| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ranak |
Posted - 09 May 2011 : 20:00:57
My realms-lore is getting rusty, are there any important Gnomish characters in the Realms? Have they been the main characters in any novels or short story from the Realms anthologies?
I am curious because they do seem to be underrepresented. |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 11 May 2011 : 00:28:02
quote:
Originally posted by Quale
There's the gnomish Da Vinci in Aurora's
-DaRoni.
-Ugh... |
| BEAST |
Posted - 10 May 2011 : 22:08:56
Most Honored Burrow Warden Belwar Dissengulp, deep gnome
"Bivrip!" |
| Quale |
Posted - 10 May 2011 : 20:16:11
There's the gnomish Da Vinci in Aurora's
and Bentley Mirrorshade of the Friendly Arm
also the one that stole the Nether Scrolls is famous
the Horde article in Dragon has info on Songfarla |
| MrHedgehog |
Posted - 10 May 2011 : 19:30:13
Do Svirfneblin count? They seem to get mentioned more. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 10 May 2011 : 18:32:29
quote:
Originally posted by Brimstone
He reminded me the character you would meet in a Wolverine comic. Only around one issue. Gets killed. Yet knew Wolvie for years, and he would know of Wolvies past.
-I saw him only as a plot element to give Cattie-Brie a wand, so that she could start down the magicians path. Personally, there are a million better ways to do that. |
| Ranak |
Posted - 10 May 2011 : 16:43:26
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
This has little to nothing to do with the OP, but it got me thinking. I'm also currently writing a gnome in my WiP FR novel, whom I hope will come off as a good, memorable character. We'll see. 
Cheers
Erik, just out of curiosity is this Gnomish character a male or a female? Female gnomes are even more difficult to find information on, so I am curious what gender your gnome will be. |
| Chosen of Asmodeus |
Posted - 10 May 2011 : 16:02:42
I remember reading the Races and Classes book where developers discussed the changes and additions to the races for 4e. They mentioned that the problem with gnomes was one of role in the world; they didn't have one. You have haflings as your short fun loving guys, dwarves as your inventive guys, and eladrin as your magic guys. Gnomes you can put as tinkers, alchemists, or the like, but the problem with that is doing it in this day and age makes you look like you're ripping off World of Warcraft(when obviously you aren't, but perception trumps truth).
This is what tvtropes references as "planet of hats". When you have a race, group, culture, etc that is largely defined by one character trait. Elves are nature loving, eladrin(or high elves, if you prefer) are magically inclined and regal, dwarves are industrious and brave(and alcoholics), drow are evil(or they're all good renegades trying to shake off the burden of their kin's evil reputation), tieflings have the devil baggage, half-orcs are all dumb muscle.
Problem is gnomes fall somewhere between the haflings, dwarves, and high elves in where they fit into the structure. They didn't want to make a race that was "like X, but smaller". Which is one of the reasons they're used sparsely.
Was running a realms rp a while back with a gnome villain(not the main villain, but a nasty one none the less). Homar Highspell we called him; used magic to alter his voice into a fierce, rumbling, terrible sound. |
| Brimstone |
Posted - 10 May 2011 : 15:56:18
quote:
Originally posted by Lord Karsus
-"Jack the Gnome", an utter waste of a character, if you ask me.
I have to agree.
He reminded me the character you would meet in a Wolverine comic. Only around one issue. Gets killed. Yet knew Wolvie for years, and he would know of Wolvies past. |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 10 May 2011 : 15:51:28
Is it weird that I saw the title of this topic and immediately thought, "well, gnomes ARE Lantan's chief export, but they probably have some difficulty placing said goods . . ."
IMO, gnomes are an often overlooked fantasy race, which may have a bit to do with their comparatively lesser representation in the seminal works (no gnomes in Tolkien, for instance)--it's just easy to forget to put them in, or make them the same as goblins (mischievous little critters that they are!).
This has little to nothing to do with the OP, but it got me thinking. I'm also currently writing a gnome in my WiP FR novel, whom I hope will come off as a good, memorable character. We'll see.
Cheers |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 10 May 2011 : 01:32:48
-"Jack the Gnome", an utter waste of a character, if you ask me.
-Moritz the Gnome, a courrier of Sememmon. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 10 May 2011 : 01:26:58
Gnomes are the secret masters [and my favourite race] of the world. The novels aren't statistically representative or typical of Faerūn, but of what the books department thought would make money.
Have a look at Races of Faerūn and "Hin Nobody Knows" in DRAGON #269 to get more of a handle on what Realms gnomes are like.
In terms of notable appearances, though:-
"Speaking with the Dead" -- originally printed in Realms of Mystery and included in The Best of Elaine Cunningham.
And "Stolen Dreams" as well -- originally printed in DRAGON #259 and also included in The Best of Elaine Cunningham.
Soldiers of Ice features a gnomish community, as I recall, also.
And, of course, there are intriguing gnome characters in the CRPGs Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate II: The Shadows of Amn. |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 09 May 2011 : 20:03:27
Nanfoodle comes to mind from the Drizzt books. Can't think of any others offhand, though. |
|
|
