Table Of ContentThe
Complete Bool< of
GnoDles
~
Half lings
by Douglas Niles
~
TSR Inc. '"
Introduction: The Small Folk ...... 5 Chapter 4:
f
Cooperation .. .... ..... ........ 5 Gnome Character Kits .......... . 44
The Invisibility Factor .......... 8 Structure of the Kits ... ...... .... 44
Fighting Small .... ... ...... .... 8 Fighter Kits ..... ................ 45
Breachgnome ................. 45
t
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
lmagemaker ..... ................ ....... . 50
Chapter 1:
Vanisher ......... .............. ....... ... 51
Myths of the Gnomes ........... 11
Multiclass Kits ............................ . 52
"..iM
Gods of the Gnomedotn .......... 14 Buffoon (T/ I) ...................... ...... 52
~· ~ Gari Glittergold ............... 14 Stalker (F /T) ..................... .... .... 53
Baervan Wildwander .......... 14
Priest Kits ........ .... ..................... 54
Callarduran Smoothhands ..... 14
Rocktender ....... ....................... 54
Handal Steelskin .......................... 14 Treetender ................... ............ 55
Segojan Earthcaller ................... .... 14
Urdlen, The Crawler Below ....... .. ....... 14
Chapter 5:
Granitehome
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
Tinker Gnomes (Minoi) ....... . 26
Forest Gnomes ...... ... ....... 30
HALFLINGS
Introduction: Halflings .......... 59
Chapter 3:
Halflings in AD&D® 2nd Edition 60
Gnomish Culture ... ............ 34
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 Halling ......................... 73 Traveler ............................. ... 117
Furchin ................................ .. 75 Cleric Kits ..... .... .... ................ ... 118
Healer ............ ........... ... ... ..... 118
Leaf tender ...................... ........ 119
Oracle ...... ................ ...... ..... 120
Chapter 3:
(C
Halfling Culture ... ............. 77
.) The Name "Halflings" ........... 77
:--· '-p The Hearth and the Burrow . . . . . . 77 7 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 SPELWAMMER are registered trademarks
Riddles .............. ......... ............. 86 owned by TSR, Inc. AL-OADIM, DARK SUN, DM, DUNGEON MASTER and
Villages and Shires ..... ..................... 87 the TSR logo are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc.
01993 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
Warfare ........ .. .... ... .................. 87 Random House and its affiliate companies have worldwide distribution rights
Tactics .. ................... ............... 88 in the book trade for English language products of TSR, Inc.
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.
Why Most Halflings Are Homebodies ......... 90 This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of
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,
Halfling Character Kits ..... ..... 91 Lake Geneva, ~......... Cherry Hinton
WI 53147 Cambridge CB1 JLB
The Structure of the Kits ......... 92 U.S.A. ~ United Kingdom
Fighter Kits ..................... 93
CREDITS
The Archer ................. .. 93
Designer: Douglas Niles
Forestwalker ..... .... ........ 94
Editor: John D. Rateliff
Homesteader ............................. 96 Color Artists: Larry Elmore, Keith Parkinson,
Mercenary .... ........................... 98 and Clyde Caldwell
Sherrilf ...................... ........... . 99 Black and White Artists: James Crabtree and Ned Dameron
Additional Black and White Art: Larry Elmore, Brom, Jim
Squire .... .............................. 101
Holloway, Stephen Fabian
Tunnelrat ............................... 102
Cartographer: Dave Sutherland
Thief Kits ............................ .... . 103 Typographer: Tracey Zamagne
Bandit ............ ...................... 103 Graphic Designer: Paul Hanchette
Table of Contents • 3
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. usually 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-QADIM1111
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 from the humans' greed, and-if the friend
in the same area are quite likely to have mutu ship between the communities is main
al assistance agreements worked out with the tained-the halflings will hope that in a few
above mentioned dwarves, elves, and several years the human policy can be reversed.
