RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
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I really liked the picture of the gnome girl in Pathfinder #4. But the sidebar tells us practically NOTHING about Gnomes. When will we be getting the background info to actually build a Gnome Character with a History? I'd like to build a Gnome NPC for a Magnimar encounter that my PCs will soon have.
I agree. I don't know what to make of Golarion gnomes yet. *Casts Summon Mike McArtor*
Coler me intrigued as well. They are supposed to be all misterious in theri forest, and In PF#3 our heroes have to walk right through their forest...I need more info :D
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Well, Gnomes are a gnomadic race full of cugngnigng and kgnowledge of the mechagnical world. They cagn teach you about Torso Awaregness and cagn supertignker you magny figne clockwork machignes.
Beware, however! Gnot all gnomes are kigndly and begnificiegnt. Some have a meagn streak as wide as a wagogn. They cagn be Gnarley, Gnasty, and Gnefarious as the mood takes them. Sometimes they raise vicious Gnaugahs to attack, but they are a good source of hide.
Oh! You were talkigng about Golariogn? I'm sorry. Gnevermignd.
One of the iconics is a female gnome druid. :)
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I agree. I don't know what to make of Golarion gnomes yet. *Casts Summon Mike McArtor*
*appears in a puff of smoke*
*cough* Who? What? *cough*
Gnomes!
Well, for starters, there's quite a bit of information about gnomes in the Gazetteer. Since that book is still N months away, here are a few quick facts about gnomes:
1. Gnomes are weird. They just don't quite fit in anywhere or with anyone (except fey).
2. Gnomes were fey. They're from the First World, and their lack of understanding human (and other demihuman) behavior shows in their interactions (see point #1).
3. Gnomes aren't tinkerers. Those kinds of gnomes live on Krynn and Azeroth. Not Golarion.
4. Gnomes are obsessive. A gnome knows more about a given subject than almost anyone else you'll ever meet. Sadly, most of the subjects gnomes are experts on are completely useless to anybody (including the gnome). Examples of gnomish expertise include a) teapot handle shapes from Absalom, b) names of various shades of brown, and c) alchemical composition of Isger mud.
5. Gnomes talk funny. Most gnomes have some kind of unique quirk that humans consider speech impediments. Some have lisps, some stutter, some are unusually loud, and many are high-pitched and just a little... off.
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What else would you like to know?
Does she have pigtails?
I agree. I don't know what to make of Golarion gnomes yet. *Casts Summon Mike McArtor**appears in a puff of smoke*
*cough* Who? What? *cough*
Gnomes!
Well, for starters, there's quite a bit of information about gnomes in the Gazetteer. Since that book is still N months away, here are a few quick facts about gnomes:
1. Gnomes are weird. They just don't quite fit in anywhere or with anyone (except fey).
2. Gnomes were fey. They're from the First World, and their lack of understanding human (and other demihuman) behavior shows in their interactions (see point #1).
3. Gnomes aren't tinkerers. Those kinds of gnomes live on Krynn and Azeroth. Not Golarion.
4. Gnomes are obsessive. A gnome knows more about a given subject than almost anyone else you'll ever meet. Sadly, most of the subjects gnomes are experts on are completely useless to anybody (including the gnome). Examples of gnomish expertise include a) teapot handle shapes from Absalom, b) names of various shades of brown, and c) alchemical composition of Isger mud.
5. Gnomes talk funny. Most gnomes have some kind of unique quirk that humans consider speech impediments. Some have lisps, some stutter, some are unusually loud, and many are high-pitched and just a little... off....
What else would you like to know?
That's a good list. I might suggest it would make a good Blog post, like 'Ten facts about goblins' did.
I have been forcefully instructed to never again include pigtails in an art order.
That doesn't prevent one of the other editors from doing it, I guess, but Sarah is pretty adamant. :\
Awwww man...
Gnomettes without pigtails ? :(
Awwww man...
Gnomettes without pigtails ? :(
They're repressing my culture!
