THREE elven races, plus half-elves ... but they say gnomes have no niche?!

[Hussar]

It's funny Arkhandus - +1 to hit with rays is a HUGE bonus in your mind, but -1 damage is "pathetic damage in melee".

Dragonlance came out in 1e. Thus, in the 2e days, nothing was done to help gnomes. Nothing was done in 3e as well. But, at least according to the poll, halflings are far more popular than gnomes. Never mind that the designers themselves have talked about how gnomes had absolutely no draw in a product. The failure of the Short People's Book in 2e was laid pretty much squarely on the gnome.

 

[Kesh]

Halflings killed gnomes and took their fluff.

 

[PeterWeller]

I like how most of this has boiled down to "the developers just don't care about gnomes!" Well, apparently, neither do most players, so why should the gnomes be in the PHB then? Tradition? Isn't this supposed to be the edition where we finally kill the sacred cows that hold the game back?

Every race and class in the PHB should appeal to the 12 year old in you. You should look at the entry and say, "aww hell yes! I wanna be one of these!" Apparently, Gnomes have never really engendered this feeling in players. And don't get started on the whole immature and for kids crap. You're playing make believe with wizards and dragons. Get over yourself and come to grips with the fact that fantasy role playing is kids' stuff.

(Note that doesn't mean it isn't totally awesome and fun kids' stuff.)

 

[Voss]

I really don't want the game to appeal to the twelve year old me. My twelve year old self thought 'V' was the height of entertainment and couldn't paint a miniature worth crap.

I'd rather my entertainment appeal to me, not some idealized childhood figment.

 

[FireLance]

I really don't want the game to appeal to the twelve year old me. My twelve year old self thought 'V' was the height of entertainment and couldn't paint a miniature worth crap.

I'd rather my entertainment appeal to me, not some idealized childhood figment.

On the other hand, if the game hadn't appealed to the twelve year old me over twenty years ago, I probably wouldn't be posting this on this messageboard right now.

And, that twelve year old me is still in there somewhere, and a game that appeals to him as well as the other facets of me is one that I would find more enjoyable than one that only caters to the rest (one reason I prefer D&D to chess).

 

[I'm A Banana]

But, after all this time, they're STILL the red headed step child of the races in the PHB.

Ah, but every race lineup needs it's redheaded step-child. Much like every group of friends needs that one guy that EVERYONE picks on.

The question is: who does it get to be in 4e?

(My bet is on the halfling. "Oh no! The swamp midget is going to stab me!" "How come you guys live in rivers? You'd drown in a wading pool!" "Flip Flops are not appropriate dungeon attire!")

 

[FireLance]

"Flip Flops are not appropriate dungeon attire!"

Flip flops? Real swamp dwelling halflings wear Crocs.

 

[Rechan]

I really don't want the game to appeal to the twelve year old me. My twelve year old self thought 'V' was the height of entertainment and couldn't paint a miniature worth crap.

I'd rather my entertainment appeal to me, not some idealized childhood figment.

I want the game to appeal to the actual twelve year old, so that in ten years, that 22 year old is still playing D&D, and thus D&D is still alive in ten years.

 

[Wormwood]

I'd rather my entertainment appeal to me, not some idealized childhood figment.

I agree. Which is why I don't play C&C.

 

[Rechan]

I agree. Which is why I don't play C&C.

Is C&C the new Hackmaster or something?