Gnome Art Preview

[Ulthwithian]

Well, I can tell you that I have a masculine facial structure and use masculine speech patterns, but since I am light, not muscularly developed, have long hair, and have a high-pitched voice, I am naturally assumed to be female. I once even had someone commiserate with me over my name (which is male), and how I must have had horrible parents for giving me a male name.

People will see what they want to see.

 

[Shroomy]

My rankings of the various new gnome drawings:

4e cartoon for the win...seriously, I think in the future, WoTC will use him more or less as the basis for later artwork.

4e MM...nothing in particular is wrong with it, but it doesn't grab me. Meh I guess.

Pathfinder gnome....when I first saw it on the Paizo blog I thought "ghastly." My opinion has not changed over the intervening time. Its way too cartoonish for my tastes, and I generally like WAR's artwork.

 

[Dragonhelm]

I'm sorry, but this has to be the worst picture (and depiction!) of a gnome that I've ever seen. It just isn't for me.

I prefer most of the AD&D gnome artwork. I couldn't find any examples online, but basically, I like the short, squat guys with big noses and pointy hats who look like they're having fun.

I kind of also like this guy:

I'm just praying at this point that they actually feed the displacer beast this edition. *sigh*

All in my opinion, of course. YMMV.

 

[Jhaelen]

For some reason, my mental image of gnomes has always been similar to the way kobolds are depicted in the German "Das Schwarze Auge" RPG. They look kind of like an evil, wizened smurf: small, wrinkled, blue-skinned, hairless, with blazing eyes.

Their role is also similar. They're somewhat mischievious tricksters and they've got their own form of magic which centers around making others look foolish. Their magic is very hard to resist and would be very powerful if they didn't just use it get a laugh out of it.

 

[Lurks-no-More]

Holy , I just noticed the Rakshasa has two left hands! wtf

Nope; it just has hands that are backwards on its wrists. That's been a Rakshasa trait as long as they've existed in (A)D&D.

Also, I find the complaints about "transgendered" gnome both nonsensical - I mean, he's obviously male, just wearing a robe - and more than a bit offensive.

 

[Protagonist]

and more than a bit offensive.

Agreed. A lot people have gotten used to crass gender stereotypes or LGBT-insensitive statements on the internet, especially in (video-)gaming communities.

 

[Starbuck_II]

Mialee for sure was.

She was a mutant Cricket. Get it right or you get the hose.


Pathfinder Gnome is too magical girl anime for me. I mean, I like magical girl, but I'd perfer it not as basis for a D&D race. If a player wants to change is different than base flavor.

 

[Dragonhelm]

She was a mutant Cricket. Get it right or you get the hose.

Hey, no need to insult the mutant crickets! It's not their fault that they have a higher Comeliness score than Mialee (single digit, folks ).

Pathfinder Gnome is too magical girl anime for me. I mean, I like magical girl, but I'd perfer it not as basis for a D&D race. If a player wants to change is different than base flavor.

At least she's better looking than the 4e gnome (*shudders*). I have to wonder if the hair is a druid thing or a gnome thing. Either way, I'm good.

 

[DandD]

It's better to call magical girls magical girls, and not gnomes.
Also, Pathfinder need male gnomes, and female Halflings. I wonder how many people will like them if the male gnome is practically undistinguishable from the male halfling, and if midget girls with HAIRY feet will still be taken seriously.

 

[Brennin Magalus]

Do not like. I like the one from the cartoon, though.

Incidentally, this particular gnome looks like he lives in Golden Gate Park.