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1. Gnomes are weird. They just don't quite fit in anywhere or with anyone (except fey).
2. ...their lack of understanding human (and other demihuman) behavior shows in their interactions (see point #1).
3. Gnomes aren't tinkerers. Those kinds of gnomes live on Krynn and Azeroth. Not Golarion.
4. Gnomes are obsessive. A gnome knows more about a given subject than almost anyone else you'll ever meet. Sadly, most of the subjects gnomes are experts on are completely useless to anybody (including the gnome).
5. Gnomes talk funny. Most gnomes have some kind of unique quirk that humans consider speech impediments. Some have lisps, some stutter, some are unusually loud, and many are high-pitched and just a little... off.
They sound like the regulars at most games and comics shops.
The ones who come in at opening time, and bug the owner until closing time.
So...
Gnomes are the (ex)fey incarnations of the Otaku principle? ^.^
I would like to have a little more detail about points 1 and 2 (which parts of humanoid interaction don't they get, and how do they behave when in gnome-only situations?) but this is pretty nifty for now.
Actually, now that I think about it, my biggest question for gnomes is where the Con bonus factors in now that they're ex-fey instead of cousins to the Dwarves.
Actually, now that I think about it, my biggest question for gnomes is where the Con bonus factors in now that they're ex-fey instead of cousins to the Dwarves.
Well, about that, i switched the Con bonus for an Int bonus a long time ago. Much better :)
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"gnomes live as gnomes do, clumsily attempting to emulate the larger races and acting as menaces not to be ignored."
From the Curse of the Crimson Throne Players Guide, page 9.
O_o
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."gnomes live as gnomes do, clumsily attempting to emulate the larger races and acting as menaces not to be ignored."
From the Curse of the Crimson Throne Players Guide, page 9.
O_o
I can only assume that this applies to those gnomes who do try to emulate the larger races. Those who do their own thing aren't clumsy at all.
I second the weblog entry. Gnomes!
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4. Gnomes are obsessive. A gnome knows more about a given subject than almost anyone else you'll ever meet. Sadly, most of the subjects gnomes are experts on are completely useless to anybody (including the gnome). Examples of gnomish expertise include a) teapot handle shapes from Absalom, b) names of various shades of brown, and c) alchemical composition of Isger mud.
Do they like to prove that they have greater knowledge than you? So, for instance would a gnome who is obsessed about knowing the exact distance between tumblers in a lock gravitate towards a life of crime or detective work, because that is where his obsession is most accepted and where he feels most comfortable in society?
I see Harry Houdini in my head.. thinking that escaping being tied up is a useless obsession - except in certain situations, so he made those situations occur- is that close to right?
4. Gnomes are obsessive. A gnome knows more about a given subject than almost anyone else you'll ever meet. Sadly, most of the subjects gnomes are experts on are completely useless to anybody (including the gnome). Examples of gnomish expertise include a) teapot handle shapes from Absalom, b) names of various shades of brown, and c) alchemical composition of Isger mud.
I have told my wife, who is playing a gnome jester, that as long as she puts at least one rank into Knowledge (useless information) I will back up her character's horse-pucky 99% of the time.
I have a gnome Druid, lacking any substantial hard fact, before this, I had hime paly it weird and fey and unnerving, though he refused pigtails, he rides around on a large ferocious Dire badger with a disconcertingly cute name, he's covered in blue spirals of wattle, think celtic warriors, and he stares at people without blinking alot, the player does it spectacularly and causes their dwarven patron to take swigs of whiskey evert now and then when the gnome is nearby.
Also he got drunk and fell asleep during a great celebration, fell asleep half-inside a cooked boar, and when found by a disgusted maid cleaning up the next day claimed it reminded him of the womb before toddling of to relief himself ignorant of her horrified expression.
He's fun, and i think he's close enough to a Golarion gnome, with a heavy emphasis on the creepy end of not quite right.
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Do they like to prove that they have greater knowledge than you?
That depends on the gnome. Some have superiority (or inferiority) complexes and enjoy bragging about their knowledge. Some are more reserved.
