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5E D&D Character Build — Gnome Illusionist

Nerdarchy recently did a video on fifth edition Dungeons and Dragons races — the gnome. Which has led me to want to play one. For me gnome illusionist was one of the iconic characters from AD&D. The great thing about gnomes to me is they share a lot of the cool traits of dwarves when it comes to their industrialness, but lack the dwarven somberness. They are fun loving and gregarious by nature easily lending themselves to a comedic role without taking away too much from a serious game. One of the things about these guys is they’re practical jokers and jovial by nature. I think this adds a great dynamic to a group of adventures. When you combine their nature with their affinity for illusion magic in the case of the forest gnome or tinkering when it comes to the rock gnomes it’s the perfect storm for creating a trickster character.

5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons Races | The Uncommon Races — Gnome

When I was recently invited to play in D&D 5E game my instant reaction was to make a human character, because you know, the feat. Instead I decided since we just shot a Nerdarchy video for gnomes, why not make a gnome illusionist?

I’ve got several reasons to do this.

• First I wanted to finally make a character that wasn’t playing against type.
• Second I’ve seen this guy’s games and they can get a little out of control so this seemed like a good way to add to the mayhem as long as the half-orc cleric of Gruumsh doesn’t murder me first.
• Third a gnomish illusionist was my first AD&D character as an adult gamer.

So here is the back story for Sandy the Frecklefooted StreetRat

Sandy has been running through city streets hungry and half starved for as long as he can remember. He has know idea who or where his parents are. He only remembers the kind old woman that took care of him and would read to him from books she had hidden away. He only remembers a few years of this because she succumbed to sickness once again leaving Sandy all alone. He doesn't even know her real name just that he used to call her nan and that she taught him to read before passing. A rare talent for a street rat.

He's always been scrawny compared to the other street urchins so he's had to be smart and nimble in order to survive. His only real friend is Whiskers the mouse that he keeps in one of his many pockets.

One day his luck changed when he managed to steal an old man's pack that contained among other things a strange book and a divination card bearing his likeness. Over the weeks and months to follow he began deciphering the book. He used the knowledge to summon forth another friend, Bubbles. 

Bubbles is a quipper fish, think piranha. So in order facilitate his companionship with bubbles he carries him around in a lidded fish bowl that Sandy has learned to use as spell focus to channel his arcane magic through. He is now on the run trying to not have the book that is changing his life taken from him. The Secrets within have helped him to earn coins doing street performances or facilitate a timely get away during pick pocket attempts that have gone awry.  
When not looking over his shoulder, scrounging for survival, or growing his budding arcane talent Sandy can usually be found trying to convince Bubbles, Whiskers is not food.

I plan to play Sandy as a lost soul trying to find his place in the world. He really wants to do the right thing, but he struggles with it due to his harsh childhood. I’ll be drawing inspiration for Sandy from DragonLance and the kender.

Below is the character sheet for my D&D 5E Gnome Illusionist, Sandy the Frecklefooted Street Rat both as an image and a link to the PDF.

PDF LINK