Gnomes

[Havard]

I've always really associated that type of gnome with Dragonlance (and Spelljammer - where they are travellers from Krynn).

I think that DL gnomes worked very well, but then other campaign settings (and core D&D) said: "this is popular, lets copy it". I think that was a mistake, because it dilutes the good idea of DL, but also because this DL element doesn't necessarily fit in with the cultures of other campaign settings.

I actually don't think DL was where the inventor type gnomes came from originally, but that is certainly the setting which is most famous for it.

I want my demihuman groups to feel like nations, that fit into the local geography, rather than some sort of universal stereotype.

Agreed! Demihumans need different cultures just like humans do.

With Blackmoor having more tech than other settings, I could see someone making a case for gnomes that are similar to DL gnomes, but they shouldn't really be identical to them. I'd be wanting to focus on the differences in Dave Arneson's gnomes.

I would actually go the other way. Blackmoor has tech, but this technology is in no way tied to the Gnomes. Blackmoorian technology is tied to dwarves, wizards, the City of the Gods and possibly the Egg of Coot. Gnomes need a different niche. That is why I suggested the whole wandering folk/gypsy thing since it is already mentioned in the 3E book.

I think Greg said there were Gnomes in Arneson's games, but in the published material they play almost no role at all. They were even removed in the 4E version of Blackmoor, possibly because PHB2 was not out yet, but at the same time, their removal did not affect the setting much.

Havard