Editing Gnome (section)

=Warhammer=
Alongside [[Half-Orc]]s, gnomes are one of the reminders that [[Games Workshop]] got its start as a British producer of models for various historical wargames and early-wave fantasy RPGs like [[Dungeons & Dragons]] before it broke away to create its own setting, as they are found throughout Oldhammer (that is, editions 1-3). That said, you can tell GW grew increasingly uncomfortable with them, because they became less and less common throughout those editions.

Gnomes made their first appearance in 1st edition's ''Forces of Fantasy''. Here, they are described as a smaller relative of the [[Dwarf (Warhammer Fantasy)|Dwarfs]], with many traits in common. However, they don't always get along; dwarfs are stated to see gnomes as troublesome and mschievous, whilst gnomes view dwarfs as oafish and stupid. These early gnomes are defined by being very short tempered (especially if you bring up their squeaky voices, which they're ''really'' sensitive about!), but not basically evil, though [[adventurer]]s, [[human]]s and [[dwarf]]s who upset them may be taken prisoner until the gnomes cool off. You can field full batallions of gnomes (in warrior, clansman, crossbowman or rider form - though their small size makes them less effective than regular cavalry), as well as gnome heroes and wizards.

They subsequently appeared in 2nd edition's corebook (you know, the one actually ''titled'' Warhammer Fantasy Battles?) where they are described as smaller relatives of the dwarfs, but more short-tempered and difficult to get along with. They are stated to be a dying race; living exclusively in the western sides of the Worlds Edge Mountains and declining in number, with rural, backward remnants remaining in the remoter parts of Albion. In the army book "Ravening Hordes", it's stated that [[The Empire (Warhammer Fantasy)|Empire]], [[[[Dwarf (Warhammer Fantasy)|Dwarf]] or [[Wood Elves (Warhammer Fantasy)|Wood Elf]] armies can field gnome heroes, gnome magicians, gnome elementalists, and regiments of gnome warriors and gnome crossbowmen as allies. They're also mentioned '''very''' briefly in the [[Realms of Chaos]] books, in that a [[Chaos Champion]] can attract gnome followers on the [[Path to Glory]].

3rd edition's corebook states that gnomes are a dwindling race who were once great allies of the dwarves, but they have been reduced to tiny isolated settlements in and underneath the Worlds Edge Mountains. They are outrigth stated to be "even rarer, even less prolific, and more isoloationist than dwarfs". That said, there are gnomish communities throughout the rocky outcrops and hills of the Old World, and one of the largest communities is Glimdwarrow, found in the Mirrormoors. Like in [[Dungeons & Dragons]], they are naturally adept at [[Illusionist]] magic, and gnome wizards ''must'' substitute at least one of their Battle Magic spells per level for an Illusionist spell of the same level - they can substitute up to all their Battle Magic spells for Illusionist ones if they like. They have a ''very'' limited affinity for [[Elementalism]] (0-1 Elementalism spell), but cannot use Daemonic or Necromantic spells. 

In Warhammer Armies, the army book for this edition, gnomes have been completely subsumed into the dwarf army; dwarfs can field gnome heroes and wizards, as well as up to 50 gnome warriors. That's the limit of the gnomish appearance here.

After this, the Gnomes simply vanished; even in 4th edition, where [[The Empire (Warhammer Fantasy)|the Empire]] could take [[Dwarfs (Warhammer Fantasy)|Dwarf]] and [[Halflings (Warhammer)|Halfling]] units to represent their alliance, gnomes made no appearance in the Dwarf army book. It's not really that surprising, when you actually stop and think about it: given that gnomish lore amounted to "smaller, grumpier dwarfs" (which, given Warhammer dwarves, is quite something!) it's not surprising that they just.. didn't have a niche outside of "the dwarf's ally race". So they were ultimately [[Squats|phased out]], although they at least have the consolation it was because there was no niche left for them, not because they were an inherently terrible idea like the [[Fimir]].

