What's with the Gnome Hate?

[Wormwood]

Gnomes are one of the least popular races in WoW, which means there's probably only 1 or 2 million gnome players. I suspect that's still enough of an audience to try and play to, on WotC's side.

I would love it if WoW-style gnomes became the default 4e version. Eccentric mechanics are simply more interesting than 'guy who chats up voles' anyway.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I would love it if WoW-style gnomes became the default 4e version. Eccentric mechanics are simply more interesting than 'guy who chats up voles' anyway.

WotC/TSR tried that with Dragonlance, and it didn't go over very well.

 

[Wormwood]

WotC/TSR tried that with Dragonlance, and it didn't go over very well.

Hey, I'm not the one claiming that a million gnome fans are an untapped resource.

That said, for better or worse, the gnome as tinker meme is out there---thanks to EQ and Blizzard if nothing else. I see no reason not to embrace it aside from tradition. And I've never found that a compelling reason for . . . anything.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

WotC/TSR tried that with Dragonlance, and it didn't go over very well.

Well, they half-heartedly tried something 25 years ago and it didn't set the world on fire. Clearly it shouldn't be given another shake, even if many of today's gamers weren't even alive the first time around.

 

[Stoat]

I would love it if WoW-style gnomes became the default 4e version. Eccentric mechanics are simply more interesting than 'guy who chats up voles' anyway.

Put my vote in for "eccentric mechanic" gnomes. Not specifically Dragonlance Tinkers, but less jokey version of the same.

 

[Greylock]

In all my time playing D&D, I've seen a total of two* gnome PCs. In my first session of 4e, there were two dragonborn.

Virtually no one wants to play gnomes. In 30 years, the creators of D&D haven't found a worthwhile niche for them...

So... The fact that almost every game I've been in has featured at least one Gnome the last few years, or that the other races have always been well represented, means nothing? I guess this goes hand-in-hand with the fact that I've never played in an all male group means that either A. My games groups exist only in my mind, or B. I'm gaming in some alternate universe.

 

[Greylock]

Halfling druids are a staple of EverQuest. He might have gotten that from there.

Holy Toledo! I didn't know that. My current character is a Halfling Druid. I sincerely hope no one is thinking I got it from some video game. By the way, the current party is currently Gnome-less, for the time being at least. It's a party of halves. Besides one Human and one Elf, we are one Halfling, two Half-Elves and two Half-Orcs. And somehow or another we've ended up with two Bards, one Barbarian, and one Druid. Not a party that can be recreated in 4E I suppose.

 

[Maggan]

Well, they half-heartedly tried something 25 years ago and it didn't set the world on fire. Clearly it shouldn't be given another shake, even if many of today's gamers weren't even alive the first time around.

Damn straight! Get off the lawn, you gnomes!



/M

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Holy Toledo! I didn't know that. My current character is a Halfling Druid. I sincerely hope no one is thinking I got it from some video game.

Wouldn't be bad if you did, IMO. Rivervale is a well-realized part of Norrath, with its agrarian tone (EQ halflings are definitely hobbits, not Kender) and the nearby Misty Thicket farmland/newbie area, complete with mischievious fairies nearby and low level orc and goblin threats.

EQ druids can turn into wolves, teleport to various megalith circles around the world, heal, do various natural attack spells and so on. Other than -- when I played -- a reputation for attracting cheesier players, it's a pretty well done class.

The Advanced Players Guide druid from Necromancer Games is supposed to be more spellcasting oriented than the PHB2 shapechanging druid will be, and Ari could do worse than to take a lot of inspiration from EverQuest on this one, especially since I think the plan was to include hobbity halflings in APG as well.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Holy Toledo! I didn't know that. My current character is a Halfling Druid. I sincerely hope no one is thinking I got it from some video game.

You're clearly video-gamey. And probably hallucinating!