I need a different name for Gnomes

[Llum]

My first suggestion was a Willow reference for everyone cool enough to not recognize it.

I would like to second Mandragora, I think its a cool word.

[Raven Bloodmoon]

And dwarves don't add much to a setting aside from ale, beards, and forges. Likewise elves add little outside nature and mysticism. Gnomes as I see them are light hearted and technically brilliant. The Gnomes I have used in the past were respectful of nature but lovers of technological innovation. They blended the dwarven inventor attitude with the elven natural outlook without becoming something just in between the two. The thing I think that helped them stay away from being the missing link was that light-heartedness. They were carefree, not taking life too seriously. On that note I think that you can't always have a serious and/or dour setting. Sometimes a joke is good, life isn't all grime and filth (and gritty doesn't equal realistic regardless of what some people claim). A Gnome is that anchor to the less serious side, a good way to remind people who take the game too seriously that it is still just a game. They are also great for playing the aspiring creator or the curious explorer. I think in a word for me gnomes are curiosity. That their curiosity often lands them in trouble (usually of the humorous nature) in my opinion adds to them as a group, makes them more real.

But as you've just stated, while dwarves and elves might not add anything, gnomes have to copy both of these nothings to get an identity.  Also, you completely missed my point, apparently, since I specifically said that you don't need gnomes to add humor.  In no way did I say that the game shouldn't have humor, just that it doesn't need to revolve around a race of explosion-inclined midgets.

As for the lack of anything added by dwarves and elves, there's a reason many people just don't have those.  They both (as wella s halflings) represent different archtypes of humans, so there's no real reason for either of them in a fantasy setting, either.  People just feel inclined to include them, and at least each one has a fleshed out, understandable niche in the game.


Back on Topic:  I like Korrigan.  Especially if they are more based off of the folklore.  Interesting stuff that.

[Nomadic]

As for the lack of anything added by dwarves and elves, there's a reason many people just don't have those. They both (as well as halflings) represent different archtypes of humans, so there's no real reason for either of them in a fantasy setting, either. People just feel inclined to include them, and at least each one has a fleshed out, understandable niche in the game.

As I stated above about dwarves being part human. Every single standard race is a representation of one part of human nature. That's why I rarely use them (only pulling them out for players that really want them). And again, the gnomes have just as much of a niche as all the others. Just as stereotypical as any other race, but its there. They embody curiosity and humor just like elves embody aloofness and nobility or dwarves embody steadfastness and grandeur. Of course this all depends on how you portray a race but for simplicities sake we're talking classic forms here.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

Certainly not more misleading that the Gorgon of the Monster Manual.

It's funny, but I have this very sure feeling that I read about them being called gorgons in one other place unrelated to D&D.

As for the gnome thing:
Uldas: From northern Scandinavia, these guys live under the icy ground, and if you pitch your tent in the wrong place it blocks their doors and they might take revenge by poisoning your reindeer.  And they need to get out because they're the ones who feed the animals that are hibernating.
Hobgoblins: Kinda ugly but normally good-natured.  Feed them and they'll do their chores for you.  Don't treat them well and they'll play pranks.  (Kobolds seem similar.)
Pixie: They're described as having red hair, up-turned noses, and wide mouths, plus really ugly babies.  People have to leave them offerings to keep them from playing pranks.

[Nomadic]

Uldas: From northern Scandinavia, these guys live under the icy ground, and if you pitch your tent in the wrong place it blocks their doors and they might take revenge by poisoning your reindeer.  And they need to get out because they're the ones who feed the animals that are hibernating.

I really like that one

[Raven Bloodmoon]

Kabouter[/url] or Vittra, though these tend to be more malicious.

[Gamer Printshop]

Despite my mention on the origins of Gnomes, I prefer gnomes to halflings, and most elves, myself. And I don't think of gnomes as "tinkers" that was an invention of Dragonlance, which I never played nor cared to play myself.

Somewhere on these forums, I mention my gnomes of the Gnomic Syndicate, a racial thieves guild where their practice of illusion, skills in gem-cutting, and otherwise sneaky nature makes them ideal for such an organization. I actually conceived the idea of these kinds of gnomes, before the Star Trek's invention of the Ferengi, but I think of my gnomes as very similar to Ferengi in culture, lore and practices.

GP

PS: I have a copy of Katherine Briggs' Encyclopedia of Fairies, and I'll look in there to find other names for your gnomes, and maybe post tomorrow. Off the top of my head, I can think of Dunnies, Red Caps, Blue Caps, Oakmen, Pechs, Bogles - got a few more, but can't think of them.

[Nomadic]

for simplicities sake we're talking classic forms here.

Classic forms would be those most commonly depicted in roleplay media. Orcs are also a recent construct, that doesn't stop them from having what would be considered a vanilla style Orc. Same goes for Gnomes.

Also does anyone else support me in thinking that kap should call them Semongs?

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

Uldas: From northern Scandinavia, these guys live under the icy ground, and if you pitch your tent in the wrong place it blocks their doors and they might take revenge by poisoning your reindeer.  And they need to get out because they're the ones who feed the animals that are hibernating.

There certainly different from the usual prankster types.  A definite contrast between being nasty and being kind.  (And the picture of them has them wearing red and blue outfits with caps, having bushy bears, and the most unusual characteristic they seem to have a goofy grin of pointed teeth.)

I think, though, if Kap wants a trickster fairy name he can just pick any of them.  It seems that the definition of "fairy/fey" seems to be "trickster".

As an aside note trolls make a very good substitute for orcs because troll women sometimes look like pretty humans, leading easily to half-trolls.

[Xeviat]

Alright, I guess I need to define what I'm going to be using Gnomes as in my game. To make things easy on myself, I'm using the 4E stats, where they are fey with illusion and invisibility powers. They are meant to represent the numerous small trickster fey in many legends.

I don't want a name that is too hard to recognize, as all of my other names are generally broader known. I don't want to use "gnome" itself because I am using that (along with salamander, sylph, and undine) as an elemental fey.

The trickster/illusionist thing just isn't fitting "earth spirit" in my mind. "Sprite" is the running favorite amongst my group, so that's probably what I'm going to go with. I'm not going to be using the tinkerer aspect of gnomes in my setting, as my Dwarves and my Tritons already have inventiveness covered (dwarves have figured out steam power, tritons are chemists).

[Raven Bloodmoon]

That being the case, Redcaps rather fit.  If I recall, folklore held that they're hats made them invisible and prevented them from turning to stone in the sun.  They were also quite the pranksters in the fey-sense (of crap, now i'm totally lost and will probably die).

[Xeviat]

What were traditional gnomes like? Looking over my plans for my Fey races, I do have room to use gnomes if I also use salamanders, sylphs, and undines. My only worry is the current stealthy, invisible-turning, illusionist magic focused gnomes don't quite fit what an "earth spirit" should be.

[Nomadic]

As GP said, traditional gnomes weren't like anything. They were just representative of an aspect. As for more modern traditional the illusionist trickster is the general style. I actually think that style is fine, fey do enjoy a good prank and come across as mysterious. Of course you would want to add more to that to make them earthy (like that thing about cursing those who block their burrows) but overall it fits just fine with the fey style.