A gniche for gnomes?

[I'm A Banana]

I think the problem most have with gnomes is similar to the problem people have with monks or rangers. Bloody goons misinterpreting it. ^_^

Gnomes are secretive, faerie, mischievous, but more inclined to hide and withdrawl then to trick and gloat. They are nonconfrontational, more apt to misdirect than destroy, with a deep reverence for life and the natural world. They keep the secrets of the world (Vecna probably hates them with a passion), and they are generally benevolent.

The tinker aspect comes in when the gnomes stop being reclusive -- their knowledge emerges, and really starts to shine. All the secrets they have are put to use, and their rapacious greed for knowledge makes them highly receptable to new thoughts.

Elves are pansy little hippie boys. Dwarves are the *true* tinkers, y'know, the ones who make useful stuff outta metal and steam. Halflings aren't tricksters or secretive, they're bold and survivalist, adaptive and rescourceful.

I think it's people confusing Tinkers for Gnomes (when that role is better fit by dwarves) and Kender for Halflings (when gnomes probably fit that role a bit better), and then leaving no good place for the gnomes.

They're elusive, secretive, knowledgable faery creatures who are capable of quite a bit of intelligent tinkering, if they decide to put themselves toward it.

Accept it.

 

[Emiricol]

Sounds like elves.

 

[Mistwell]

I think the biggest problem with Gnomes is the lack of a fantasy literature role model. All of the other races are represented well in fantasy literature. But the Gnome? Sure, I find them in folklore books from old europe, but little in the way of fiction fantasy literature. If Tolkien had used Gnomes instead of Ents, everybody would love the Gnome

 

[Danzilla]

Have there been any references to Gnome culture in any of the supplements or novels othere than the Mountain of gnomes in the Spelljammer novels?

If people had more of a grasp on them they could use them better...

Or else, since they have a bland basis, they can be a blank template to do anything you’d like with them (there are a few good ideas on this board already)...

Gnomes...the undiscovered race....



DanZilla

 

[I'm A Banana]

Those aren't bloody elves.

Elves are millitant hippies. They're beauty and nobility, the moonlight and the royalty. They're huggers of trees and persuers of purity. They are elitist and prideful, natural with culture.

Elves don't keep secrets or heavily use illusions. They flex military muscle and enchantment magic. Elves aren't shy and reclusive, they're prominent and prideful. All should know of and respect the glory of the elves.

Elves wear chainmail and eyeshadow. Gnomes wear simple cloaks and hold staves.

Elves aren't the keepers of ancient knowledge. They know what *they* like, but ask them the history of the dwarves or how humans arose and you'll be sorely dissapointed. Gnomes know this stuff.

They are similar, don't get me wrong. But they're no more similar than, say, humans and halflings.

Elves are noble. Gnomes are simple. Elves are militant. Gnomes are shy. Elves are effeminate and ethereal. Gnomes are solid, but elusive. Elves shoot bows at orcs, slaying countless enemies of their cause. Gnomes protect their families from kobolds, and would prefer to run away than to stay and fight, or, better yet, be not even noticed in the first place.

They ain't elves. Elves ain't secretive and shy tricksters. Live with it.

 

[Dinkeldog]

What I've never figured out is a way to describe them in my campaign without referring to another race - it's always "they're like X, but are more/less Y." It'd be nice if they had an identity of their own.

Trying to give you a frame of reference.

 

[alsih2o]

What I've never figured out is a way to describe them in my campaign without referring to another race - it's always "they're like X, but are more/less Y." It'd be nice if they had an identity of their own.

describe gnomes first, then you can say this about other races

sounds like a problem of order.

 

[cybertalus]

I don't understand gnomes either. Like a lot of things I don't understand, I went through a period of trying to figure them out. That failed miserably. So I did what I normally do when I can't figure something out, I began to ignore them and hope they will go away.

Since they nearly got axed from 3E, sounds like gnomes are the closest I've ever come to success with that tactic.

As others have pointed out, they seem to lack a really strong archetypal niche of their own. This is even reflected in WotC's iconic characters. All the other races get a clearly defined archetype class or two in the iconic characters. Gnomes get the illusionist, which is not a well-defined archetype at all.

If I was gonna put them in a niche, I'd probably make them bard-like, though in a more "keeper of knowledge and lore" sense than in a "plays twelve musical instruments and sings songs to inspire companions" sense.

But truthfully, I'd rather just keep ignoring them and hope they go away.

 

[Grim]

IMHO, gnomes should be little industrius industrial revolution people, like Soviet Russia.

Mmm, soviet gnomes.

And then I can recreate K-19, only everyone will be 2 feet tall

 

[Tonguez]

Thank you, kenjib, for echoing my feelings exactly. Gnomes are much more akin to brownies and fae than any of the other races. Mischievous, reclusive, good-natured - gnomes belong to fairy tales, not to Jordan or Tolkien or Eddings. They are the sprites of the earth, keepers of secret lore.

Steam engines? Pfeh.

Mushroom rings, gnarled stumps, and crystal caverns, I tell you! That's what gnomes are.

I'm with Kenjib and Schmoe on this one and infact imc Gnomes are fey and Brownies are a subrace of gnomes.

Gnomes are all Hermaphrodites and eusocial (Hive-like) creatures living in great colonies and capable of incredible feats of engineering (and tinkering) when they cooperate.

Gnomes have a semblance of neutrality simply because they do not recognise the jurisdiction of the outside world in their lives and as long as noone interfers with them they will not interfer with others. They are good natured enough and will be social to strangers passing through however to anyone who offends them they are a terror and their swarming instinct again arises as gnomish warriors destroy any threat.

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. Some gnomes have taken to living amongst other races (initally as Borrowers in farmyards) but more recently they have begun to become civilised and use their skills to tinker.

Gnome PrC The Boggart - 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)