Dragonlance

[Dr Simon]

I love Dragonlance.

The only thing I don't like: Gnomes.

They are removed from my campaign world.

Razuur

They're easy to miss out since they are quite isolated. Personally I find they get a lot better once you remove the overt comic relief element, and have their machines actually *work*. (Depends on how you like steam-tech, though).

I have two PC gnomes in my campaign (which is quite enough!), but since one is an Automotoneer and the other and Apothecary-Surgeon they complement each other (and the more normal characters) rather than clash.

It's surprising how effective the Steam Arm and Windmill Knife Hat combo can be....

 

[kigmatzomat]

I try to keep a bit of the gnomish "Mad Science" but limit the goofy. IMC there are three variants of gnomes: mad gnomes without a lick of insane tinker in them, nuts-and-bolts twirling mechanics with only a touch of the tinker, and the tinkers. I've adapted tinkers to be a small percentage of the populace with mechanics being the bulk and the mad gnomes consisting of the majority of gnomes living away from Mt. Nevermind.

The mechanics have found favor as artillerists within the Solamnic military. R&D teams consisting of a few humans, a large group of mechanics, and no more than 3 tinkers churn out experimental weapons. Once the normally over-complex multifunction device is churned out, the humans and mechanics try to filter out the simpler, more effective ideas.

Right now I've got a few ships with alchemist fire sprayers, steam-jets, experimental torpedoes. The more mundane solutions include turbine-style windmills and wave-powered mills.

Of course, each one is a custom installation with a good chance of failure in anything but blue-sky conditions. But when they work, they tend to work several times better than the traditional designs.

 

[talinthas]

Gnomes get no respect. They have the potential to be amazing, but authors and designers have pigeonholed them into comic roles only. The Gnomoi Company of the Dead is a great example of how they can be used for cool dramatic effect. The novel _Seige of Mt. Nevermind_ offers a lot more depth to their community. In my personal campaign, thinker gnomish alchemists and engineers work with Ogre Titans to turn Daltigoth into a thoroughly steampunk style city, filled with pretty rigid evil. And Gnomish tax collectors. good times for all =)