Gnomes: Monster or PC (Poll)

[evileeyore]

WotC has moved Gnomes intot he "Monster" category, for good or ill only time will tell.

For purposes of this poll however, let us presume Gnomes will not be released in any future edition of the PHB, thus never considered a "Core" race.

So oh DMs and Players: "Can Gnomes be taken as a PC racial choice?"

 

[Shroomy]

Where is the option for both? I mean, the 4e warforged originally appeared in the MM as a monster as well as in the NPC appendix, but it also got a full-fleshed out racial write-up which was related to, but quite distinct from the monster write-up.

 

[FalcWP]

Well, given that even in core (meaning the three main books) there's an easy way to play a Gnome PC... I don't see them as being restricted from being a PC race. I'd certainly allow them as a standard PC race for my game, and I'd allow most of the other races in the back of the Monster Manual as well (the only limitation being whether I was running a game in an established setting like Eberron or if I was creating my own world) if a player wanted to play one of them.

However, I agree with putting them in the Monster Manual and not the PHB. While we've actually had a few Gnomes in games I've played in or run over the years, they've never seemed to be a very popular race. In 3.5, I think we would have been fine with Gnomes in the MM, and anyone who wanted to play one could have looked them up.

 

[Ruslanchik]

Gnomes aren't metal enough for 4E. That's one reason to stick with 3.5!

 

[Shroomy]

Gnomes aren't metal enough for 4E. That's one reason to stick with 3.5!

I, for one, find the 4e gnome quite badass, except for its unfortunate choice of hairstyle .

 

[racoffin]

Gnomes will always be an availiable race in my games.

 

[Nifft]

Nobody in my group ever wanted to play a gnome, and I don't find them that interesting as foes. They won't exist as a PC race or as a monster.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Doug McCrae]

BD&D got it right, the proper place for gnomes is in the monster section, along with acolytes, tarantellas and thouls.

That said I would allow between some and all of the races on pages 276-279 of the MM as PCs, depending on the campaign world.

 

[evileeyore]

Where is the option for both?

Try "Ambivalent" or "Snowflake". Though your right, I could have put more thought into the options.... at least I left off "lemoncurry".

I mean, the 4e warforged originally appeared in the MM as a monster as well as in the NPC appendix, but it also got a full-fleshed out racial write-up which was related to, but quite distinct from the monster write-up.

I'm not talking about the Warforged, which is a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

Mostly the "arguement" about Gnomes has been flaming back and forth so I'm just looking for some "informal" statistics from ENWorld about Gnomes as PCs.

 

[Corjay]

Snowflake: Gnomes. Let's see... non-tinkering, non-garden gnomy, non-descript, not special, useless in a fight. Do they even belong in the game? Not in my opinion. They're like jawas, except not as cute or useful, but neither are they scary.

DM: "Gnomes attack your party."
Lilia, the fighter: "Oh look! They're so cute!"

After the very meager battle:
Lilia: "Oh look at them lying on the ground so peaceful. You just want to rinse the blood off and hang 'em on your wall. I want to call that one there bashy. I miss our old gnome cleric. He used to run around like a 3 year old with poopy in his diaper trying to help us all his little heart could. Too bad we usually spent our time resurrecting the little guy with good money. Yeah, you're right. Forget 'em."

Little people are awesome cool, and often have a great sense of humor about their size (as long as it's not tested). But unless they're ninja masters, they're no good in a fight.