and White Art: Larry Elmore, Brom, Jim Squire Holloway, Stephen Fabian Tunnelrat ... 102 Cartographer: Dave Sutherland Thief Kits 103 Typographer: Tracey Zamagne Bandit 103 Graphic Designer: Paul Hanchette Table of Contents • 3 Sample file 4 • Introduction Why a book for the small folk? And what siderations that apply to both gnomes and do gnomes and halflings have in common halflings, especially those that relate to their that warrants their inclusion in a tome to- size (which is small not just in comparison gether? The answer to the second question with humans but most of the other intelligent lies in the first, for it is the diminutive size of creatures with which they share their world). both these popular races that is the most sig- These are the traits of the races that are most nificant factor in the way they cope with useful to players, as well as important hall- their environment. marks of any all-gnome or all-halfling The worlds of the AD&D® game can be campaign. frightening and overpowering even to charac- ters broad of girth, potent of magic, and pos- Cooperation sessing strength great enough to face many of Gnomes and halflings both have learned the those worlds' challenges. Imagine how much value of cooperating with members of other, greater the danger to beings of small stature, larger races. Halflings typically carry this in- limited strength, and little or no magic. teraction farther than do their bearded cous- This is the environment faced by the gnome ins, but gnomes, too, understand that and the halfling. It is a world teeming with alliances and friendship make for more pros- larger races, each of whom claims its niche perous neighbors than do feuding and war. and jealously guards its prerogatives: prolific Members of both races are not inherently ad- humanity, with its potent wizards and power- verse to making business deals with dwarves, ful clerics; dour dwarves, with their mighty humans, and elves—or even humanoid mon- fortresses and their doughty fighters; enchant- sters, provided there is no inherent racial an- ed elves, masters of the woods; not to mention tipathy. Even where such enmity exists, as the monsters—giants, trolls, goblins, ghosts, between gnomes and kobolds or goblins, it is and dragons—that lurk everywhere. Sampleusuall filey the result of competition for living To counter these inherent disadvantages, space; in settings where this traditional bone and to make and keep a place for themselves of contention is absent (as in the AL-QADIM™ in a hard world, gnomes and halflings long setting of Zakhara), gnomes find it easy to be- ago developed several traits that allow them friend even these traditional enemies. Natu- not only to survive, but to flourish. Common rally, halflings and gnomes alike will be to both races is an instinct for avoiding direct cautious regarding offers of mutual coopera- conflict when possible. Just as valuable is a tion from those who have been active enemies gift for being unobtrusive. But most impor- in the recent past, but at least they will give tant of all, perhaps, is the open-mindedness such offers a fair hearing. both halflings and gnomes show in their deal- Alliances: The value of a military pact with ings with members of other racial groups. a strong neighbor is an obvious one to any Despite the many traits they share, gnomes race. The trick, however, is to avoid the are not halflings and halflings are not gnomes: smaller partner being dominated or swallow- each race remains distinct unto itself. Conse- ed up by the larger. The small folk have devel- quently, this book is divided into two major oped diplomacy into an art and are adept at sections—one about gnomes and the other being able to negotiate mutually-beneficial about halflings. These sections contain all a pacts with a variety of their neighbors. For ex- player or DM needs to know about the socie- ample, elves and dwarves might ally them- ty, character, subraces, and kits of these di- selves with different groups of humans but not minutive demihumans. with each other, while the humans probably Still, it's worth thinking about a few con- will have trouble getting along even among The Small Folk • 5 themselves. Halfling or gnome communities in the same area are quite likely to have mutu- from the humans' greed, and—if the friend- al assistance agreements worked out with the ship between the communities is main- above mentioned dwarves, elves, and several tained—the halflings will hope that in a few of the human nations. Of course, these pacts years the human policy can be reversed. will apply to outside threats only, as the small In an extreme case, where the human ruler folk have no desire to get involved in the in- decides that the woods should be cut down ternal power struggles of their neighbors. and the lumber used to build him or her a new Even in cases where no military alliance is summer palace, the halflings might be driven formed, a community of the small folk will to more dire resistance. If the forest is really important to the community's survival and strive mightily to maintain peace with its identity they may feel compelled to fight for neighbors. Halflings and gnomes will readily it. Rather than declaring war on their neigh- suggest or agree to negotiation over points of bor, they will sabotage logging operations, contention, and they are capable of carrying waylay small parties of loggers, and generally on these talks for a very long period of time. If make the project too time consuming and ex- a group of humans decides to resolve an issue pensive for the humans to continue. by force, the small folk will probably agree to In all cases of possible conflict, halflings the terms without violent resistance unless a will first try affability, progressing from there matter of strong principle is at stake.