why do folks hate gnomes?

[JohnClark]

I for one really enjoy gnomes, partly because, as someone said earlier, they are very versatile. I've played two gnome characters and may start a third. The first two were both wizards, but one was an elemental savant (air) who really got off on being able to fly . The other is a gnome techsmith/golem/item creator. Really cool with my lab and what not (which is constantly exploding ). The third character I'm going to play is a much more nature based druid gnome, who like to have fun but isn't into the prankster stuff. He just loves the woods and the trees and the rivers and etc. etc. etc. So I think you can do almost anything you want with gnomes, and have some really enjoyable and memorable characters.

 

[Gargoyle]

I think gnomes make great familiars, much better than toads.

Seriously though, the problem with the gnomes in D&D, the way I see it, is that they are boring at best, irritating at worst.

 

[jaerdaph]

I only like them for their Giant Space Hamsters.

 

[Anime Kidd]

I don't hate gnomes themselves, but more of how they are portrayed as care-free tricksters or whacked-out tinkerers. Dragonlance really made me dislike gnomes as well, but I always did like kender.
I prefer gnomes to be more like tiny nature-loving fey creatures or as the war-like minions, like in the Shannara books.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

So you only like races that fit generic simple minded stereotypes. Yep, the gnome has to go then.

Oh wait, what about half-elves? They fit no stereotype, nor do humans for that matter.

It looks like I have to chime it on this.

Why I hate gnomes

The way they are protrayed. I never liked them as tricksters like they were protrayed in 1e and 2e. I guess it also has to do with the few players who play gnomes. They were always playing tricks on the party. Sneaking up to the evil mages to place Kick Me signs stuff like that. Granted we young but I never liked that. Then in RPGA, my friend played a gnome, a very annoying gnome. Players always seem to act stupid when they play gnomes.

I tried to play once. A gnome ranger. He was no trickster, practicle joker or tinker. I played hm like a bounty hunter, BUT other people expected the trickster so I had no fun.

Something needs to change the preception of the gnome. I like the picture of the gnome in the monster manuel. The picture of the gnome in the players handbook is stupid, glasses, funky headband telecope, microscope thingy. Bah. I don't know what I want gnomes to be. I want them to be a serious race. Something I want to play.

When most people see an elf- Probably a powerful mage.

Dwarf- Stout fighter

Halfling - The thief

Half Orc- a raging barbarian

Gnome- Is he going to cast some stupid illusion of a pokadot horse with butterfly wings and hope the evil necromancer is afraid of it. Is he going to put a whoopy cusion on my bar stool.

See gnomes are still freaking lame

I also hated tinker gnomes. Flying blimp ships, catapults instead of stairs. Thats just plain stupid.

And that is why I hate gnomes

 

[Nightfall]

I'm more of a fan of jungle gnomes than PHB gnomes.

 

[Klaus]

I didn't like gnomes for a while, back in 1e and 2e. But back then I didn't like halflings either. Now I like them both.

For some really cool insight on gnomes, check out the Hero Builder's Guidebook. It'll tell ya how gnomes with innate magical talent are secretly recruited by a society of black-clad gnomes sworn to protect the gnome's world from the fiendish terrors of other planes. Or how a gnome that hears the higher calling and becomes a paladin starts hearing other gnomes call him "sheriff" almost instantly, making every sheriff in a gnome settlement a paladin. Or how gnomes are so competent at looking for nature in everything that gnomes are the only druids capable of living in a city, tending to flower gardens and the urban ecossystem without loosing their minds. Or how gnome monks blend illusion and skill to become the ultimate infiltrators.

For a broader look at gnomes, check out my Oddball gallery .

The only gnome in my game so far was Erky Timbers, from Sunless Citadel. And he was a p***-off gnome, after being held captive for a year. At one time the party got a goblin prisoner to interrogate. After the interrogation was over, Erky turns to the PCs:

"Need to know anything else?"
"Nope."
"Great.", and then Erky smashes the tied-up goblin's skull!

His first thought after being released, was to go to the surface and sleep under the stars for the first time after a year.

And if you want a simple change that adds tons of flavor, just change the gnome's favored class from illusionist to druid. Presto! You have a race where nearly everyone has a level of druid and has taken an oath not to use metal armor and to forgo most weapons. Suddenly, gnomes make the best leather/hide armor, gnomes fill most higher ranks in druidical society, nearly every gnome walks about with at least one animal companion and so forth. For those who like fey-type gnomes, this does it in spades.

 

[carpedavid]

BiggusGeekus@Work:

They are the wise people who know. Your characters need to find the complete prophecy about so-or-so ? The library with the fabled lore they need is run by gnomes.

That's how I always seen them, and always will. Remember that the very word "gnome" comes from the greek "gnosis", which just mean... Knowledge. Mythically, gnomes were the little fey who knew every secret of nature and alchemy, and that alchemists associated with Hermes.

You may have just convinced me to add gnomes back into my campaign world.

-DMG

 

[buzzard]

Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason To live
They got little hands
Little eyes
They walk around
Tellin' great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet

Well, I don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
`Round here Short

People are just the same
As you and I
(A Fool Such As I)
All men are brothers
Until the day they die
(It's A Wonderful World)

Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
To love

They got little baby legs
That stand so low
You got to pick 'em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That got beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin' peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They're gonna get you every time

Well, I don't want no
Short People
Don't want no
Short People
Don't want no
Short People
'Round here

Short People
from Little Criminals
Randy Newman

Then again I suppose this would equally apply to halflings, but we're picking on gnomes here.

buzzard

 

[Dagger75]

Gnomes as Arcane lorekeepers and keepers or alchemy have great possibilities.

ALSO

Changing the Gnomes favored class druid goes a long way for me.

As for the sterotypes-

So you only like races that fit generic simple minded stereotypes. Yep, the gnome has to go then.

The only stereotype that I have ever seen are Gnomes. ALMOST EVERYBODY I have seen play gnomes plays them same freaking way. Stupic practicle jokers. After playing in the RPGA (which might not mean much) and having gone to tons of cons around the country the gnome are always the freaking same. Either illusionists or rogues but always the "comic relief". I tried to change that, I wanted a serious gnome but like I said people expected the practicle joker.