Oh, I guess this is a question I need to answer out of character (at least I wouldn't know how to answer it in-character, that is).
The problem is, that I don't really understand the concept of gnomes. There are certain very distinct characteristics associated with them: - eccentric - clever - crafty - borderline annoying
And that's basically all their is. Then we got the looks. Sometimes they get depicted like classic garden gnomes yet other times they look like ElfQuest's wolfriders.
The problem is, that all I could come up with would either be a bland stereotype or something that isn't recognizable as a gnome at all and I really don't want that. Gnomes are neither meat nor fish.
I basically don't play them for the same reasons I don't play lawful evil characters, simply because I fail to get a proper grasp of the concept. That doesn't mean I am never going to play as a gnome though!
Maybe fiddling around more with character concepts and gaining a better understanding through experience will at some point make gnomes something I can identify with. Or maybe not. I just want to play characters I feel comfortable to play as, not just come up with them for the sake of diversity.
The problem is, that I don't really understand the concept of gnomes. There are certain very distinct characteristics associated with them: - eccentric - clever - crafty - borderline annoying
According to the 2e Gnomes book, Gnomes have large noses and take pride in them (the larger the better). They have a greater connection to magic than halflings and tend to specialize in illusion Magic if they do specialize. They use illusions to entertain and to protect their homes. They also like to live in the forest, whereas halflings are more creatures of the field, home and hearth. Each race of gnomes is associated with a particular type of gemstone. Svirfneblin are rubies, for example. They are also a race of craftsmen, but more jolly than Dwarves, who tend to be overly dour. The Dwarves, of course, think that Gnomes are too frivolous and prone to pranks rather than working.
All of the Gnomish gods are accompanied by companions who happen to be intelligent, like Baervan Wildwanderer whose companion is the raccoon Chiktikka Fastpaws (You'll recognize that name from some of Aerie's quotes.) The only Gnomish God without a companion is Urdlen, a misshapen albino mole-like creature who is consumed by greed and burrows under the earth for treasure. Garl Glittergold, who is the chief among the Gnomish Gods, has an intelligent axe named Arundina, Flandal Steelskin, the gnome God of Craftmanship and Smithing. Calladuran Stonehands is called the Master of Stone, Segojian Earthcrawler is master of all burrowing creatures.
While the Gnomes show their interests by who their Gods are, Urdlen represents the greed present in the heart of all gnomes, and is an admonition not to let it control them, lest they become as Urdlen is.
The different types of Gnomes are: Forest, Rock, Svirfneblin (Deep), And Tinker Gnomes or Minoi, who only live on the plane of Dragonlance on the Continent of Taladas.
The other thing that sets gnomes apart from other races is that they tend to wander more than Halflings, who tend to be homebodies. So, they are sort of a cross between halflings, dwarves and elves, with something from all three- crafting from the dwarves, living in the forest like elves, and having the stature of halflings (more or less).
I was in need of some proper reference pictures and while I was at it, I decided to give some of them a design overhaul. I tried to capture each character’s personality in each portrait, I am pretty happy with how they turned out
@LadyRhian Don't forget the dreaded Spriggans. Spriggans are considered fae, but Spriggans in Forgotten Realms were made from Gnomes (by Netherese experiments iirc), so they ought to get a pass.
Giant gnomes somehow appeal to me. Especially since they get to cast Shatter, like, whenever. Not exactly amazing, but nifty.
@DreadKhan This is true. There are some very non-standard versions of the races (like the Furchin halflings that are from the Polar regions) and Dark Sun's feral cannibalistic halflings (can you call them cannibals when they eat other races as well? I am not sure.) The Minoi (tinker gnomes of Krynn, cursed to be forever inventive, but have their inventions fail- their one "cursed" member of their race was cursed to always have his inventions succeed- madness!) And so on.
