| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Shadowsoul |
Posted - 27 Mar 2017 : 07:05:55
When pooring over all my Realms material, something I've noticed is how overlooked gnomes are. They are a long lived, and highly intelligent race of humanoids that should have more involvement in the Realms. I know we have Lantan, but I really expected gnomes to have more of an influence and presence through out the Realms. I envision gnomes having great cities throughout the Realms on a level with the elves.
Anyone else feel this way? |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 20 Oct 2017 : 04:12:24
I can't deal with all these puns. Gnome more, please!  |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 18 Oct 2017 : 22:06:32
Go big or go gnome. Gnomesayin, gnomeboy? |
| Markustay |
Posted - 18 Oct 2017 : 20:43:46
Yeah, traps were an integral part of OD&D/1e, but they were phased-out. I miss the very different experience those old games were - plodding along slowly, tapping everywhere with your "10' pole", and having the dwarf "check for sliding walls/sloping corridors/etc", while the elf kept a lookout for hidden doors, and the thief was all over the place checking for - and disarming - traps. Nowadays, its just about getting to the next encounter (very much like a video game).
The game does move along quicker, especially with the streamlined combat (no 'hundred different tables' you needed to reference all the time), but dungeons were something that you used to need to build a 'base camp' outside of, and move through a little at a time, each day (so you could recover spells/HP/etc). You were also expected to eat and sleep. Now, its just none-stop push-'till-the-end.
I feel like a lot of the sense of accomplishment is gone. 
EDIT:
But how about them gnomes, eh? Its like Binky Babycheeks of The Shaman's Fetish in Waterdeep says, "To gnome me is to love me".  |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 18 Oct 2017 : 18:38:16
Traps themselves are an oddity.
Back in ye olde 1E era the antagonistic DM would devise traps which were inescapably lethal. Players wisely feared traps and wasted great amounts of time plodding slowly while methodically scrutinizing every surface and every object they found within any dungeon. Failure to detect a trap inevitably meant one or more PCs would die in a sudden and violent manner. Many adventures, modules, supplements, Dungeon or Dragon articles, and books like Grimtooth's Traps existed to inspire fearfully effective TPK traps. Often combined with 1E's nasty poisons and horrible curses to just add insult to overkill and seriously debilitate any who dared survive (along with any fools who got caught in the trap while attempting to rescue their comrades). Traps were lethal to low-level characters who lacked hit points, traps just scaled their damages up dramatically to remain lethal to high-level characters who had great hit points and strong protections. The (sometimes gnomish) thief was an important and valued party member, even if he sometimes pocketed a little more than his fair share of the loot.
Traps often had devilishly detailed, complex, and somewhat implausible mechanisms. They were decidedly unsportsmanlike and did not "play fair". The purpose of a trap was to kill.
Tamed down much in subsequent game editions. By 3E a trap (or a poison) was simply a little stat block with a few dice of damage. Just like traps in CRPG and ARPG video games ... they're more an annoyance than a real threat and no character (gnomish or otherwise) would ever dedicate much focus towards trap-related skills. You set off a trap, get hit by the blade or bolt or little gas cloud or blast of fire/lightning, gulp a potion, and continue looting. Only the most seriously incompetent or grievously wounded PCs could actually be killed by a trap.
Traps contained more fluff than crunch. The purpose of a trap was to create suspense and add flavour and interpose a so-called "challenge".
So I feel that gnomish repute (such as it is/was) would be nerfed alongside the nerfing of the traps and illusions which they've mastered. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 18 Oct 2017 : 18:20:38
Once, many years ago, I encountered a dodgy character who did indeed look rather gnomish. He approached me at a bus station and tried to sell me a stolen car alarm system.
It seemed like an unwise investment for many different reasons, lol. |
| LordXenophon |
Posted - 18 Oct 2017 : 13:43:13
quote:
Originally posted by Corruption
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
So gnomish females are really Traps? 
Didn't you know that Gnomes make the best traps?
They certainly sell the best traps, but how do you know they aren't stolen? Everybody knows Gnomes are skilled enough thieves to steal the best traps. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 10 Oct 2017 : 13:47:11
quote:
Originally posted by moonbeast
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
What?
You've never heard of Garl Glittergold's sister, Cattie CuteCushions?
And Garl's second cousin, Tawny Twinpeaks.
