Hi, I'm wondering when would a Gnome be a good choice for your race out of the core races? At first glance I feel anything a Gnome can do a Halfling could do better. Is there something I'm missing or are Gnomes just a bad pick?
An illusionist?
Personally I like Gnomes, and they have some great racial feats.
so Gnomes as an illusionist or if you want to be a Gnome? Is that really it? Not many reasons to pick one.
Half elf has access to three favored class options, and they help multi-classing. Also you can get a stacking bonus to will save. Better vision. spell like abilities. Paragon surge.
Because of their favored class they can make better use of channel energy. extra evolutions for summoner. Or boost up the oracles mysteries.
So while not superior to humans, there are quite a few reasons to want to play a half elf over a human and I'd say they are competitive to what you get from being Human.
Now for Gnomes I'm having a hard time seeing them having a competitive time doing anything. They make good illusionists, but is there anything else that they can do competitively? SO they don't even need to be better, I just don't want them to be weaker.
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When you want to be a summoner who rides in their mech, and fires crossbow bolts out while waiting for all systems to be nominal?
...no? Maybe that's just me.
Low-light vision is a good boon (keep in mind it let's you see perfectly fine outside at night under moon or stars), and Gnomes can get darkvision with an alternate racial trait. Halflings get no special vision, which arguable makes gnomes better rogues :P
SLAs can be handy, especially at low levels.
Speaking of, their magic trait can be switched out for a +1 DC to necromancy or fire spells, instead of illusion, and different SLAs. Seems that might make them a good fire sorcerer, and I have a gnome Thassilonian necromancer in PFS that works well.
The Effortless Trickery feat is awesome, IMO, even for non-illusionists.
Gnomes are also just quirky, and really fun to play. They're not specifically a bad choice for most things.
why play half elf, human is better?
Because you want Eldritch Heritage. Human is only strictly superior to Half-Elf if Skill Focus (or EWP) are not on your list of desired feats. And even then, if your build isn't feat heavy the +2 Will from dual minded might be better than the bonus feat.
Gnomes can make good Sorcerers, but they're still not the optimal pick what with Humans vomiting spells with their FCB. I don't think they're the best for anything.
You might ask your GM if the First World features prominently in the adventure.
why play half elf, human is better?
Because you want Eldritch Heritage. Human is only strictly superior to Half-Elf if Skill Focus (or EWP) are not on your list of desired feats. And even then, if your build isn't feat heavy the +2 Will from dual minded might be better than the bonus feat.
Gnomes can make good Sorcerers, but they're still not the optimal pick what with Humans vomiting spells with their FCB. I don't think they're the best for anything.
Humans can get 3 skill focus feats if they're taking one at first level, though it's hard to argue that's better than the half-elf bonuses if you're not a skills character.
Our group has a gnome wizard. He has the second highest hit point total in the group.
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When you want to be happy when your character dies.
Gnomes have a race trait that allows them proficiency in any weapon they create. They have a race trait that gives them +1 levels in fire magic/bombs.
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Well, in addition to making good Illusionists, they also make great ninjas. Mainly because of this Amazing Ninja Feat! Also a bonus to Con[on a squishy class], a bonus to Charisma[on a Charisma-based class], and Darkvision option[on a class dependent on Sneak Attack], along with free SLA's for Arcane Strike all combine to be a good deal.
Always!!!!
But that is just me.
At the end of the day a +1 bonus here or there is not going to make or break a character. It make a slightly less effective version of somethings but I that is part of the fun of some characters.
Now I think you are asking what times favor playing a gnome. Well any of the Cha classes can benefit from their bonus.
Gnomes make great heavens oracle.
Gnome ranger. I like building off their racial traits.
The main answer to any 'when to play a (X)' is 'whenever you feel like it).
After perusing this thread I was considering making my upcoming heavens oracle a gnome. I decided I wasn't THAT stupid, though.
Why is it stupid?
When I want to play a character called Indiana Gnome. *casts Prestidigitation, theme music plays*
I play a gnome so I have an excuse to be insane
Well, in addition to making good Illusionists, they also make great ninjas. Mainly because of this Amazing Ninja Feat! Also a bonus to Con[on a squishy class], a bonus to Charisma[on a Charisma-based class], and Darkvision option[on a class dependent on Sneak Attack], along with free SLA's for Arcane Strike all combine to be a good deal.
This looks like it would be great for an Iroran Paladin, actually...
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When you want to be a halfling, only badass.
When an aasimar just isn't cool enough.
When a human is too tall and a kitsune is too furry.
When eyebrows are more important than beards.
When half-elves or half-orcs fee incomplete.
When you want the absolute highest power-to-size ratio.
When you want innate magical prowess without knife-ears.
So, always.
Other than half-orc if you want to take advantage of luck bonus cheese, gnome is superior than any of the base races.
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Never.
Pyromaniac! Gnomes do that well too!
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When you want to be a summoner who rides in their mech, and fires crossbow bolts out while waiting for all systems to be nominal?
...no? Maybe that's just me.
It's not just you. Alina rides around on her flying mechanical snake (which has arms to fire its own crossbow too) firing her crossbow.
Halflings in Golarion have bad reputations. They are untrustworthy thieves. They're also mainly slaves in many nations throughout the inner sea. So one Golarion specific reason is that gnomes are treated a lot better
When eyebrows are more important than beards.
Like a Mini-Monarch
The only excuse to play a gnome.
I would say gnomes are slightly better mounted combatants, too.
A gnome cavalier can talk to his mount, can use heavy armor without wasting a dex bonus, and gets proficiency with one of the best melee weapons in the game.
+1
And with a charisma score of 11 or higher he can pick arcane strike as well.Although I'm not sure I agree about the "one of the best melee weapons in the game" thing.
When to play a gnome?
Never
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I would say gnomes are slightly better mounted combatants, too.
A gnome cavalier can talk to his mount, can use heavy armor without wasting a dex bonus, and gets proficiency with one of the best melee weapons in the game.
+1
And with a charisma score of 11 or higher he can pick arcane strike as well.Although I'm not sure I agree about the "one of the best melee weapons in the game" thing.
Totally forgot about the 'Arcane Strike' bit. It pretty much offsets the initial STR penalty for a Fighter.
Although I still maintain the Gnome Hooked Hammer is ridiculously good. You can two hand it or go TWF with it, one side is bludgeoning damage (which is typically considered the best damage type) and the other side gets a juicy x4 crit multiplier. And it's a trip weapon. All in all, pretty darn good.
But even if you don't think the GHH is that good, there's also the racial trait someone else mentioned that a gnome is considered proficient in any weapon they create. Essentially, pick the best weapon in the game, make it, and voila! Gnome proficiency. You can wield a Keen Falcata without blowing a feat on it.
Gnome ranger.
This.