Gnome player characters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Gnome player characters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
balfor
06-18-07, 02:10 PM I have never played with a gnome pc and am considering using one in my next adventure. I was thinking a gnome wizard, since the consitution bonus is advantagous and the penalty to strength is not really much of a penalty. Any thoughts? Have you had good or bad experiences playing gnomes? Please explain why?
Fillow
06-18-07, 02:55 PM Any thoughts ?
Of course ! a lot of thoughts about this wonderful and under-estimated race !

Wizards are the more classic class for us (gnomes), illusionist to be more precise.

To learn about our people, read the Complete Book of Gnomes & Halflings, PHBR9-TSR2134 (?) for ADD2, 1993.
or Races of stone, 2004
EytanBernstein
06-18-07, 07:11 PM I happen to love gnomes (waited to be pelted with rotten tomates, eggs, and hooked hammers). Some of my favorite roleplaying experiences have been with gnomes.
bitter thorn
06-19-07, 04:35 AM You might want to have a glance at Spellfire and CON.:devil:

I have never played with a gnome pc and am considering using one in my next adventure. I was thinking a gnome wizard, since the consitution bonus is advantagous and the penalty to strength is not really much of a penalty. Any thoughts? Have you had good or bad experiences playing gnomes? Please explain why?
JeremitriusTrask
06-20-07, 04:54 PM Races of Stone is a great place to read up on Gnomes... Whisper Gnomes in particular are amazing for those folks who love playing sneaky characters.
Purple Dragon Knight
06-23-07, 05:17 PM For some reasons, when I have had the chance to participate in other campaigns as a player (rather than my usual role as a DM), for the last three years or so, I have found myself playing gnomes exclusively (in one campaign, a rogue/illusionist/arcane_trickster; in another, a rogue/fighter/ranger/gnome_giant_killer; in the most recent, a gnome bard/lyric_thaumaturge/shadow_adept/shadowcraft_mage).

PS: the latter was an experiment in light of the new 3.5 gnome favored class (i.e. they switched it from illusionist to bard). I wanted to see if one could become a "decent" illusionist by taking the bard path, and I have somewhat proved it to myself. Regular illusionists (i.e. wizard specialized in the illusion school) often downplay or disregard the illusion school in favor of spells from other schools, as situation calls for. Bards, on the other hand, MUST rely on their illusions due to their limited spell selection, and I have had a really good time trying to bail the rest of our party (or myself) out of sticky situations using only illusions. It's REALLY challenging but it's the most REWARDING roleplaying I've ever done... it's cool to see my DM's jaw drop almost everytime I cast a spell (i.e. round by round surprises, like the enemy frozen in awe as they round a corner and see two voluptuous elf females making wild love, all their gear discarded about the floor, while our party sneaks past them at the edge of the room, behind a row of pillars... :D )
bitter thorn
07-01-07, 01:09 PM I'm currently playing a Rock Gnome Bard 1/ Wizard 1. If I survive, I plan on taking Urban Savant and Lore Master. I elected not to specialize, BTW. I plan to be a skilled/versatile non blaster type wizard.
Dielzen
07-01-07, 09:11 PM Shadowcraft Mage

I forget how you can pull it off, but you can actually do more damage with shadow evocation if the targets MAKE their saves than the spell would normall do. It's not even cheesy, as it's mostly based on class abilities.
Pesky
07-02-07, 10:48 AM I almost always play a gnome. But sadly, in FR, there is too little information, no other race have any respect for them and they are basicly the comic relief role of the Realms. This always makes me angry! Why shouldn't gnomes have a vast history, culture and territories as elves, dwarfs and humans for instance?

