No PC Gnomes in 4th Edition?

Just wondering, how common were gnome PCs? The big thing, to me, is that in D&D they never did seem to have enough "flavor," especially compared to, say, elves or dwarves.

The big exception being Krynnish tinker gnomes. (I never really liked those, but they were distinctive.)

Tiefling Gnomes!

(Jinxes. They're awesome.)

I've had someone play a gnome in all my games, and there are lots of cool things you can do with them as a DM (especially in Planescape where they have a whole plane). They were also one of the more powerful races in the PHB, so statwise there were lots of good reasons to play them, but I guess they just didn't have the same cachet as other races. Plus WotC mostly alternated between making them painfully boring (and all the same), to ignoring them entirely. That can't have helped their status.

WHAT?! No more Jansons?! I WANT BLOOD!!!!

Ghaarrr! Probably! :x One problem I kinda always had with hack&slash type D&D, is look at what 'adventuring' consists of. A group of heavily armed killers breaks into somebody's place, kills them, and takes all their money. Oh, its OK, because they were "evil monsters". Problem with that for me is the basic mindset. "It's OK to kill them, they're just orcs" sounds too much like "they're just Iraqis" or "they're just poor inner-city black gangsters", ya feelin' me? Now, I'm American, and let's face it, shooting somebody in the face is considered good clean fun over here (or so it seems sometimes). Just look at the gore that comes out of Hollywood with a PG rating, but don't you dare show half a nipple! (Huff huff huff) Sorry for the rant, but that's the reason I like Planescape, it's more nuanced than just chopping apart monsters. Killing a Tanar'ri is still murder in Sigil, though like in many major American cities, there's a good chance you'll get away with it.

Back to the rant: So now, in 4th ed, gnomes are just something else to leave lying in a pool of blood and severd limbs, great. Hey, I got an idea, why don't they put "Man" back in the MM like in 1st ed, then we can change the name from "Dungeons and Dragons" to "Manson Family Fantasy". Not that I don't like violence (who doesn't, well, besides whoever's on the recieving end), but I'd like a little thought to come along for the ride as well.

Although, I laughed my ass off watching that short.

I agree in a big way, Zim! In fact PSCS is awesome for showcasing non-human cultures. I mean, just look at the Khaasta. Darwinian/capitalist lizard-people!? Awesome!

Well, lets hope without the "lizard-people" I've heard the rumor that George W Bush is is really a "V"

They're going to be in the Monster Manual with a couple of others (probably Goblins, orcs, Drow, ect.). But they won't have racial feats like PHB races until later.

I could always be worse. They could replace gnomes compleatly with those half-dwarfs half-celsestial dire badgers from Mount Celestia (see Planar Handook for details, I still have nightmares from those things).

Anyways I allways thougt of gnomes as link that conects 3 races: Halflings, Dwarves and Elves. You see they love comfort of their homes like Hobbits (sorry Halflings), they are fine miners and craftsmen like Dwarves, and they love nature's beauty like Elves (they do this on more practical level: they tend wounded animals, help them survive during winter and stuff like that, and have you ever see elf doing that).

Then times changed: halflings became wandering gypsies, dwarves tossable humoristic relifes in mayor motion pictures, and elves popularity is overshadoved by Drow. And our benign little gnome worker is suddenly neutral tree-hugging, animal-kissing miget hippie monster (and on top of that he look's like chupakabra in that clip, mind you).

Well at least look on the bright side: angry mobs dont burn Tieflings any more just becaouse they are spawn of Satan (and his little witches), they are too buisy burning neutral tree-hugging, animal-kissing miget hippie monster's.

I actualy like gnomes (and I have played one or two in my time), but consider this: if you ask average kid what would he play more: "cool" angsty Tefling or Gnome?
This is extreamly unfair but WoTC designers probably think that Gnomes are not "cool" enough for new edition.

Hey now, they don't do that anymore. As of Elder Scrolls Four they are now in line with every other generic Everquest/DnD wood elf.

And the King of Worms is a High Elf.

At least they didn't magically bring back the Dwemer as short stocky bearded folk with axes.