It has been a while since I have written anything about one of my original projects, the Echelon Gaming System.  A major reason for this is the fact that I was keeping the working document on a usb flash drive, so I could work on it wherever I went, and the flash drive got fried.  And when my drive died, so did my motivation to work on Echelon.

It must be my shoes, my clothes, or the carpet, but I always manage to build a store of static eletricity while sitting at my desk (perhaps a sign to not sit on my ass so much).  Well, I was about to get up and I reached for the drive and I felt that zap as I discharged some of that built up energy into the drive.  Then you could smell the pungent odor of burnt electronics.

Well, I decided to take the sucker apart and I saw some burn marks around what I would call electrodes (I’m not an electrical engineer by any means) on the PCB.  So I took a cotton swap dipped in rubbing alcohol and attempted to clean it.  Well, it must of worked, because the drive works intermittently, and I was able to recover some of my files!

I was so excited I decided to post my unfinished version of the Gnome race for Echelon.  My goal was to take a more feral approach to the race, making them a fey type and boosting their skill with illusion.  I don’t know if this version will make it into the final draft of Echelon, but it shows the general direction I want to take them.  Note that I have not created a table for their animal companion, but I do have some short descriptions of how a few powers work.

Gnomes

Racial Traits:
	Average Height	: 3’5” – 4’-0”
	Average Weight	: 65-75 lbs.
	Speed	: 25 ft.
	Vision	: Lowlight
	Automatic Languages	: Common, Gnome
	Bonus Languages	: Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, and Goblin
	Favored Powers	: Skald, Wizardry
	Size	: Small
Heroic Tier:
	Ability Scores	: +1 Constitution, +1 Charisma
	Skill Affinities	: +1 Arcana, +1 Bluff
	Weapon Familiarity	: Gnomes may treat gnome hooked hammers as martial weapons rather than exotic weapons.
	Discern Illusion	: Gnomes received a +1 racial bonus against illusions
	Fey Glamour	: You can use fey glamour as an encounter power.
	Giant Evasion	: +4 dodge bonus to Armor Class against monsters of giant type.
	Gnomish Trickery	: Gnomes possess a +1 racial bonus to attack when casting spells of the Illusion subtype.
	Misdirection	: You can use misdirection as a daily power.
	Racial Enemies	: +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against goblinoids and kobolds.
	Speak with Critters	: Gnomes may speak with any burrowing mammal at will (see the speak with animals spell description).
Paragon Tier:
	Ability Scores	: +1 Constitution, +1 Intelligence
	Skill Affinities	: +1 Bluff
	Animal Minion	: You gain an animal companion chosen from the Gnome Animal Companion table (see table below).
	Knack for Illusion	: Spells of the Illusion subtype cost Gnomes 1 less Mana to cast, for a minimum of 1 Mana for illusions with a casting cost.
	Pierce Illusion	: Gnomes receive an additional +1 racial bonus against illusions.
	Swift Performance	: You may make a Performance check as a swift action.
Epic Tier:
	Ability Scores	: +1 Constitution, +1 Charisma
	Skill Affinities	: +1 Arcana
	Break Illusion	: Gnomes receive an additional +1 racial bonus against illusions.
	Cloak of Disillusion	: You grant non-gnome allies within 10 squares of you a +2 racial bonus against spells of the illusion subtype.
	Improved Speed	: Gnomes increase their speed to 30 ft.
	Smoke & Mirrors	: You can use smoke & mirrors as a daily power.
Legendary Tier:
	Ability Scores	: +1 Charisma
	Skill Affinities	: +1 Bluff
	Dazzle	: You can use dazzle as an encounter power.
	Drain Illusion	: You gain half the Mana cost of any Illusion that fails to affect you.
	Greater Animal Minion	: Animal companion increases one size and gains Dire template.
	Shatter Illusion	: Gnomes receive an additional +2 racial bonus against illusions.

Misdirection – Swift action, your next ranged power does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

Smoke & Mirrors – If an enemy misses you with a ranged or melee (non area) attack, you can force the enemy to attack another enemy adjacent to you.

Dazzle – Burst, enemies are blinded, save ends.

Listening to: Crematory – Revolution – Solitary Psycho

gamingD&Dd20rpgroleplayingdungeons and dragonsworld of darkness