Power to the gnomes!
peteyrock
07-02-07, 11:44 AM Gnome + Wizard + Rogue + Arcane Trickster = friggin' awesome.
Purple Dragon Knight
07-02-07, 07:36 PM Shadowcraft Mage

I forget how you can pull it off, but you can actually do more damage with shadow evocation if the targets MAKE their saves than the spell would normall do. It's not even cheesy, as it's mostly based on class abilities.Yes, the Shadow Illusion (Su) ability lets you transform a figment into a shadow version of a spell you are mimicking, causing 10% of the regular damage on a failed Will Save PER SPELL LEVEL. That is, a 9th-level illusion (figment) spell mimicking a fireball would cause 90% of a regular fireball's damage, so if you stack it with the Powerful Shadow Magic (Su) ability you get on the 5th level of that PrC, you add 20% and this becomes 110%. Pretty nasty. Of course, someone who makes a Reflex save would still get half of that 110%, and no damage at all if that someone also has the Evasion ability... (in other words, this ability works much better on spells that do not allow saving throws, or illusions of summoned monsters... i.e. with a 9th level figment, one could replicate a creature normally summoned via Summon Monster VIII, and cause 80% + 20% = 100% of regular damage normally dealth with Summon Monster VIII, and that, without the drawbacks of summoned monsters (i.e. not hedged out by Protection vs. Evil...))
Coldoneknight
07-02-07, 07:57 PM some of my favorite gnome characters have been lantanans who followed gond not always a priest but techsmith is fun. My favorite was a gnome pirate captain who duel wielded a pair of guns.
The_Shaman
07-03-07, 04:50 AM The PHBII beguiler class seems to be quite good for gnomes. Shadowcraft mage with the silent image+heighten spell can emulate a spell of any level, and works well with beguiler. Strangely enough, one can even get a level or two of archmage - a lvl 14 beguiler knows the prerequisite spells, and spell foci in enchantment and illusion are always a good idea. Even the skill focus helps - beguilers have have greater dispel on their lists, and can use it for counterspelling of spells they do not know themselves. As for the good old incantatrix :) ...
The Ubbergeek
07-03-07, 07:48 PM I almost always play a gnome. But sadly, in FR, there is too little information, no other race have any respect for them and they are basicly the comic relief role of the Realms. This always makes me angry! Why shouldn't gnomes have a vast history, culture and territories as elves, dwarfs and humans for instance?

Power to the gnomes!

Sadly, it may also have to do with Ed himself - someone here said he don't have them in his 'gygaxian Realms'. So, he don't give them much.

