Gnome (starting race) - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* Racial benefits and restrictions */ pothole

2026-01-13T14:33:58Z

‎Racial benefits and restrictions: pothole

Umbire the Phantom: word choice, detail and cite multishot

2026-01-13T14:33:22Z

word choice, detail and cite multishot

Tomsod: /* Strategy */ most gnomish roles are restricted in crossbow

2025-12-22T14:33:23Z

‎Strategy: most gnomish roles are restricted in crossbow

Scyrmion: Add Encyclopedia entry

2025-10-10T21:36:20Z

Add Encyclopedia entry

Umbire the Phantom: small corrections + word choice

2025-10-10T06:03:12Z

small corrections + word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ roles

2025-05-28T18:20:54Z

‎dNetHack: roles

Umbire the Phantom: /* Racial items */ detail

2025-05-28T13:29:34Z

‎Racial items: detail

Umbire the Phantom: /* SLASH'EM */ copyedit

2025-05-28T01:35:25Z

‎SLASH'EM: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: /* Attributes */ ugh

2025-05-27T22:56:11Z

‎Attributes: ugh

Umbire the Phantom: /* Attributes */ word choice

2025-05-27T22:55:52Z

‎Attributes: word choice

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 Gnomish heroes possess [[infravision]] and can use [[uncursed]] [[touchstone]]s as if they were blessed. Their [[attribute]] caps are more than decent, though they cannot train their physical stats to the same extent as some of the larger races.{{refsrc|src/role.c|698|nethack=3.6.7|name="caps"}}
-All monsters with the [[Gnome (monster attribute)|gnome]] [[monster attribute]] are considered the same race as a gnomish hero for purposes such as [[cannibalism]] and [[same-race sacrifice]]. [[Dwarf (monster attribute)|Dwarves]] and other gnomes that are not [[undead]] will always generate as [[peaceful]] towards a gnomish hero, while [[Human (monster attribute)|humans]] that are not undead will always generate as hostile.{{refsrc|src/role.c|694|nethack=3.6.7}} Gnomish heroes that [[Death (character)|die]] and leave [[bones]] where they arise from the dead will resurrect as [[gnome mummies]] and [[gnome zombie]]s, depending on their killer{{refsrc|src/role.c|690|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;in practice, there is no means of killing any hero that causes them to rise as a zombie.
+All monsters with the [[Gnome (monster attribute)|gnome]] [[monster attribute]] are considered the same race as a gnomish hero for purposes such as [[cannibalism]] and [[same-race sacrifice]]. [[Dwarf (monster attribute)|Dwarves]] and other gnomes that are not [[undead]] will always generate as [[peaceful]] towards a gnomish hero, while [[Human (monster attribute)|humans]] that are not undead will always generate as hostile.{{refsrc|src/role.c|694|nethack=3.6.7}} Gnomish heroes that [[Death (character)|die]] and leave [[bones]] where they arise from the dead will resurrect as [[gnome mummies]] and [[gnome zombie]]s, depending on their killer{{refsrc|src/role.c|690|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;in practice, there is no means of killing any hero that causes them to rise as a [[Zombie (monster class)|zombie]].
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|aeb0ea65e3ea173ccab744964fa7a0bb8425dc0c}}, if the hero is killed by a zombie or a [[Lich (monster class)|lich]], they will rise from the grave as a zombie of their race's type, and will be present as a zombie if a [[bones]] file is created. Per {{commit|3c421da746cdd3844c7f8d2312c7be5e5a25cfb9}}, a mummy or zombie left in bones this way will have the same intrinsics as the former hero.}}

