D&D General Gnome Paladins

[Aldarc]

i have no great hate for gnomes personally but nor do i have any strong interest in them either,

This is where I am with gnomes. I don't think that they are particularly interesting. I have never had a desire to play one. Nothing about them has really grabbed my attention.

I find gnomes in Golarion more interesting. I agree with someone earlier in this thread that they seem to have more identity in Golarion. IMHO, they were also more interesting in 4e D&D when they were fey.

i kind of wish they leant harder into their 'magic nature spirit' aspects to carve out a better niche than 'eccentric tricksters',

If we are keeping gnomes, I would probably make them fey. Less "eccentric tricksters" that attract troll players, and more, again as you say, "magic nature/earth spirit."

 

[UngeheuerLich]

This is where I am with gnomes. I don't think that they are particularly interesting. I have never had a desire to play one. Nothing about them has really grabbed my attention.

I find gnomes in Golarion more interesting. I agree with someone earlier in this thread that they seem to have more identity in Golarion. IMHO, they were also more interesting in 4e D&D when they were fey.


If we are keeping gnomes, I would probably make them fey. Less "eccentric tricksters" that attract troll players, and more, again as you say, "magic nature/earth spirit."

Like in 4e?
That was great!

Little elves to halflings as little humans.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I have to admit, when I read a thread like this I often wonder if Jonathan Swift ever thinks to himself, "Self, I think Armie Hammer missed the point when he read my proposal."

But then I remembered that Swift is dead.

Oh well. In summation-

I never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.
-Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address.

 

[Azzy]

This is where I am with gnomes. I don't think that they are particularly interesting. I have never had a desire to play one. Nothing about them has really grabbed my attention.

I find gnomes in Golarion more interesting. I agree with someone earlier in this thread that they seem to have more identity in Golarion. IMHO, they were also more interesting in 4e D&D when they were fey.

Yeah, I like the Golarion gnomes. Have you looked into the Eberron gnomes? They are really interesting.

 

[Aldarc]

Yeah, I like the Golarion gnomes. Have you looked into the Eberron gnomes? They are really interesting.

For some reason, Eberron gnomes and Zilargo never really grabbed my interest the way that the rest of the setting did.

 

[Ath'kethin]

Is this some kind of internet joke I've missed or something? I've seen a few references to the combination here and there, and it seems to presented as the absolute joke race/class combo and/or the worst possible thing someone can play. Granted, it's not an optimal choice in 3e, and it really doesn't fit the usual gnonish archetypes, but it's not utterly unplayably bad either. It's just a very unusual combination.

Once upon a time, the designers were apparently very alarmed about the idea of gnome paladins. The following is from the 2nd Edition Dungeon Master Guide, Revised, page 22. At the time, if it isn't obvious, gnomes were not allowed to be paladins RAW.:

 

[billd91]

Do people play gnomes? Yes - a friend of mine played multiple gnomes across multiple decades, mostly as illusionists. PF made them a fair amount of fun again without the Krynn tinker stereotype applying.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Once upon a time, the designers were apparently very alarmed about the idea of gnome paladins. The following is from the 2nd Edition Dungeon Master Guide, Revised, page 22. At the time, if it isn't obvious, gnomes were not allowed to be paladins RAW.:

View attachment 369056

back then gnome paladins would suck on all levels why would they be so afraid of something so niche appeal?

I feel gnomes lack some great core of gnomedom that stops them from ever becoming more than a joke options they would also ideally need to grow a cooler look that makes them less halfling or dwarf like.

 

[Marandahir]

Paladin is a culturally preferred class among Svirfneblin.

In 4e, the Svirfs got Str/Con or Str/Wis, which made for great warriors of various kinds.
People got angry because they're a small species with those abilities but not Dwarves.

In v5.2, ability scores are de-associated from species, so Gnome Paladin is actually quite feasible. It's also a great way to lean into the classic Gnomish Charisma (something that was absent in v5.0/5.1)

 

[Neonchameleon]

Had a gnome paladin (of the Blood of Vol) in 4e. His SOP was to challenge all enemies within 15' and then reactively turn invisible the first time that round one of them hit him. Leaving everyone else facing the challenge penalty or flailing at an invisible gnome.