Even the Forgotten Realms has some very strange races that are considered unstandard, but useable. So there are the Swanmays (human or half-elven women who can change into swans using a token), Half-Giants or Firbolgs (mainly from the northern parts of the Realms. A series of novels in the "Giantcraft" series was based around the community of Hartsvale, dominated by Firbolgs and ruled by a Firbolg king). Thri-Keen (mainly in Dark Sun, but there are communities of these Insectoid Warriors in the Realms as well) and even half-ogres (who are even larger and stupider than half-orcs). They have a max 20 or 21 strength and a maximum of 9 intelligence- not exactly superior intellects here! They are also considered size L creatures and take more damage from weapons than normal. A longsword, for example, does 1-12 damage against size L creatures rather than 1-8 and a Two-Handed Sword does 3-18 damage to size L creatures.
Comments
*innocent whistle*
Moving quickly on.
Why no Gnomes in the party? Is their some kind of gnomophobia going on...
The problem is, that I don't really understand the concept of gnomes.
There are certain very distinct characteristics associated with them:
- eccentric
- clever
- crafty
- borderline annoying
And that's basically all their is. Then we got the looks.
Sometimes they get depicted like classic garden gnomes yet other times they look like ElfQuest's wolfriders.
The problem is, that all I could come up with would either be a bland stereotype or something that isn't recognizable as a gnome at all and I really don't want that. Gnomes are neither meat nor fish.
I basically don't play them for the same reasons I don't play lawful evil characters, simply because I fail to get a proper grasp of the concept. That doesn't mean I am never going to play as a gnome though!
Maybe fiddling around more with character concepts and gaining a better understanding through experience will at some point make gnomes something I can identify with. Or maybe not. I just want to play characters I feel comfortable to play as, not just come up with them for the sake of diversity.
All of the Gnomish gods are accompanied by companions who happen to be intelligent, like Baervan Wildwanderer whose companion is the raccoon Chiktikka Fastpaws (You'll recognize that name from some of Aerie's quotes.) The only Gnomish God without a companion is Urdlen, a misshapen albino mole-like creature who is consumed by greed and burrows under the earth for treasure. Garl Glittergold, who is the chief among the Gnomish Gods, has an intelligent axe named Arundina, Flandal Steelskin, the gnome God of Craftmanship and Smithing. Calladuran Stonehands is called the Master of Stone, Segojian Earthcrawler is master of all burrowing creatures.
While the Gnomes show their interests by who their Gods are, Urdlen represents the greed present in the heart of all gnomes, and is an admonition not to let it control them, lest they become as Urdlen is.
The different types of Gnomes are: Forest, Rock, Svirfneblin (Deep), And Tinker Gnomes or Minoi, who only live on the plane of Dragonlance on the Continent of Taladas.
The other thing that sets gnomes apart from other races is that they tend to wander more than Halflings, who tend to be homebodies. So, they are sort of a cross between halflings, dwarves and elves, with something from all three- crafting from the dwarves, living in the forest like elves, and having the stature of halflings (more or less).
Giant gnomes somehow appeal to me. Especially since they get to cast Shatter, like, whenever. Not exactly amazing, but nifty.
Even the Forgotten Realms has some very strange races that are considered unstandard, but useable. So there are the Swanmays (human or half-elven women who can change into swans using a token), Half-Giants or Firbolgs (mainly from the northern parts of the Realms. A series of novels in the "Giantcraft" series was based around the community of Hartsvale, dominated by Firbolgs and ruled by a Firbolg king). Thri-Keen (mainly in Dark Sun, but there are communities of these Insectoid Warriors in the Realms as well) and even half-ogres (who are even larger and stupider than half-orcs). They have a max 20 or 21 strength and a maximum of 9 intelligence- not exactly superior intellects here! They are also considered size L creatures and take more damage from weapons than normal. A longsword, for example, does 1-12 damage against size L creatures rather than 1-8 and a Two-Handed Sword does 3-18 damage to size L creatures.
After a loooong hiatus ...
Me: Aww heeeeeeeeeell yes!
Seriously, this is genuinely one of my favourite threads. But Xzar, though... =(