So, for instance would a gnome who is obsessed about knowing the exact distance between tumblers in a lock gravitate towards a life of crime or detective work, because that is where his obsession is most accepted and where he feels most comfortable in society?
Oh no, because then that information would be useful. ;D It's more likely that a gnome obsessed with lock tumbler distances is actually a fishmonger in a land-locked town or something else equally bizarre.
I have told my wife, who is playing a gnome jester, that as long as she puts at least one rank into Knowledge (useless information) I will back up her character's horse-pucky 99% of the time.
I like the sound of that character. ^_^
I have a gnome Druid, lacking any substantial hard fact, before this, I had hime paly it weird and fey and unnerving, though he refused pigtails, he rides around on a large ferocious Dire badger with a disconcertingly cute name, he's covered in blue spirals of wattle, think celtic warriors, and he stares at people without blinking alot, the player does it spectacularly and causes their dwarven patron to take swigs of whiskey evert now and then when the gnome is nearby.
I also like the sound of that character. ^_^
3. Gnomes aren't tinkerers. Those kinds of gnomes live on Krynn and Azeroth. Not Golarion.
Question: Is there a different build of the gnome in the Gazetter/Campaign setting?
5. Gnomes talk funny. Most gnomes have some kind of unique quirk that humans consider speech impediments. Some have lisps, some stutter, some are unusually loud, and many are high-pitched and just a little... off.
Jeff, can we start a Golarion game? I wanna play a gnome. A gnome rogue that talk increadibly loud.
"What did everyone roll on their stealth checks?"
"I ROLLED A 4! DID YOU HEAR ME? I SAID I ROLLED A 4!"
It's more likely that a gnome obsessed with lock tumbler distances is actually a fishmonger in a land-locked town or something else equally bizarre.
Unhygienix the Fishmonger is a gnome in disguise! It all makes sense now!
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Question: Is there a different build of the gnome in the Gazetter/Campaign setting?
Not that I know of.
Jeff, can we start a Golarion game? I wanna play a gnome. A gnome rogue that talk increadibly loud."What did everyone roll on their stealth checks?"
"I ROLLED A 4! DID YOU HEAR ME? I SAID I ROLLED A 4!"
That would be pretty appropriate, yes. :)
I have told my wife, who is playing a gnome jester, that as long as she puts at least one rank into Knowledge (useless information) I will back up her character's horse-pucky 99% of the time.I like the sound of that character. ^_^
Tell them about the sticks!!
So, our gnome jester found a random pointed stick in the burnt servant quarters of Foxglove Manor which she claimed as her own. She has since used her Pokin' Stick to add holes to the taxidermed manticore, contemplate using it to slit her throat in the manor bedroom, check for the dead-ness of things various things, and most recently to tap Biggun's funnel web in the Graul barn. She has decided that her latent area of expertise is indeed Stickery. Specifically Pokin' Stickery. She can tell you the finest stick with which to poke something, anything at all.
Looking to poke a 3 day old dead marsh badger? Well you should use a 15 and 3/4 inch long branch of sun-dried mosspine from the northern end of the Sanos Forest. Looking to poke something attacking you? Use a sword! What are you, new?
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Contributor
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I have told my wife, who is playing a gnome jester, that as long as she puts at least one rank into Knowledge (useless information) I will back up her character's horse-pucky 99% of the time.I like the sound of that character. ^_^Tell them about the sticks!!So, our gnome jester found a random pointed stick in the burnt servant quarters of Foxglove Manor which she claimed as her own. She has since used her Pokin' Stick to add holes to the taxidermed manticore, contemplate using it to slit her throat in the manor bedroom, check for the dead-ness of things various things, and most recently to tap Biggun's funnel web in the Graul barn. She has decided that her latent area of expertise is indeed Stickery. Specifically Pokin' Stickery. She can tell you the finest stick with which to poke something, anything at all.