Patron goddess of the rarely-heard-of mountain gnomes.
I think I met her at my bachelor party. |
| moonbeast |
Posted - 10 Oct 2017 : 10:34:46
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
What?
You've never heard of Garl Glittergold's sister, Cattie CuteCushions?
And Garl's second cousin, Tawny Twinpeaks.
Patron goddess of the rarely-heard-of mountain gnomes.
|
| Corruption |
Posted - 10 Oct 2017 : 09:18:48
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
So gnomish females are really Traps?
Didn't you know that Gnomes make the best traps? |
| Markustay |
Posted - 08 Oct 2017 : 16:07:01
So gnomish females are really Traps?
EDIT:
And I'm not sure if it actually says it anywhere, but since the halflings and gnomes share so many things (and gnomes are even covered under a 'Hin' article written by Ed), it has always been my belief that they at least 'respect', if not out-right worship, the halfing deities as well, and two females (or really just one with two aspects) sits at the top of that pantheon. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 08 Oct 2017 : 15:30:39
You mean she was not a woman??? |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 08 Oct 2017 : 12:31:22
quote:
Originally posted by TBeholder
quote:
Originally posted by froglegg
Over looked?
Very much so.
They do not even have any female goddesses.
Considering that they have 8 gnomish gods not counting Nebelun who may or may not also be Gond, it's more likely to be some peculiarity of their religion.
Its a little known secret that gnomes are a single sexed race. However, they find themselves more accepted by other cultures if they have females. This is why they have such a focus on illusion magic in their community, and many individuals specialize in dressing as females do in other cultures. Though many of you will scoff at this notion, it is the absolute truth and is confirmed to me by none other than Phlandra Alabaster herself. |
| TBeholder |
Posted - 08 Oct 2017 : 07:13:06
quote:
Originally posted by froglegg
Over looked?
Very much so.
They do not even have any female goddesses.
Considering that they have 8 gnomish gods not counting Nebelun who may or may not also be Gond, it's more likely to be some peculiarity of their religion. |
| froglegg |
Posted - 08 Oct 2017 : 01:37:27
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
What?
You've never heard of Garl Glittergold's sister, Cattie CuteCushions?
Nice shot old boy!
John |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 07 Oct 2017 : 17:53:25
Gnome more! Gnome more! |
| Markustay |
Posted - 07 Oct 2017 : 17:33:28
What?
You've never heard of Garl Glittergold's sister, Cattie CuteCushions? |
| froglegg |
Posted - 07 Oct 2017 : 17:31:22
Over looked?
Very much so.
They do not even have any female goddesses.
John |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 05 Oct 2017 : 00:29:17
Sembian maid outfits probably aren't as exciting in a setting stuffed (overstuffed?) with corset-wearing tavern wenches eager to solicit tips. And there's the proverbial saw about "a maid should be seen, but not heard". |
| Markustay |
Posted - 04 Oct 2017 : 17:04:51
Hence the expression, "Check-out the tail on her!" 
I'm thinking Cormyrian nobility (and probably ALL nobility) aren't nearly as 'modest' as they outwardly present themselves to be.  |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 04 Oct 2017 : 01:38:02
quote:
Originally posted by LordXenophon
You mean a Cormyrian maid outfit?
No, more Waterdhavian maid. The Cormyrians are a bit more modest. |
| moonbeast |
Posted - 03 Oct 2017 : 16:58:11
quote:
Originally posted by LordXenophon
You mean a Cormyrian maid outfit?
Cormyrian maids have tails? Succubus?
What is their number to call for cleaning service! |
| LordXenophon |
Posted - 03 Oct 2017 : 14:31:17
You mean a Cormyrian maid outfit? |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 02 Oct 2017 : 14:39:04
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Cover picture.... a gnome male casting a spell to use an illusion to appear to be female and innocent looking in a "French maid outfit" . Nearby a silver platter upon which is a plate of some green bubbling concoction is mid transformation as well into a cup of tea. In the background, some degenerate looking human is in another room doing something bad.
Flaunting danger, lol. Given that whole fiasco about Mizhena.