of the human nations. Of course, these pacts In an extreme case, where the human ruler
will apply to outside threats only, as the small decides that the woods should be cut down
folk have no desire to get involved in the in and the lumber used to build him or her a new
ternal power struggles of their neighbors. summer palace, the halflings might be driven
Even in cases where no military alliance is to more dire resistance. If the forest is really
formed, a community of the small folk will 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. How to passive resistance, and only resorting to
ever, even in acquiescence the halflings or guerilla warfare if all else fails. Gnomes (espe
gnomes might find a way to make the human cially Rock Gnomes) are somewhat more
victory a hollow one. quick to anger under mistreatment, but they
Say, for example, that a small patch of for too will never be the aggressors and will glad
est forms a common border between a human ly end hostilities at the very first opportunity.
town and a halfling village. The halflings will It's easy to underestimate the small folk, but
strive to see that the woods is preserved and they make tenacious foes to those who insist
shared, even to the point of bestowing upon on becoming their enemies.
their neighbors gifts of game, mushrooms, Intermingling: To varying degrees both kinds
and nuts from the woods. If the humans sud of small folk are open to the cultures of other
denly claim the woods_a s their exclusive prop races, whether this means individual gnomes
erty, the halflings will spend a long time trying and halflings living amongst humans, dwarves,
to talk them out of this selfish notion- and and elves or accepting members of the "Big
they'll continue to use the woods as they al Folk" into their own communities. Between
ways have for so long as the talks last. gnome and halfling, a member of one group will
If, however, the local human ruler issues an be warmly welcomed and feel quite comfortable
order barring halflings from the forest and sets living among or visiting the other.
guards around it to see that he or she is When gnomes or halflings live among an
obeyed, the halflings will probably resort to other race, say in a populous city, they are
discreet poaching, using their skills at moving adept at retaining their old customs while
silently to evade the guards. Ironically, with adapting them to the traits and peculiarities of
out the tending of Forestwalkers and Leaften the people around them. The hearth, so essen
ders (see the halfling kits), the forest will tial to the halfling, or the fire without which
produce much less-and the humans proba no gnome dwelling would be complete, will be
bly can't even find the mushrooms! Within a found anywhere a member of the respective
short time, the woods will become a wilder, race calls home-even if "home" is a corner in
more desolate place. Thus, both sides suffer a crowded tenement and the hearth a mere
6 • Introduction
candle or a tiny flame nourished within an breath, many a halfling or gnome has success
oilpot. fully diverted the attention of another charac
At the same time, the small folk will ven ter. Halflings use the time thus gained for
ture forth, sampling the city's wonders, ex some quick picking of pockets or other sleight
ploring its comers bright and dark, and as of hand and to escape from potentially sticky
likely as not making a few friends in the proc situations, while gnomes use it to buy time
ess. Within a short time after their arrival, and to set up elaborate practical jokes.
chances are that they will be productive and
popular members of the urban community. Fighting Small
When courtesy and elusiveness both fail
The lnvlslblllty Factor and the small folk are forced into combat,
There isn't any magical vanishing act (with they are adept at using their size to their own
the exception of certain gnome illusionists), advantage. Whenever possible, halflings and
but both gnomes and halflings have inherent gnomes will choose to fight in an area where
talents at ''blending into the woodwork;' so to larger creatures are hindered by overgrowth,
speak-at least, in situations where they de low ceilings, or narrow constricting passages.
sire not to be noticed. This is not so much a Gnomes are particularly skilled at fighting
matter of size as it is of skill; a skill they take giant-class creatures, using their small size
time to cultivate (it's significant that the favor and nimbleness to gain the - 4 bonus to Ar
ite game of both gnome and halfling children mor Class against them; halflings employ
is "Hide and Seek"!). their Dexterity in other ways and have
In woodland settings, this trait is illustrated mastered the use of small missile weapons so
most effectively by the halfling's ability to lit that they can do battle with larger creatures
erally disappear among the underbrush. before those hulking brutes get close enough
While gnomes aren't quite so adept at this, to grapple.
their keen sense of hearing and ever-present In their homes, villages, burrows, and war
diligence generally allows them to hear some rens, the small folk will often prepare an es
one approaching and take shelter before they cape route that is only large enough to let a
are discovered. gnome or halfling squeeze through. If these
In more social circumstances, the small folk crawlways are framed with sturdy stone en
are adept at directing attention away from trances, they can effectively block pursuit by
themselves, whether in a city street, crowded larger creatures-and even if they' re merely
tavern, or elegant dinner party. By moving dirt, the time and effort needed to expand the
quickly and smoothly, the diminutive charac tunnels often allows the fleeing gnome or half
ters will often cause a human or elf to react ling family time to escape.
