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