I'm somehow reminded of old AD&D artwork. The picture of the red wizard scrying rather too intently on the scantily-clad female in his crystal ball. The picture of a wizard looking a little too pleased while holding a tiny scantily-clad female (with a weird reptilian tail) in the palm of his hand. |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 02 Oct 2017 : 13:34:49
quote:
Originally posted by shades of eternity
I even have a title for potential dmguild product
the secret life of gnomes. :D
Cover picture.... a gnome male casting a spell to use an illusion to appear to be female and innocent looking in a "French maid outfit" . Nearby a silver platter upon which is a plate of some green bubbling concoction is mid transformation as well into a cup of tea. In the background, some degenerate looking human is in another room doing something bad. |
| LordofBones |
Posted - 02 Oct 2017 : 13:26:08
quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
The Wikipedia page says: "Morgoth is able to dominate the minds of the Elves wherever they go, by instilling his fear in them. Even the [Noldor] are thus not truly free."
So these ("very tall and muscular") Noldor wouldn't fare well against Morgoth, whether they be "gnomes" or "elves". At least being "elves" better explains their genealogies being entangled with Galadriel, Elrond, Arwen, Aragorn, and all the rest, lol. And, as gnomes instead of elves, they would be as "unaffected" as hobbits by the Rings of Power, so turning them into "elves" greatly simplifies an already complex tale, lol.
Fingolfin and Gil-galad defied Morgoth and Sauron to their faces.
Gnomes aren't going to be unaffected by the Rings of Power. They'd fall, the same as the rest. |
| Corruption |
Posted - 02 Oct 2017 : 10:13:29
quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
Priests of Gond would tend to focus on craft, workmanship, artistry, invention, technology. Not on theft, stealth, crime, money, and acquisition of things.
Although gnomes are naturally inclined tinkers and innovators. And many Gondsmen are accomplished locksmiths. And, from time to time, they may need to procure certain materials, trinkets, or magical exotica to conduct their research and build their machines.
I can imagine Gond's clergy interacting with a thieves or a thieves' guild whenever some kind of lock or trap or mechanism or precision tool needs to be invented, constructed, circumvented, or disarmed. Just as I can imagine Gond's clergy interacting with a wizard or wizards' guild whenever some kind of laboratory/workshop apparatus or alchemical mixture or process needs to be invented, constructed, etc. But in both cases I don't readily imagine Gond's clergy having interests which deeply overlap those of the thieves or wizards; such folk serve other deities and passions than Gond Wonderbringer.
I came across a thread before that had made me think of it: [url=http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19994]The Secret Creed of Gond[/url].
When you combine that thread and a Gnome Rogue's guild, or better yet, network, things can get interesting. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 02 Oct 2017 : 09:05:24
The Wikipedia page says: "Morgoth is able to dominate the minds of the Elves wherever they go, by instilling his fear in them. Even the [Noldor] are thus not truly free."
So these ("very tall and muscular") Noldor wouldn't fare well against Morgoth, whether they be "gnomes" or "elves". At least being "elves" better explains their genealogies being entangled with Galadriel, Elrond, Arwen, Aragorn, and all the rest, lol. And, as gnomes instead of elves, they would be as "unaffected" as hobbits by the Rings of Power, so turning them into "elves" greatly simplifies an already complex tale, lol.
Yet perhaps their odds against Morgoth/Sauron would indeed be increased by allying with Urdlen (Chaotic Evil Intermediate Deity of Greed, Bloodlust, Evil, Hatred, Violence, Murder-Death-Kill! etc). Trade one evil deity for another, although this one is a gnome evil (not an un-gnome evil) so is of course much preferable, lol.
|
| LordofBones |
Posted - 02 Oct 2017 : 08:31:56
quote:
Originally posted by Varl
Midgard gnomes sound a bit like how I envision evil gnomes and perhaps some svirfneblin that worship Urdlen.
You know what's really creepy? Urdlen sits on the same level of deific power as Lolth.
That's horrifying. The gnomish god of "BLOOD MURDER DEATH DESTRUCTION KILL ANNIHILATE" is on the same level of power as the Spider-Queen.
EDIT: Fun trivia, Tolkien's Noldor were once called gnomes before Tolkien changed his mind. Try and imagine a gnome taking on Morgoth. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 02 Oct 2017 : 07:54:00
Make gnome mistake, gnome miss gnomer, there's no race like gnome, the puns are here. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 02 Oct 2017 : 06:59:39
quote:
Originally posted by shades of eternity
I even have a title for potential dmguild product
the secret life of gnomes. :D
50 Shades of Gnome? |
