Post by yusef86 on Jul 1, 2012 17:53:25 GMT -5
As some of you may know, I am now playing my 2nd gnome PC. I have often felt that gnomes are an unappreciated race. They are often thought of as a strange, quirky people whose inventions fail in spectacular explosions. But I feel that gnomes are much more than the comedic relief of the races. Since rock gnomes are the only playable race, this post is really about rock gnomes.
First the obvious. Rock gnomes "are welcome everywhere as technicians, alchemists, and inventors" * To me this is a testiment to their high intellect, natural curiousity and superb craftmanship. Also, they are very competent at this! I find little to suggest that gnome inventions habitually explode or go haywire. Instead, other races seek them out for their expertise in these areas.
Rock gnomes "are well known for their love of jokes and pranks." This is a reflection of their primary god, Garl Glittergold, who is an infamous prankster. The gnome gods Baervan Wildwanderer and Baravar Cloakshadow are also know for mischievousness and trickery, respectively. This reflects two aspects of gnomes. First, gnomes love to have a good time. They are generally a joyful race which values a fun time over power or wealth. "Life is meant to be enjoyed in all its facets: work, play, and otherwise." The second aspect of this is that gnomes would rather employ trickery to thwart an enemy than use direct confrontation. That is not to say that they are cowards. "Gnomes can show bravery and physical resolve that would put larger folks to shame."
Gnomes are secretive. In general, gnomes live in hidden communities in forests or under hills. Lantan is probably the one exception. Some gnomes venture forth to mix with other races. This is due in part to their inquisitive nature and also the realization that events taking place outside their communities do have an impact on them.
Gnomes have a natural aptitude for magic. Gnomes with an intelligence of 10 or higher learn to cast the cantrips dancing lights, ghost sound and prestigitation each once per day. Gnomes value the illusion school of magic above the others. The reasons are obvious. Illusions can be employed to trick one's enemies and/or to keep one's community hidden. On top of that (perhaps even more importantly), you can entertain with illusions and have fun with them moreso than magic from the other schools.
Gnomes love gems and well crafted items. I don't believe this should be confused with a desire for great wealth. Instead, it's a deep appreciation for the beauty of the gem or well-made item.
Gnomes are skilled miners. Dwarves may surpass them at harvesting ore but gnomes excel at mining gems. I tend to think that dwarves mine with power and speed while gnomes mine with more finesse.
What may get lost in all the talk about mining and inventions is that gnomes also love nature. They especially love animals, and burrowing animals above all. Gnomes have the spell-like ability to speak with burrowing mammals once per day. Gnomes often have badgers or wolverines in their burrows. The treat these animals as pets the same humans treat dogs: as companions and as protection. The description of druids in PHB states, "elves and gnomes have an affinity for natural lands and are commonly druids." This places gnomes as one of the two most nature-loving races in Faerun. Sylvan is a common bonus language for gnomes: a reflection of their close relationship with the sylvan races in nature.
"Few people count the gnomes as their friends, but even fewer consider the gnomes their enemies." ** Gnomes don't involve themselves in the conflicts of kingdoms or between the other races primarily because they don't value the same things that draw others to war. Gnomes have few enemies because they are rarely clash with anyone. They keep to themselves and expect to be left alone. They do have some common ideals with other races. Gnomes share a love for gems, fine jewelry and mechanical devises with dwarves. With halflings they share a love of jokes and having a good time. And they share a love of nature with elves and the desire to preserve it.
Finally, I want to make a comment about Lantan. While Lantan has the largest, visible population of gnomes it is not a gnome nation. Gnomes have no nation of their own. Although the source material I've seen about Lantan has few details, I believe the human population outnumbers the gnomes. The humans likely hold more positions in government or authority. And it should be noted that the humans in Lantan contribute to creating inventions just as the gnomes do.
"The racial history of the gnomes is not a grand, sweeping tapestry, but instead a hundred subtle threads woven here and there in the tapestry of all Faerun, no two of them touching another. It is the history of a hundred hidden villages, clans and holds, few of them ever caught up in the great and tragic events of the lands in which they lie concealed."
