D&D 4E Rich Baker on Gnomes in 4E
- Thread starter SPECTRE666
- Start date
Twiggly the Gnome
Legend
I'm not too bothered by gnomes not being in PHI, there's a lot of baseline options being left out of the mark one core books. If the rules set isn't up to par until the release of the mark two core books, it's not going to kill me to keep using 3.5E until WotC gets their act together. 
Ultimately, this could be good for gnomes. Why be a PHI also-ran like the halfling, when you can be a PHII headliner.
Ultimately, this could be good for gnomes. Why be a PHI also-ran like the halfling, when you can be a PHII headliner.
Relique du Madde
Adventurer
Vigilance said:
True, but they surely are being marginalized by the 4e dev team. In the extent that you have to wait 1 year for a full pc write up when they exist in every major dnd setting that was published to date.
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The Little Raven
First Post
Relique du Madde said:
If they're marginalized, it's because of their lack of popularity among players.
Mistwell
Crusty Old Meatwad
Relique du Madde said:
I agree with Mourn. It's players who marginalized them, not the WOTC dev team. Gnomes lost fair an square in the marketplace of ideas as far as a slot in the initial publication of the first Player's Handbook of this new version.
As far as existing in settings, so what? How is that a primary factor in the Player's Handbook. I suspect you will in fact find the gnome in the first published setting for this new version of the game.
The Ubbergeek
First Post
Beside, I am sure peoples will homebrew arund the 'lost' races when the new edition will come...
Relique du Madde
Adventurer
Mistwell said:
They were marginalized and became unpopular because their 3e/3.5e conception stunk compared to halflings. Sure you can fix that with fluff, but if you use only core books there isn't much of a bonus to playing a gnome (compared to playing a halfling) beyond a +1 HP per level unless wanted to play a mage/illusionist or a bard, or if you expect to fight against goblinoids, kobolds or giants often during the campaign.
Thats in itself is part of the reason why I think they chose to make halflings the core "small people" race. Over all, halflings may have been a more valid option to flesh out and keep in the lime light.
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The Ubbergeek
First Post
They ALWAYS where not very popular.
Twiggly the Gnome
Legend
I'm not sure what people are worked up about. It doesn't bother me a bit that gnomes don't appeal to the lowest common denominator. It makes perfect sense to me that WotC's first pass would focus on picking the low hanging fruit.
It seems that I too must have missed the 2nd edition Gnome Renassaince.
Honestly, Gnomes have never played a big role in D&D. Not just in that they aren't played much, but their role in D&D influenced novels, adventures, artwork, ect is virtually non-existant. The only Gnome concept that gained much traction with casual players are Tinker Gnomes, and most gnome fans hate em.
I think part of their appeal as a race is that they've always been so vaugely defined and underused that a creative player or DM can make them into anything they want. This would explain why you have a certain subset of players who really love gnomes, but most of them have totally different concepts on what gnomes are. You don't get this with, say, Dwarf fans.
"Hey, I like Dwarves. Do you like Dwarves?"
"Dwarves rule!"
"Totally."
"I like how they're like sneaky, cowardly little rabbits."
"Yeah, and Druids totally in tune with nature."
"And supersmart Illusion masters"
"But the best thing about Dwarves are their crazy inventions!"
"Duuuude....."
"What? What!"
"Just don't go there. "
"...Yeah...Sorry"
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