The changes to gnomes in 3.5e

[Vocenoctum]

Dude, all classes are pigeonholed to a certain extent; that's what a class *is*by definition. If you want to make a wizard who doesn't cast spells, yer outta luck. Because the word "wizard" *means* "One who casts spells." So is that "pigeonholing"? I guess it is, in a sense. That's the nature of the class system, bub. Don't like it? Play GURPS.

There are certain attachments to the classes, true, but that doesn't mean that's ALL they can be. Wizard's are spellcasters as Barbarian's are tough ragers, that doesn't mean that all Wizards are scholarly book learners anymore than it means Barbarians are all from tribal cultures far from civilization.

 

[Li Shenron]

I wouldn't change the FC just because "illusionist is too limited" but that was the main complaint I used to hear. Broadening it to Wizard is fine (or heck, even sorcerer, which is more natural talent...) but Bard seems odd.

Since you mentioned it, I think that giving a race a wizard specialisation as favored class was not a very good design move. Maybe they did it to slightly balance the gnome down, but I doubt, I think it was just flavor.
Anyway I always thought that giving a race FC Illusionist is quite like giving another FC Ranger (2WF style only) or Cleric (with War domain only), it does sound unnecessary limited IMO.

 

[Crass]

Nope, their favored class isn't mentionned at all, thus by default, it's the same as for the other. Yep. Shy creatures living hidden in the woods, best represented with a wandering minstrel class.

At least they had to common sense to change the Svirfneblin's favorite class to rogue... It's just bad they didn't have that common sense concerning the forest gnomes, which can't seriously be anything but druids.

...or, perhaps, ranger?

 

[Darklone]

Hey, Darklone, can you shed any light on what kind of option are in that book?

Sorry, I'm not sure that I understand the question... options? Ruleswise? Some nice stylish prestigeclasses such as the Granite legion, a military order of gnomes who lost loved ones and form the heavy infantry of gnomish settlements to protect others from their own sad fate...

I have to admit, I do like gnomes, but I prefer kobolds and the book is just too nice for kobolds...

I prefer the Gnome section to the Races of stone stuff though... Ah well. I think it's better if you tell me again what you wanted to know exactly before I spam too much

 

[qstor]

I'm going to stand with those who like the new gnomes. (Gnew gnomes? New nomes?) I hated the big-nosed goofy tinkerers. I don't mind PC races that are different than humans--in fact, they should be--but I have to be able to take them seriously. The gnomes of 3.0/3.5 are the first time I've really been able to do that.

Still play them less than almost any other race, but at least I'm not actively anti-gnome any longer.

I like gnomes too. But I think the change from illusionst to bard goes against the continuity from editions. I'd prefer it to stay the way it was in 3.0.

Mike

 

[Vocenoctum]

Since you mentioned it, I think that giving a race a wizard specialisation as favored class was not a very good design move. Maybe they did it to slightly balance the gnome down, but I doubt, I think it was just flavor.
Anyway I always thought that giving a race FC Illusionist is quite like giving another FC Ranger (2WF style only) or Cleric (with War domain only), it does sound unnecessary limited IMO.

The closest would be to say "Favored Class: Cleric of Garl" since it's a limitation that's not really a limitation. An illusionist can chose his barred schools, so he still has a lot of options. From a purely numbers game, it is more restrictive then the elven FC ("wizard" as opposed to "generalist wizard" or whatnot, so they can specialize or not), but it's not overly restrictive IMO. If the restrictiveness was the problem, they should have broadened the class, not replaced it.

In my next campaign, I'll most likely just use the Racial Sub levels and ditch FC entirely.

 

[SSquirrel]

Favored classes and XP penalties for multiclassing just plain don't happen in my games. I always felt they were pretty silly anyway.

Course, I need to find time to run.

Hagen