Photos of the new Gnome (PHB2)

[Nahat Anoj]

I think the direction of the new gnomes is great. I find them fully distinct from elves, eladrin, or whatever. I think any similarities between the fey races is just that - they are all fey, and this is what the fey tend to look like.

I have a soft spot for gnomes that I think dates back to the movie Legend, Screwball and Brown Tom being my archetypal gnomes. But I've only played one gnome in my entire gaming career - a beguiler in 3e. I have had other ideas for gnomes (rogues and illusionists, naturally ), but the 4e gnome wants me to try out other ideas. Also, by playing up their secretive, mischievous nature, gnomes as effective and nefarious antagonists become more viable (it's easier to play up the conspiratorial "gnomes of Zurich" angle ).

In FR, gnomes were called the "Forgotten Folk," and I've seen hardly any gnome PCs in play. Now, with their racial background and abilities, it's obvious as to why this is the case - it's because they've been keeping a low profile all these years and hiding under everyone's noses! I don't expect a sudden influx of gnomes, but I think with their more focused theme and mechanical bonuses they will be a choice that's a bit more palatable.

 

[Nahat Anoj]

Forget the looks: WotC seems to have a hard time understanding the different roles of the two races in question. Halflings strongly come off as "we're supposed to have a race called this in the PHB," and they have zero connection, besides their height, to the origin of the species.

I agree with you basically, although I would have use the name "kender" for 4e halflings and just redefined what kender means.

But otherwise, I feel halflings and gnomes are pretty distinct. Halflings are outgoing, happy-go-lucky gypsy types. Gnomes are cunning, manipulative, and sly types.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I agree with you basically, although I would have use the name "kender" for 4e halflings and just redefined what kender means.

That would work too, and cause less cognitive dissonance. Heck, kender are a lot more familiar to today's fantasy fans than "eladrin." Many new D&D players would immediately grok what the race was supposed to be about.

 

[Hellzon]

Heck, kender are a lot more familiar to today's fantasy fans than "eladrin." Many new D&D players would immediately grok what the race was supposed to be about.

Stealing the other PC:s stuff all the time?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Stealing the other PC:s stuff all the time?

See how easy that was?

 

[I'm A Banana]

I still think merging gnomes and halflings -- and going with the name most people around the world know -- would have been the better solution to begin with. Give one race all the fluff from both races, and it would have been better off, even with the substandard shorty race fluff WotC has come up with.

I think they got gnomes pretty good this time around. They have a good "hook."

Halflings are a bit more troublesome from the 4e perspective because there isn't a big reason to have them there. The 4e halfling doesn't satisfy purists (they ain't hobbits!), and it doesn't satisfy people looking for the new stuff either (they lack a strong archetype in the way that dwarves and elves and gnomes have strong archetypes).

They can have a stronger achetype, but I think, as I mentioned in the halfling thread, that being torn in two separate directions for 3e and 4e makes them weaker. I'd just as soon have them be "hobbits," and if hobbits don't make good PC's, keep the rules for them in the PHB2 or whatever.

Certainly WoW doesn't need halflings.

 

[Krypter]

Whatever these mini-elves may be, they certainly don't look like gnomes to me. I think I'll stick with my santa clauses with red conical hats, thanks.

 

[Plissken]

Gnomes would make great Vulcans.

 

[Nymrohd]

Tbh I get how halflings are. Maybe because of Races and Classes.

 

[The Green Adam]

This was my whole point. The things you've mentioned have been around longer than D&D and they've been done and done. So, why not make something new and still be fun. No reason you can't have both.

Ah but you don't have both. I see no examples of short, well fed species among the lean perfect short people. The halfling, the gnome, all lacking any imperfection or sense of whimsy. What I am advocating is that we see different versions or images of the gnome. I would perhaps be happier with the new look of Gnomes if we got to see the old look of Gnomes also.

Even if you personally don't think the Gnomes look like mini-Elves or just like the Halflings, hasn't the fact that enough people have made this comparsion tell you that perhaps, just perhaps, there is some validity to the statements?

Its art and art is subjective. To me its simply not interesting enough of a design. Sometimes new redesigns are fun, sometimes the original source material is so classic its silly to mess with it. To each there own of course but I'll stick with my small, chubby, bearded woodland folk.

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