Looking to poke a 3 day old dead marsh badger? Well you should use a 15 and 3/4 inch long branch of sun-dried mosspine from the northern end of the Sanos Forest. Looking to poke something attacking you? Use a sword! What are you, new?
I <3 your wife's character. That is so awesome! You both get cookies! :D
Looking to poke something attacking you? Use a sword! What are you, new?
That's perfect.
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Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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Has no one made this "joke" yet?
There are gnome gnomes. These are things we gnow that we gnow. There are gnome ungnomes. That is to say, there are things that we gnow we don't gnow. But there are also ungnome ungnomes. There are things we don't gnow we don't gnow.
I fear the ungnomes. Are they like undead?
If they are ungnomes, wouldn't that mean that they are the opposite of gnomes, and thus not suck?
It's an interesting thought...
3. Gnomes aren't tinkerers. Those kinds of gnomes live on Krynn and Azeroth. Not Golarion.
Thank you , thank you, thank you - a million times thank you. As much as I enjoyed reading the Krynn stories, their depiction of gnomes as tinkerers devastated many players' ability to see gnomes as anything but tinkerers. I mean, not all dwarves are gully dwarves (then again, all elves are pretty alloof and haughty, and most of my players play their halflings like kender anyway...).
Still, praises be heaped upon ye for making gnomes, well, gnomes again. No longer will have a player quirk of kill all tinker gnomes on sight. Again, thank you.
Has no one made this "joke" yet?
There are gnome gnomes. These are things we gnow that we gnow. There are gnome ungnomes. That is to say, there are things that we gnow we don't gnow. But there are also ungnome ungnomes. There are things we don't gnow we don't gnow.I fear the ungnomes. Are they like undead?
If they are ungnomes, wouldn't that mean that they are the opposite of gnomes, and thus not suck?
It's an interesting thought...
Gnome it all.
The gnoble gnome gnows gno bounds
as she dances neekid 'cross the grounds.
The dwarven fighter oft doth think
"I wonder if in yon river she would sink.
I could toss her in, all undressed,
and finally be rid of the little pest!"
I think I shall take gnaughty gnomish poetry as my pointless gnowledge specialty.
"There once was a gnome from Nantucket
Who carried 'round a bait bucket
She made the dwarf mad
He declared her quite bad
And when the pail flew he'd not duck it."
Where did you think it was going? Dirty minds...
3. Gnomes aren't tinkerers. Those kinds of gnomes live on Krynn and Azeroth. Not Golarion.Question: Is there a different build of the gnome in the Gazetter/Campaign setting?
5. Gnomes talk funny. Most gnomes have some kind of unique quirk that humans consider speech impediments. Some have lisps, some stutter, some are unusually loud, and many are high-pitched and just a little... off.Jeff, can we start a Golarion game? I wanna play a gnome. A gnome rogue that talk increadibly loud.
"What did everyone roll on their stealth checks?"
"I ROLLED A 4! DID YOU HEAR ME? I SAID I ROLLED A 4!"
FREAKING GNOMELARIOUS!!! I literally am in my office and laughed out loud at this post!
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The reoccurring gnome NPC druid in my Runelords game has an obsession with the eating habit of birds. The PC cleric of Serenrae, a brave man, let her regurgitate food into his mouth like a mother bird. She's been a fast ally ever since.
The other featured NPC gnome is a barber in Whistledown who has introduced "gnome colors" into his client's hair. The PC sorceress was walking around with purple eyelashes for a while.
The most affecting scene I used to establish the alien nature of gnomes happened at sunset in Whistledown. The human citizens left their shoes, saucers and candlesticks on their porches, lined up like little idols. The gnomes scooped these items up and dispersed into the Sanos forest, disappearing for the entire evening: every single gnome. The players briefly considered following them, but they were really creeped out and sensed it would be taboo to do so, like they would break a secret alliance.
The gnomes returned in the morning and replaced the items. The townspeople acted as though nothing had happened, and the PCs decided to do the same. They spent only one night in town.