* All quotes are from source material.
** Gnomes are often in conflict with goblinoids, kobolds and orcs.
First the obvious. Rock gnomes "are welcome everywhere as technicians, alchemists, and inventors" * To me this is a testiment to their high intellect, natural curiousity and superb craftmanship. Also, they are very competent at this! I find little to suggest that gnome inventions habitually explode or go haywire. Instead, other races seek them out for their expertise in these areas.
Rock gnomes "are well known for their love of jokes and pranks." This is a reflection of their primary god, Garl Glittergold, who is an infamous prankster. The gnome gods Baervan Wildwanderer and Baravar Cloakshadow are also know for mischievousness and trickery, respectively. This reflects two aspects of gnomes. First, gnomes love to have a good time. They are generally a joyful race which values a fun time over power or wealth. "Life is meant to be enjoyed in all its facets: work, play, and otherwise." The second aspect of this is that gnomes would rather employ trickery to thwart an enemy than use direct confrontation. That is not to say that they are cowards. "Gnomes can show bravery and physical resolve that would put larger folks to shame."
Gnomes are secretive. In general, gnomes live in hidden communities in forests or under hills. Lantan is probably the one exception. Some gnomes venture forth to mix with other races. This is due in part to their inquisitive nature and also the realization that events taking place outside their communities do have an impact on them.
Gnomes have a natural aptitude for magic. Gnomes with an intelligence of 10 or higher learn to cast the cantrips dancing lights, ghost sound and prestigitation each once per day. Gnomes value the illusion school of magic above the others. The reasons are obvious. Illusions can be employed to trick one's enemies and/or to keep one's community hidden. On top of that (perhaps even more importantly), you can entertain with illusions and have fun with them moreso than magic from the other schools.
Gnomes love gems and well crafted items. I don't believe this should be confused with a desire for great wealth. Instead, it's a deep appreciation for the beauty of the gem or well-made item.
Gnomes are skilled miners. Dwarves may surpass them at harvesting ore but gnomes excel at mining gems. I tend to think that dwarves mine with power and speed while gnomes mine with more finesse.
What may get lost in all the talk about mining and inventions is that gnomes also love nature. They especially love animals, and burrowing animals above all. Gnomes have the spell-like ability to speak with burrowing mammals once per day. Gnomes often have badgers or wolverines in their burrows. The treat these animals as pets the same humans treat dogs: as companions and as protection. The description of druids in PHB states, "elves and gnomes have an affinity for natural lands and are commonly druids." This places gnomes as one of the two most nature-loving races in Faerun. Sylvan is a common bonus language for gnomes: a reflection of their close relationship with the sylvan races in nature.
"Few people count the gnomes as their friends, but even fewer consider the gnomes their enemies." ** Gnomes don't involve themselves in the conflicts of kingdoms or between the other races primarily because they don't value the same things that draw others to war. Gnomes have few enemies because they are rarely clash with anyone. They keep to themselves and expect to be left alone. They do have some common ideals with other races. Gnomes share a love for gems, fine jewelry and mechanical devises with dwarves. With halflings they share a love of jokes and having a good time. And they share a love of nature with elves and the desire to preserve it.
Finally, I want to make a comment about Lantan. While Lantan has the largest, visible population of gnomes it is not a gnome nation. Gnomes have no nation of their own. Although the source material I've seen about Lantan has few details, I believe the human population outnumbers the gnomes. The humans likely hold more positions in government or authority. And it should be noted that the humans in Lantan contribute to creating inventions just as the gnomes do.
"The racial history of the gnomes is not a grand, sweeping tapestry, but instead a hundred subtle threads woven here and there in the tapestry of all Faerun, no two of them touching another. It is the history of a hundred hidden villages, clans and holds, few of them ever caught up in the great and tragic events of the lands in which they lie concealed."
* All quotes are from source material.
** Gnomes are often in conflict with goblinoids, kobolds and orcs.