Rich Baker confirms new look of Gnomes

[Traycor]

Truth to be told, I rather think that Klaus' picture shows a Halfling instead of a Gnome. Which is the problem that the gnomes face all the time...

I don't know... black (vaguely bug-like) eyes, green skin and wild dark green hair. That doesn't feel like a halfling at all. Much more fey and far more alien feeling than a halfing ever was.

Halflings basically feel like small cozy people. This gnome comes off very alien.

Me likey!!!

 

[Clavis]

But... WoW kobolds are D&D kobolds...


And gorgons are not metallic bulls with flesh-to-stone breath!

Actually, in medieval legend they were.
"Gorgon" was used as another name for the Catoblepas. In Topsell's bestiary they are depicted as scale-covered bulls.

 

[Spatula]

Actually, in medieval legend they were.
"Gorgon" was used as another name for the Catoblepas. In Topsell's bestiary they are depicted as scale-covered bulls.

1607 (http://penelope.uchicago.edu/oddnotes/topsellgorgon.html) is well outside of the Medieval period. And the Greek myths that the word comes from predate that time by quite a bit. But I wasn't aware of the Topsell thing - nice to know that the D&D Gorgon actually has some basis.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

But... WoW kobolds are D&D kobolds...

D&D kobolds are not, and have never been, bipedal moles who believe their souls are contained in candlelight.

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

One big difference between the cartoon and Klaus's drawing is the eyes: the cartoon guy seemed to have completely black eyes with no whites, whereas Klaus's just have dark irises. I think that actually makes a pretty big difference in how freaky the gnome looks (and I personally like the no-whites cartoon version better).

 

[Fallen Seraph]

On the matter of gnomes I like the new version, gives it a very impish, fey like persona that I always had WHEN I included gnomes. Many gnomes in my games are almost like classic-gremlins. They skitter about the cities, rummaging through garbage and trash, but know alot, and know how to make and break things.

As for the kobold-debate, I use more dogish ones, but with scales scattered about and slightly more reptilian facial-features.

 

[Wormwood]

(and I personally like the no-whites cartoon version better).

Seconded.

I really like the concept of gnomes being a creepy facsimile of a humanoid, rather than merely a humanoid with creepy features.

 

[Bongo Bigguns]

Unlike gnomes (and dwarves, elves, dragons, etc.), I've never encountered kobolds outside of D&D or its derivatives ...

Yeah. And I've never seen another troll look exactly like a D&D troll either. It's safe to say that the game itself has created specific variations on classical myth concepts.

 

[Ottergame]

 

[Klaus]

One big difference between the cartoon and Klaus's drawing is the eyes: the cartoon guy seemed to have completely black eyes with no whites, whereas Klaus's just have dark irises. I think that actually makes a pretty big difference in how freaky the gnome looks (and I personally like the no-whites cartoon version better).

Actually, no, my picture also has all-black eyes. But you can see the light source reflected in the eyes.