A gniche for gnomes?

[Deedlit]

Intelligent elemental spirits of earth, who are called upon when elf shamans cast entagle and similar spells. No more a PC race then sylphs or undines.

Of course, I use Lodoss as my setting.

 

[Mistwell]

I'm with Kenjib and Schmoe on this one and infact imc Gnomes are fey and Brownies are a subrace of gnomes...Most gnomes live in forest and hills however a wilder (Pict-like) subspecies (Brownies) occupy the mountains and a reknowned as cattle stealers, and for their incredible rages... Boggarts are gnome recluses, aged gnomes who have withdrawn from society and sort solitude underground. They are reknowned amongst gnomes as "Grumpy old men" and by non-gnomes for their ability to snif out precious gems. However Boggarts are more likely to lead people to their deaths than they are to give them a straight answer of lead them to treasure.

As to Literature

Check out Terry Pratchetts Bromeliad (Nome Trilogy - Truckers, Diggers, Flyers)

Interesting take. It's a bit of a reversal on traditional Brownie & Boggart lore.

Traditionally it's the Brownies who are good, and who work for virtually free for good human folk at common household tasks overnight, provided you leave them a gift of a bit of food (but not clothing, since this makes them leave, and failure to leave food can cause adverse results). It is the Boggarts who are evil (but generally only against evil humans who have committed some sin).

Neither should be confused with the Hobmen, of course.

(All this comes from my copies of "County Folklore Vol II - North Riding of Yorkshire York and Ainsty by Mrs. Gutch, 1899" and " The Folklord of the Northern Counties of England, by Henderson, 1866".)

 

[BenBrown]

Gnomes have several things against them.

1) they're the only one of the standard PC races that don't have their origins at least partially in Tolkien. Not that D&D Elves, Dwarves, Halflings, and Orcs are the same as Tolkien's, but the influence is there, and LotR is as much as ever a lot of people's first experience in "grown-up" fantasy (as opposed to fairy tales, etc.)

2) as someone mentioned, there isn't a real strong archetype for gnomes. Third edition helps a lot in making them distinctive, rather than being junior-grade dwarves who also can do a little illusion magic. Dragonlance took Gnomes in a direction that has had some effect on how people view gnomes (although precious little on the official write-ups).


3) They don't really seem to fit in with the traditional adventuring party. All the material in the PHB and such continually describes them as homebodies. Homebodies do not great adventurers make (Bilbo Baggins to the contrary). In a party set up as defenders of a location, rather than explorers of the unknown, they'd probably work better. They seem somewhat out-of-place in urban settings too, which limits their proper place even more. Maybe in a "defend the small town and enchanted forest" campaign there would be much for a gnome to do.

That being said, I like gnomes. my first 3E character was a gnome. I feel we need more situations where they will fit.

 

[Klaus]

Here's a suggestion to everyone who thinks gnomes are everybody else's second banana:

Change the gnome's favored class from illusionist to druid. Now you have a race where almost everyone can summon vines to entangle their foes, everyone has at least an animal who's deeply devoted, everyone can whisper secret words to a cudgel and make it a fearsome weapon.

For those of you looking for a bit of gnomania, may I point you to my Oddballs gallery , where I ran Gnomania almost two years ago, trying to give gnomes their due. There you'll find several gnome ideas like the Marshwader (ranger), Spelunker (rogue), Errant (paladin), Badger-Child (barbarian), Piper (bard), Sharpshooter (fighter), Unseen (monk) and my favorite, the Urbanist (druid).

As for gnomes in LotR, I think Tom Bombadil is very gnomish in his outlook and attitude (yes, I know he's not a gnome per se, but...)

 

[BenBrown]

I agree that a favored class change is in order. Gnomes as illusionists is a legacy thing that goes back all the way to 1st ed., when illusionist was a seperate class. While illusion magic works for gnomes, once you've got the sorceror class, with more innate magic, around, that class would seem to work better for gnomes than a variant wizard.

Bard might also be a good favored class, but considering the reputation bards have, a gnomish bard can come across as a second banana among second bananas.

Druid probably works as well as anything. I may use it if ever I run a D&D campaign again.

 

[Mistwell]

...Now you have a race where almost everyone can summon vines to entangle their foes

Ah, if only entangle could summon those vines, the Druid would be such an easier line of work. Alas, I know of no spell that makes plants grow from nothing...

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Gnecromancers!

(though I must confess, I killed them off in my campaign)

 

[Rune]

See, I don't hate gnomes, so much as I've just never gotten a handle on who they are or what purpose they serve.

They steal underwear.

To take over the world.

 

[Schmoe]

Here's a suggestion to everyone who thinks gnomes are everybody else's second banana:

Change the gnome's favored class from illusionist to druid. Now you have a race where almost everyone can summon vines to entangle their foes, everyone has at least an animal who's deeply devoted, everyone can whisper secret words to a cudgel and make it a fearsome weapon.

That's a really great idea. I think I might steal it for my game, as well.

Thanks also for the link. I haven't had time to check it out yet, but hopefully I'll get a little more free time soon.

 

[Tsyr]

Actualy, I gave forrest gnomes both Bard and Druid as favored class, IMC, and Mountain Gnomes have Fighter and Bard... it was meant to reflect Gnomes being a sorta talented race... but then I dropped standard DnD magic system alltogether, and it got strange