How are GNOMES ?

[Tonguez]

So gnomes seem to have the best of all worlds. Part elven (fey & magical), part dwarven (science & mundane) and part halfling (the small race that doesn't interfere with the world, yet it's the mightiest of all -> think the role halflings play in LOTR). Their humor reminds them not to become too eager and take life easily.

Except that DnD elves aren't all that fey & magical - that conception is a hang over from the real world but its not reflected in the game version.
The only thing 'magical' about DnD elves is immunity to magic sleep effects, and a +2 bonus against enchantments. In every other respect including their sleep-deprived zen trance affliction they seem more 'Vulcan/ET' than fey to me.

and Tolkiens halflings were probably inspired more by gnomes than the other way around

btw for the best guide to Gnomes I've seen - read Terry Pratchetts Bromeliad Trilogy (Truckers,Diggers, Wings) then remove the tiny Sci-fi element

 

[Drew]

I really dig gnomes. I'm not sure why, but I like the little buggers. IMC I try to potray gnomes not so much as tinkers but as very fey like dwarves. In many legends, dwarves were slightly mischevious nature spirits that lived in hills, were very skilled at crafts, and were inherently magical. To me, the D&D gnome fills this niche.

 

[Darkness]

PS: if you don’t like gnomes (tss tss) then don’t share it here.

 

[Gellion]

I always saw Gnomes as Tinkers. This isnt form DL though, it is from when my older brother used to play EverQuest. After seeing their city, it just sort of stuck with me.

 

[cildarith]

PS: if you don’t like gnomes (tss tss) then don’t share it here.

This is a vast gnomish conspiracy, I tell you.

Down with gnomes!

 

[Moe Ronalds]

I like gnomes, in all their various incarnations, even if you can't necessarily have all the elements together in one neat little package.

I like the tinkering gnome, who uses a blend of magic and technology to make grand and wonderous things.

I like the illusionist gnome, who uses magical trickery to vanquish his foes.

I like the practical joker gnome, who while not necessarily the comic relief of the group, is still light hearted and keeps morale high.

I like the nature hermit gnome, who sits in the forest communing with nature.

I like the alchemist gnome, who sits in his labratory, making small explosions and whatnottery.

Granted, I think gnomes are best when they have a few of these elements, though a few aren't ALWAYS compatable (though if you could come up with a viable mix of tinkerer and druid, I'd be all for it!)

On the other hand, I like psionics, steam punk and cowboys too. So maybe I'm cracked.

 

[Dark Jezter]

Up with gnomes!

Down with elves!

 

[tetsujin28]

How are gnomes? Very, very tasty.

 

[nopantsyet]

I think there might not be a rational explanation, and that might be exactly what makes them "gnomes." I think of gnomes as being somewhatincomprehensible to all other races, but in a different way to each.

To elves and humans, they're like children, but overly magical to most humans and overly mundane to most elves.

To dwarves they're too easily distracted, bordering on if not outright lazy.

To halflings they're obsessive and shallow.

To half orcs, they're breakfast.

I love gnomes, in all their varieties. It seems somehow--not by design--most of my favorite characters I've played over the years have been gnomes. I find them challenging, because I think they should be somewhat quirky in a number of ways, rather than having a few heavy-duty quirks. I play them differently from one minute to the next.

My current Svirfneblin Cleric oscillates between vain and preening, and obsessed with hunting drow. His degree of interest in combat waxes and wanes, both within and between encounters. His spell list changes from week to week as his fancies ebb and flow to different strategies. I'm hoping to come up with more quirks to throw in the mix (he's only three sessions old).

 

[Gez]

I don't see how they can be such wise sages when they lack common sense (wisdom).

My gnomes sure don't lack common sense.

They are extremely curious which drives their passion for mechanics & technology (and makes them intelligent) but at the same time they kinda loose control.

My gnomes sure don't lose control. And, except those dwarf-influenced svirfneblins, are not interested much in mechanisms. Forest gnomes are interested in plants and animals, rock gnomes are interested in geography and peoples, my homebrew night gnomes are interested in legends and cosmogony; and all gnomes are interested in alchemy.

They aren't "serious", or better: "disciplined" enough to have the patience of old sages & learned wizards. I think the magic part simply comes from their frolicking, from their "faerie side".

Being serious don't mean having a broomstick inserted in one's anatomy. Rather than awkwardly trying to describe what I mean, I'll take a close example: Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter behaves like I see gnomes behaving. He may seem eccentric or even slightly crazy, but he's actually well aware of things.

My gnomes do are patient, they may live up to more than 400 centuries. They are quite disciplined -- they aren't prone to chaos like elves, and their good alignment make them more likely to self-discipline than humans.

In fact, my gnomes are somewhat monastic, but not in a stern way. They seek enlightenment, and believe enlightenment comes from wisdom and lore. Their ability with illusion may come from a distant parentage with fey, as is rumored, or from a greater awareness. Their knowledge of spells for all -- I keep 3.0's rules of them being spells rather than spell-like ability -- means that all gnomes have some basics knowledge in wizardry.

Keep in mind the etymology of gnome as well. It's insightful. It means thought (open a Greek/English dictionary), gnosis, knowledge (same roots).

Those are my gnomes.

PS: I don't like mixing magic with technology. The former is supernatural and "chaotic", the latter mundane (logical) and "lawful".

It's a wholly different debate, but knows that these associations, although common, are not necessarily true. These depends a lot of the world. And beside, isn't a flying carpet or a decanter of endless water a mix of magic and technology? Carpets and decanters are not natural items. To say nothing of enchanted crossbows... As Arthur C Clarck said, advanced technology looks like magic. And I've read theories of magic that seemed a lot more lawful, ordained and predictible than actual technological things like, say, a modern computer operation system (especially, but not only, those conceived in Redmond).