Wich is very sad, I like them.
Fillow
07-08-07, 12:20 PM FR Gnomes history is really poor indeed.
Only ones celebrities are Belwar dissengulp as a Svirf and Alice Tinker who is very peticular!
for more information :
* The novel Soldiers of Ice by David Cook features some gnomes.
* The novel Realms of Mysteries - This one is a mix of short stories by different FR authors. There is a story about the Friendly Arm Inn which is run by some gnomes.
Faraer
07-08-07, 01:26 PM But sadly, in FR, there is too little information, no other race have any respect for them and they are basicly the comic relief role of the Realms.Not always; in fact the comic relief thing is at odds with the mainstream portrayal of gnomes in the Realms. While there isn't the reams of detail we have for some other races, Races of Faerūn and "Hin Nobody Knows" in Dragon #269 have enough to work with.Sadly, it may also have to do with Ed himself - someone here said he don't have them in his 'gygaxian Realms'. So, he don't give them much.Do you mean pre-Gygaxian? In any case, news to me. Ed has unpublished gnome lore, including a completed article.
Old Sage
07-08-07, 08:28 PM * The novel Realms of Mysteries - This one is a mix of short stories by different FR authors. There is a story about the Friendly Arm Inn which is run by some gnomes."Speaking with the Dead" -- which was recently reprinted in the Best of the Realms III: The Stories of Elaine Cunningham compilation.
CainJustice
07-30-07, 08:50 PM there is a player in our group who is a warlock/rogue gnome...who gets sick eldritch sneak attack damages...he flanks our enemies from 30-60 ft away and fires away. very, very effective...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
balfor 06-18-07, 02:10 PM	I have never played with a gnome pc and am considering using one in my next adventure. I was thinking a gnome wizard, since the consitution bonus is advantagous and the penalty to strength is not really much of a penalty. Any thoughts? Have you had good or bad experiences playing gnomes? Please explain why?
Fillow 06-18-07, 02:55 PM	Any thoughts ? Of course ! a lot of thoughts about this wonderful and under-estimated race ! Wizards are the more classic class for us (gnomes), illusionist to be more precise. To learn about our people, read the Complete Book of Gnomes & Halflings, PHBR9-TSR2134 (?) for ADD2, 1993. or Races of stone, 2004
EytanBernstein 06-18-07, 07:11 PM	I happen to love gnomes (waited to be pelted with rotten tomates, eggs, and hooked hammers). Some of my favorite roleplaying experiences have been with gnomes.
bitter thorn 06-19-07, 04:35 AM	You might want to have a glance at Spellfire and CON.:devil: I have never played with a gnome pc and am considering using one in my next adventure. I was thinking a gnome wizard, since the consitution bonus is advantagous and the penalty to strength is not really much of a penalty. Any thoughts? Have you had good or bad experiences playing gnomes? Please explain why?
JeremitriusTrask 06-20-07, 04:54 PM	Races of Stone is a great place to read up on Gnomes... Whisper Gnomes in particular are amazing for those folks who love playing sneaky characters.
Purple Dragon Knight 06-23-07, 05:17 PM	For some reasons, when I have had the chance to participate in other campaigns as a player (rather than my usual role as a DM), for the last three years or so, I have found myself playing gnomes exclusively (in one campaign, a rogue/illusionist/arcane_trickster; in another, a rogue/fighter/ranger/gnome_giant_killer; in the most recent, a gnome bard/lyric_thaumaturge/shadow_adept/shadowcraft_mage). PS: the latter was an experiment in light of the new 3.5 gnome favored class (i.e. they switched it from illusionist to bard). I wanted to see if one could become a "decent" illusionist by taking the bard path, and I have somewhat proved it to myself. Regular illusionists (i.e. wizard specialized in the illusion school) often downplay or disregard the illusion school in favor of spells from other schools, as situation calls for. Bards, on the other hand, MUST rely on their illusions due to their limited spell selection, and I have had a really good time trying to bail the rest of our party (or myself) out of sticky situations using only illusions. It's REALLY challenging but it's the most REWARDING roleplaying I've ever done... it's cool to see my DM's jaw drop almost everytime I cast a spell (i.e. round by round surprises, like the enemy frozen in awe as they round a corner and see two voluptuous elf females making wild love, all their gear discarded about the floor, while our party sneaks past them at the edge of the room, behind a row of pillars... :D )
bitter thorn 07-01-07, 01:09 PM	I'm currently playing a Rock Gnome Bard 1/ Wizard 1. If I survive, I plan on taking Urban Savant and Lore Master. I elected not to specialize, BTW. I plan to be a skilled/versatile non blaster type wizard.