Sounds like a Golarion gnome is just the vessel to use in resurrecting the spirit of a particular kender I used briefly in a Dragonlance game.
His area of expertise was taking things apart. Not breaking things. Not building things. Disassembling things into their component pieces. He just had to know how things worked. His "kender pockets" were always filled with useful bits because he would always take the most facinating, small, portable bit as a keepsake, a trophy for "defeating curiosity yet again!"
Picking a lock was never enough. If the door wasn't at least off its hinges, the job just wasn't done. And if the door was squeaky, it would have to be examined and played with for a good five minutes beforehand to determine the reason for it (a fighter got his toe smashed with a hammer once for trying to stop him from fiddling with a squeaky door once).
I love your gnomes!
Sounds like a Golarion gnome is just the vessel to use in resurrecting the spirit of a particular kender I used briefly in a Dragonlance game.
His area of expertise was taking things apart. Not breaking things. Not building things. Disassembling things into their component pieces. He just had to know how things worked. His "kender pockets" were always filled with useful bits because he would always take the most facinating, small, portable bit as a keepsake, a trophy for "defeating curiosity yet again!"
Picking a lock was never enough. If the door wasn't at least off its hinges, the job just wasn't done. And if the door was squeaky, it would have to be examined and played with for a good five minutes beforehand to determine the reason for it (a fighter got his toe smashed with a hammer once for trying to stop him from fiddling with a squeaky door once).
I love your gnomes!
That is a gnome
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The most affecting scene I used to establish the alien nature of gnomes happened at sunset in Whistledown. The human citizens left their shoes, saucers and candlesticks on their porches, lined up like little idols. The gnomes scooped these items up and dispersed into the Sanos forest, disappearing for the entire evening: every single gnome. The players briefly considered following them, but they were really creeped out and sensed it would be taboo to do so, like they would break a secret alliance.
The gnomes returned in the morning and replaced the items. The townspeople acted as though nothing had happened, and the PCs decided to do the same. They spent only one night in town.
This is awesome! I love unexplained stuff like this.
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I am a big fan of Gnomes... the tinkering/alchemist/wizard/bard/prankster-types or otherwise. While i always appreciated their cousinly status with Dwarves (though i have never approved of the Con adjustment and i applaud the Int change mentioned) i can accept the Fey association.
Whenever i have faced complaints on Gnomes (usually what are they and how do they fit into anything) i try to point to Tom Bombadil...
Connected to the earth, holding the power of song, ancient and forgotten to the modern world, light-hearted, forest friend.
Sounds like a powerful (and fey) Gnomish Bard to me - anyone else get that feeling?
From the iconic art + your description, it seems like weird and unusual by human standard haircuts would fit in fine. Gnomes with pigtails, ponitails and Elvis haircuts please.
Yeah, my gnome bard for Second Darkness has blue and purple A Flock of Seagulls hair...
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Because they always bear repeating:
Gnome Fun Fact #1: A gnome can smell colors.
Gnome Fun Fact #2: Male gnomes like wearing pointed hats, but female gnomes prefer crazy hairstyles.
Gnome Fun Fact #3: When a gnome is crying, it's just because she can't think of something to laugh about.
Gnome Fun Fact #4: Gnomes can actually cut off the flow of blood to their brains and pass out simply by smiling too hard.
Gnome Fun Fact #5: A gnome's heart is on the right side of his chest, and it beats in reverse.
Gnome Fun Fact #6: Gnomes stole this fun fact from #7.
Gnome Fun Fact #8: Gnomes only have red blood when the blood is directly observed.
Gnome Fun Fact #9: Gnome fingernails and toenails actually CEASE TO GROW while they sleep.
Gnome Fun Fact #10: A mushroom is what happens if a gnome stays still for too long.
Ah, I love it!
Viva la gnome-a!
Aren't Gnomes just Elf-Dwarf crossbreeds? (Like Half-Elves are Human-Elf crossbreeds.)
In any case, Gnomes are gnarly, gnaughty, gnasty creatures that we shouldn't think to much about.