You may be wondering; what about the RPG side of things? After all, [[Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay]] 1st edition debuted alongside WFB 3e, and the first two editions of WFB were rather RPG-adjacent. And it's true; gnomes ''were'' here, in bestiary, and we'll share that bestiary entry with you. Taken straight from page 220:
::Gnomes are smaller relatives of Dwarfs; they have a similar cultural background and speak their own Dwarvish dialect. If anything, Gnomes are even more short-tempered and difficult to get along with than Dwarfs. Like them, they live mostly underground or amongst mountains. Gnomes can be found almost exclusively on the western side of the World's Edge Mountains. Their numbers are few and declining all the time. Some communities survive in the remoter areas of the Isle of Albion, but these cannot be said to constitute anything other than a backward remnant of the race.
::Physique: Gnomes are short and stocky; rarely exceeding four feet in height. Characteristic features include bulbous noses, shaggy hair and beards. Hair color is usually black, but can also be brown or red. Skin colour is the same as Dwarfs, but Gnomes have a tendency to look weather-beaten and tanned.
::Alignment: Any, but nearly always Neutral.
::Psychological Traits: Gnomes are ''Subject to Hatred'' of [[Goblin]]s.
::Special Rules: Gnomes have Night Vision extending up to 30 yards.
::Basic Profile: Movement 4, Weapon Skill 41, Ballistic Skill 24, Strength 3, Toughness 2, Wounds 7, Initiative 30, Attacks 1, Dexterity 29, Leadership 43, Intelligence 29, Cool 29, Willpower 43, Fellowship 29

There wasn't room for gnomish PCs in the corebook, but [[Games Workshop]] was pretty quick to decide they weren't going to let [[Dungeons & Dragons]] go totally unchallenged; [[White Dwarf]] #86 saw the debut of the article "Out of the Garden" by Phil Gallagher, which would be reprinted in "Apocrypha Now". This article fleshed out the existence of Imperial Gnomes, who lived alongside humanity in the same way many dwarfs did, and gave full rules for playing them, even including a unique racial career, the Gnome Jester, as a counterpoint to the Dwarf [[Slayer]]. It was also full of more gnome puns than you can shake a jester's jingle-stick at, but what do you expect of WFRPG 1e?!

After this, gnomes vanished from the next two editions of Warhammer Roleplay... but, 4th edition smiled on them, and they made an unexpected return in the splatbook "Rough Nights and Hard Days". They are now described as a race that looks like skinny Halflings, highly skilled in using shadow magic (building on their affinity for Illusion magic in WFB 3e) but who are on the verge of going extinct due to [[Witch Hunters]] not letting them practice their magic for their own protection. Gnomes are mostly considered fairy tales by humans because they can't be bothered to learn the diffence between [[Halflings (Warhammer)|Halflings]] and Gnomes. One of their gods is Mabyn, literally the Goddess of Vengeance, which homages the overlap between gnomes and dwarfs ([[Dwarfs (Warhammer Fantasy)|Warhammer Dwarfs]] being legendary for their ability to hold grudges), and they tend to have a pretty big chip on their shoulder about humanity. Which to be fair, you can't really blame them, given how often humanity has fucked them over. They also aren't too fond of [[High Elves (Warhammer Fantasy)|High Elves]], after Teclis' misleading information on the nature of Magic to keep the Empire weaker than Elves in terms of magic (at least, that's what the ''Gnomes'' think it was) got both the Gnomes and the [[Hedgefolk]] fucked by the Witch Hunters.

In this edition, they ''are'' playable, marking one of the few times a race other than Human, Dwarf, Elf or Halfling has ever officially been made a PC option in Warhammer Roleplay.

This edition also gives them more of an explanation for why they have the Hatred (Goblins) trait, something they've had throughout their history but which was never given any greater depth than just "they're dwarf-kin, which means they get attacked by goblins all the time, so they hold the same grudges against goblinoids". Here, it's stated that the Gnome city of Glimdwarrow (remember that from Oldhammer 3e?) was actually sacked by [[Grom the Paunch]] during his conquest of the Empire. Of the then-444 Gnomish Family-Clans, only 4 survived, each of whom would bitterly blame the others for the fall of their race's only city to Greenskins.