with "I could have sworn there was a gnome In any conflict, the rules the small folk rely
there! Where'd he go?" And when others are on to survive are easily summed up: never
asked, it turns out that no one saw him leave lose your head, take advantage of the Big
or arrive, but they all have some vague mem Folk's bulk and clumsiness where possible,
ory of his presence! Un.der most circumstanc and, when all else fails, run away.
es, it's possible for a gnome or halfling to slip
away with little or no warning.
One skill developed by both of these races is
the art of diversion, often in very subtle
forms. With a quick glance off to the side, a
slight widening of the eyes, or sharp intake of
8 • Introduction
The full moon cast its pure illumination The file of figures marched steadily and si
across a region of rocky hills, etching each lently into the vale, gathering by village and
knob in coral light or black shadow. Fringes clan into its corners, settling themselves in
of forest clustered among the stone of cliff and grassy clearings or atop rocky outcrops. More
pinnacle, like shaggy hair trailing from the than a thousand were alrea,dy here, and thou
scalp and shoulders of granite-faced giants. sands more had yet to come.
Higher and higher the moon climbed into the But enter they did, as the moon neared its
night sky, bringing more of the landscape into zenith. Now the entire floor of the valley was
brilliant relief. washed by the cool illumination, as the last of
Yet even that brilliance did not penetrate the the little fellows entered via the narrow crack.
shadowy realms of forest in the valley bot They settled themselves comfortably, and
toms, where dank cliffs glowered overhead though the vale teemed with upraised faces,
and narrow tracks wound their way through no sound disturbed the still, midnight air.
inky shadow. And then the moon began to fade.
It was here, on these invisible trails, that
small figures moved in steady progression. The sturdy but diminutive gnome is per
They came from everywhere, emerging from haps the most misunderstood of the tradition
narrow cave mouths in the rocky cliffs, or al AD&:D® game character races. They're kind
dark ravines in the depths of the forest glen of like dwarves, of course ... but isn't there's
and even from gaps in craggy stumps, where more to it than that?
the hollowed shells of ancient trees provided Indeed there is. Gnomes do share some
this small folk with access to their well con traits with their longer bearded cousins: they
cealed abodes. are exceptional miners, comfortable under
They remained in the shadows as they fol ground, and resistant to magic. Yet, to the
lowed the secret tracks. Each figure was short, shorter nosed dwarves, gnomes seem exces
no more than half the height of a man, but sively frivolous, sometimes even weaklings.
these little folk walked with a confidant and Gnomes are quite comfortable out of doors,
steady march, as if they knew that nothing well at home in a forest. The major rituals of
would stand in their way on this night. Small gnomish life all occur beneath the stars, and
beards, neatly trimmed around the chin, dis no cosmic symbol is as important to them as
tinguished the faces of the males, while the an eclipse, in contrast to the dwarves, who
rounded cheeks of the females were framed by prefer nothing so much as solid rock overhead
long, unbound locks of curling hair. and care little for cosmic occurrences of any
Finally the marching columns came to a kind.
gathering of the trails, and here the path en Gnomes are also cheerful and social crea
tered a narrow slot between two sheer and tures, of good-tempered and tolerant disposi
craggy cliffs. One after the other these small tion. They regard rudeness as a major fault-a
folk marched into the crack, following the characteristic which in itself is enough to mark
twists and turns that would have blocked the them as very different from most dwarves!
passage of a creature any taller or any wider. Gnomes relish the company of other gnomes
Eventually the enclosing walls spread away, and will eagerly compete in the telling of tales.
letting the glory of the moonlight reveal a rock Their calendar is marked by many festivals,
walled valley. A pond of cool water reflected each of which is an occasion of great feasting,
the light in wind-rippled sparkles, while a nar drinking, singing, and dancing.
row waterfall spumed like a column of ivory Although gnomes are friendly, they are also
down the face of a towering cliff. reticent; it is possible to know a gnome for
Gnomes• 9