Dielzen 07-01-07, 09:11 PM	Shadowcraft Mage I forget how you can pull it off, but you can actually do more damage with shadow evocation if the targets MAKE their saves than the spell would normall do. It's not even cheesy, as it's mostly based on class abilities.
Pesky 07-02-07, 10:48 AM	I almost always play a gnome. But sadly, in FR, there is too little information, no other race have any respect for them and they are basicly the comic relief role of the Realms. This always makes me angry! Why shouldn't gnomes have a vast history, culture and territories as elves, dwarfs and humans for instance? Power to the gnomes!
peteyrock 07-02-07, 11:44 AM	Gnome + Wizard + Rogue + Arcane Trickster = friggin' awesome.
Purple Dragon Knight 07-02-07, 07:36 PM	Shadowcraft Mage I forget how you can pull it off, but you can actually do more damage with shadow evocation if the targets MAKE their saves than the spell would normall do. It's not even cheesy, as it's mostly based on class abilities.Yes, the Shadow Illusion (Su) ability lets you transform a figment into a shadow version of a spell you are mimicking, causing 10% of the regular damage on a failed Will Save PER SPELL LEVEL. That is, a 9th-level illusion (figment) spell mimicking a fireball would cause 90% of a regular fireball's damage, so if you stack it with the Powerful Shadow Magic (Su) ability you get on the 5th level of that PrC, you add 20% and this becomes 110%. Pretty nasty. Of course, someone who makes a Reflex save would still get half of that 110%, and no damage at all if that someone also has the Evasion ability... (in other words, this ability works much better on spells that do not allow saving throws, or illusions of summoned monsters... i.e. with a 9th level figment, one could replicate a creature normally summoned via Summon Monster VIII, and cause 80% + 20% = 100% of regular damage normally dealth with Summon Monster VIII, and that, without the drawbacks of summoned monsters (i.e. not hedged out by Protection vs. Evil...))
Coldoneknight 07-02-07, 07:57 PM	some of my favorite gnome characters have been lantanans who followed gond not always a priest but techsmith is fun. My favorite was a gnome pirate captain who duel wielded a pair of guns.
The_Shaman 07-03-07, 04:50 AM	The PHBII beguiler class seems to be quite good for gnomes. Shadowcraft mage with the silent image+heighten spell can emulate a spell of any level, and works well with beguiler. Strangely enough, one can even get a level or two of archmage - a lvl 14 beguiler knows the prerequisite spells, and spell foci in enchantment and illusion are always a good idea. Even the skill focus helps - beguilers have have greater dispel on their lists, and can use it for counterspelling of spells they do not know themselves. As for the good old incantatrix :) ...
The Ubbergeek 07-03-07, 07:48 PM	I almost always play a gnome. But sadly, in FR, there is too little information, no other race have any respect for them and they are basicly the comic relief role of the Realms. This always makes me angry! Why shouldn't gnomes have a vast history, culture and territories as elves, dwarfs and humans for instance? Power to the gnomes! Sadly, it may also have to do with Ed himself - someone here said he don't have them in his 'gygaxian Realms'. So, he don't give them much. Wich is very sad, I like them.
Fillow 07-08-07, 12:20 PM	FR Gnomes history is really poor indeed. Only ones celebrities are Belwar dissengulp as a Svirf and Alice Tinker who is very peticular! for more information : * The novel Soldiers of Ice by David Cook features some gnomes. * The novel Realms of Mysteries - This one is a mix of short stories by different FR authors. There is a story about the Friendly Arm Inn which is run by some gnomes.
Faraer 07-08-07, 01:26 PM	But sadly, in FR, there is too little information, no other race have any respect for them and they are basicly the comic relief role of the Realms.Not always; in fact the comic relief thing is at odds with the mainstream portrayal of gnomes in the Realms. While there isn't the reams of detail we have for some other races, Races of Faerūn and "Hin Nobody Knows" in Dragon #269 have enough to work with.Sadly, it may also have to do with Ed himself - someone here said he don't have them in his 'gygaxian Realms'. So, he don't give them much.Do you mean pre-Gygaxian? In any case, news to me. Ed has unpublished gnome lore, including a completed article.
Old Sage 07-08-07, 08:28 PM	* The novel Realms of Mysteries - This one is a mix of short stories by different FR authors. There is a story about the Friendly Arm Inn which is run by some gnomes."Speaking with the Dead" -- which was recently reprinted in the Best of the Realms III: The Stories of Elaine Cunningham compilation.
CainJustice 07-30-07, 08:50 PM	there is a player in our group who is a warlock/rogue gnome...who gets sick eldritch sneak attack damages...he flanks our enemies from 30-60 ft away and fires away. very, very effective...