Gnome (monster)
G gnome 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 3 |
| Attacks |
Weapon 1d6 |
| Base level | 1 |
| Base experience | 13 |
| Speed | 6 |
| Base AC | 10 |
| Base MR | 4 |
| Alignment | 0 (neutral) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 1 (Very rare) |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 650 |
| Nutritional value | 100 |
| Size | Small |
| Resistances | None |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
A gnome:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line1450 |
A gnome, G, is a type of monster that appears in NetHack. Gnomes are the most basic monster in the gnome monster class, and are typically among the first type of gnome you will encounter. They also serve as the base monster for gnomish characters.
A gnome is a small, omnivorous humanoid monster that has infravision and can be seen with infravision. Hostile gnomes will also collect weapons, armor and other items. A gnome possesses a single weapon attack.
Generation
Randomly generated gnomes may appear in small groups. They are always peaceful towards gnomish and dwarvish characters, and will be hostile towards the other playable races. Gnomes are not a valid form for normal polymorph. A gnome can grow up into a gnome lord.
Several gnomes are generated within the Gnomish Mines at level creation:
- Seven gnomes are generated on each of the filler levels for the Mines.
- Many gnomes are generated in most maps of Minetown:
- Three gnomes are generated in ordinary rooms on the Town Square map, with three other rooms that each have a 3⁄4 chance of containing a gnome.
- Three gnomes are generated in ordinary rooms on the Alley Town and College Town maps.
- Six gnomes are generated across the Grotto Town map.
- Eight gnomes are generated across the Bustling Town map.
- Six gnomes are generated in ordinary rooms on the Bazaar Town map, with another room that has a 3⁄4 chance of containing a gnome.
- Nine gnomes each are generated in The Gnome King's Wine Cellar and The Mimic of the Mines maps of Mines' End.
Gnomes may appear among the hostile G that generate in throne rooms, as well the monsters randomly generated by looting a throne while confused and carrying gold (provided there is no chest on the level).[1]
Gnomes can be generated by zapping a wand of undead turning at a gnome corpse not left by a mummy or zombie, or selecting gnomes when reading a cursed scroll of genocide. A gnome zombie or gnome mummy will leave an aged gnome corpse behind upon death, and player gnomes that are killed and leave bones will have a gnome corpse atop their grave, unless killed by stoning or disintegration.
Starting inventory
Gnomes are eligible for offensive items, defensive items, and miscellaneous items.
A gnome placed at level creation has a chance of being generated with a single candle: the chance is 1⁄20 if they are in the Gnomish Mines, and 1⁄60 otherwise.[2] The candle has a 3⁄4 chance of being tallow and a 1⁄4 chance of being wax, and will be lit if the gnome is generated in a dark area.
Gnomes that are not generated on the Rogue level have a 5⁄14 chance of being generated with one of the five default weapon sets: 3-14 darts, a crossbow and 3-14 crossbow bolts, a bow and 3-14 arrows, a stack of 3-5 daggers, or an aklys.[3]
Strategy
Gnomes are generally slow and weak opponents overall, but are still quite dangerous to early characters: aside from weapons, they are capable of reading scrolls and zapping wands, making them potentially lethal if you are caught by surprise even without encountering the literal Gnome With the Wand of Death.
History
The gnome first appears in Hack for PDP-11, a variant of Jay Fenlason's Hack, and is included in the initial bestiary for Hack 1.0.
Encyclopedia entry
... And then a gnome came by, carrying a bundle, an old fellow three times as large as an imp and wearing clothes of a sort, especially a hat. And he was clearly just as frightened as the imps though he could not go so fast. Ramon Alonzo saw that there must be some great trouble that was vexing magical things; and, since gnomes speak the language of men, and will answer if spoken to gently, he raised his hat, and asked of the gnome his name. The gnome did not stop his hasty shuffle a moment as he answered 'Alaraba' and grabbed the rim of his hat but forgot to doff it.
'What is the trouble, Alaraba?' said Ramon Alonzo.
'White magic. Run!' said the gnome ..
[ The Charwoman's Shadow, by Lord Dunsany ]
"Muggles have garden gnomes, too, you know," Harry told Ron as they crossed the lawn.
"Yeah, I've seen those things they think are gnomes," said Ron, bent double with his head in a peony bush, "like fat little Santa Clauses with fishing rods..."
There was a violent scuffling noise, the peony bush shuddered, and Ron straightened up. "This is a gnome," he said grimly.
"Geroff me! Gerroff me!" squealed the gnome.
It was certainly nothing like Santa Claus. It was small and leathery looking, with a large, knobby, bald head exactly like a potato. Ron held it at arm's length as it kicked out at him with its horny little feet; he grasped it around the ankles and turned it upside down.
