When did gnomes fall from grace?

[LordMelquiades]

I've always had a problem with gnomes. I was liking what Eberron dod to them, but then re-reading the SRD, I saw this little gem that I'd been trying to forget:

Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day—speak with animals (burrowing mammal only, duration 1 minute).

They speak with burrowing animals? Listen! It's the sound of their credibility being zapped!

 

[Devilkiller]

Part of the fun of gnomes is the fact that so many people hate them. I mean, if you feel like roleplaying an annoying character you almost have to be a gnome. People will be annoyed with him before you even finish writing up your character sheet.

I portray gnomes as arcane casters and inventors, but many of their inventions work...at least sometimes. My current campaign includes a light sprinkling of guns and explosives, and these are mostly invented, produced, and used by gnomes. I was thinking of writing up a gnomish sapper/demolitions expert PrC, but I'm pretty sure it would never see use in my game since the sole gnome PC is a sorcerer on a circuitous route to becoming a Loremaster.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

They speak with burrowing animals? Listen! It's the sound of their credibility being zapped!

I don't understand why that's a bad thing. It fits with the trope of gnomes being more in tune with nature than dwarves, yet still being of the earth. Besides, having a badger as a friend seems kinda handy to me.

 

[Vocenoctum]

I've always had a problem with gnomes. I was liking what Eberron dod to them, but then re-reading the SRD, I saw this little gem that I'd been trying to forget:

Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day—speak with animals (burrowing mammal only, duration 1 minute).

They speak with burrowing animals? Listen! It's the sound of their credibility being zapped!

They're in tune with nature, and they live in hilly regions and burrows. The real problem for me is the "1 minute per day" thing. They should have removed it entirely, or left it a language or at will ability.

 

[LordMelquiades]

I don't understand why that's a bad thing.

I think that for me there's a disjunction between this sort of mechanical stuff and the presentation of gnomes. The 3.5 PHB presents them as gypsy-looking, charming, bardic dudes. But then... they speak to moles. Eberron presents them as diplomatic, intriguing lovers of espionage - oh and elemental binders - oh and... they speak to badgers. Speaking with gerbils fits the nature thing more, you are quite right, but then I would expect the rest of the mechanics and the presentation to tilt more towards this bardic/druidic angle. And even with their mechanics, being able to cast Dancing lights bears no relation to being able to speak to... groundhogs.

I've learned a new word though - fossorial. Fossorial gnomes, able to crack jokes with sea cucumbers!

Besides, having a badger as a friend seems kinda handy to me.

Wouldn't you feel a little, well, inadequate next to the druid with his wolf, and the ranger with his bear?

 

[Darkness]

Gnomes have never been even close to cool.

The best gnomes were of course in Dark Sun, but Eberron gnomes aren't bad.

 

[Tharian]

In my primary homebrew campaign--and how scary is it that I have enough that I need to designate one as "primary"? --gnomes are the preeminant arcanists. Their favored classer are sorcerer and wizard*, and it was they who invented (well, "discovered" might be a better term) arcane magic. Sure, today the majority of wizards are human, but that's just because gnomes are relatively uncommon.

*All races have two favored classes in this setting. Except those, like humans, who can have any, of course.

(Elves, obviously, have less of a wizardly bent in this setting. The favored classes of Imperial elves are fighter and warlock, while the favored classes of the more traditional wood elves are druid or ranger.)

I try to stay away from gnomes as inventors, when it comes to anything beyond magic. Too many shades of tinkers. Shudder.

Just reading through this one and a huge light bulb just went on for me.

Willow.

I wouldn't call him a dwarf and he (and the others) didn't give me the feeling of halflings. However, as the "preeminant arcanists," this actually feels about right.

That'll teach me to hold the DVD while at Borders.

 

[Tonguez]

Wouldn't you feel a little, well, inadequate next to the druid with his wolf, and the ranger with his bear?

um no because as a gnome I could be a Scorcerer with a Badger (and a rat), or a Druid with a Wolf and a Badger.

Afterall the Badger is a friend due to a Racial ability and doesn't preclude anything gained as a class ability.

I think that for me there's a disjunction between this sort of mechanical stuff and the presentation of gnomes. The 3.5 PHB presents them as gypsy-looking, charming, bardic dudes. But then... they speak to moles. Eberron presents them as diplomatic, intriguing lovers of espionage - oh and elemental binders - oh and... they speak to badgers. Speaking with gerbils fits the nature thing more, you are quite right, but then I would expect the rest of the mechanics and the presentation to tilt more towards this bardic/druidic angle. And even with their mechanics, being able to cast Dancing lights bears no relation to being able to speak to... groundhogs.

Dancing Lights, talks to small burrowing animals, charming, likes dancing and a good joke - the whole descriptions works if you accept the fey nature of Gnomes.

Thats what's missing from most DnD portrayals and is why they miss their niche. Gnomes are fey, linked to the earth (soil) and with a role as keepers of secrets (the information gathering bent). They are a private lot who don't like to be distrubed by outsiders but are friendly and charming if encountered.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

This thread is making me want to play a gnome bard 1/ranger X character. Preferably with dire hedgehog animal companion. (That's right, dire hedgehog, look out!)

 

[Desdichado]

When did gnomes become uncool?

They didn't have a bad rap in AD&D1. I don't remember them being hated in early Greyhawk. I remember lots of hate towards the DragonLance gnomes, but they were a different race, truly, anyway.

I don't remember the gnomes ever being cool.