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 Gnomish heroes are generally more frail on average than human heroes, in exchange for better spellcasting capabilities from their intelligence cap and energy growth&mdash;as with [[Dwarf (starting race)|dwarves]], the Gnomish Mines will also have more peaceful denizens and less dangerous hostiles to face, making [[Minetown]] a more favorable early game destination for a gnomish hero.
-Overall, gnomes are somewhat more ideal to play in spellcasting-focused builds such as Healers (especially for [[protection racket]]s), some Archeologists, and Wizards, but are the most challenging race to play as Cavepeople, who rely on melee and physical prowess. Though most gnomish heroes can work well enough with their strength cap to not rely as heavily on items such as [[gauntlets of power]], they cannot raise their bonuses from strength beyond +1 to-hit and +3 damage without the assistance of those items.
+Overall, gnomes are somewhat more ideal to play in spellcasting-focused builds such as Healers (especially for [[protection racket]]s), some Archeologists, and Wizards, but are the most challenging race to play as Cavepeople in particular, who rely on melee and physical prowess. Though most gnomish heroes can work well enough with their strength cap to not ''necessitate'' the use of items such as [[gauntlets of power]], they cannot raise their bonuses from strength beyond +1 to-hit and +3 damage without the assistance of those items.
-The racial [[multishot]] bonus is less useful than it appears, as all gnomish roles other than Rangers are [[restricted]] in crossbow&mdash;even if the skill is gained through [[crowning]], Healers and Wizards are specifically disqualified from the bonus.  Even for Rangers, equipment substitutions present their unique difficulties: crossbow bolts are somewhat harder to procure compared to arrows (though they are still fairly plentiful with [[centaur]]s), and their [[quest artifact]] [[The Longbow of Diana]] utilizes an entirely different [[skill]] from crossbows, which also means forgoing several multishot bonuses.
+The racial [[multishot]] bonus is less useful than it appears since all gnomish roles other than Rangers are [[restricted]] in crossbow, and even if the [[skill]] is gained through [[crowning]], Healers and Wizards cannot gain Skilled multishot from crossbows{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|116-L117|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;this leaves gnomish Archeologists and Cavepeople as the only combinations that can unrestrict crossbows and expect to benefit from their racial multishot bonuses. Even for gnomish Rangers in particular, equipment substitutions present their own unique difficulties: crossbow bolts are somewhat harder to procure compared to arrows (though they are still fairly plentiful with [[centaur]]s), and their [[quest artifact]] [[The Longbow of Diana]] utilizes an entirely different skill from crossbows, which also means forgoing several multishot bonuses.
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|55ec68ef0a297b4de1348b548ba71fe2f3d5ef89}}, Rangers gain a +1 multishot bonus while wielding the Longbow of Diana and shooting any type of arrows from it.}}

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 Overall, gnomes are somewhat more ideal to play in spellcasting-focused builds such as Healers (especially for [[protection racket]]s), some Archeologists, and Wizards, but are the most challenging race to play as Cavepeople, who rely on melee and physical prowess. Though most gnomish heroes can work well enough with their strength cap to not rely as heavily on items such as [[gauntlets of power]], they cannot raise their bonuses from strength beyond +1 to-hit and +3 damage without the assistance of those items.
-While gnomish heroes are the most proficient crossbow users among the playable races, equipment substitutions also present unique difficulties for a gnomish Ranger in particular: crossbow bolts are somewhat harder to procure compared to arrows (though they are still fairly plentiful with [[centaur]]s), and their [[quest artifact]] [[The Longbow of Diana]] utilizes an entirely different [[skill]] from crossbows, which also means foregoing several multishot bonuses.
+The racial [[multishot]] bonus is less useful than it appears, as all gnomish roles other than Rangers are [[restricted]] in crossbow&mdash;even if the skill is gained through [[crowning]], Healers and Wizards are specifically disqualified from the bonus.  Even for Rangers, equipment substitutions present their unique difficulties: crossbow bolts are somewhat harder to procure compared to arrows (though they are still fairly plentiful with [[centaur]]s), and their [[quest artifact]] [[The Longbow of Diana]] utilizes an entirely different [[skill]] from crossbows, which also means forgoing several multishot bonuses.
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|55ec68ef0a297b4de1348b548ba71fe2f3d5ef89}}, Rangers gain a +1 multishot bonus while wielding the Longbow of Diana and shooting any type of arrows from it.}}

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 ===NetHack Fourk===
 In [[NetHack Fourk]], gnomish heroes have increased skill caps for crossbows and clubs.
 ==References==

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 All monsters with the [[Gnome (monster attribute)|gnome]] [[monster attribute]] are considered the same race as a gnomish hero for purposes such as [[cannibalism]] and [[same-race sacrifice]]. [[Dwarf (monster attribute)|Dwarves]] and other gnomes that are not [[undead]] will always generate as [[peaceful]] towards a gnomish hero, while [[Human (monster attribute)|humans]] that are not undead will always generate as hostile.{{refsrc|src/role.c|694|nethack=3.6.7}} Gnomish heroes that [[Death (character)|die]] and leave [[bones]] where they arise from the dead will resurrect as [[gnome mummies]] and [[gnome zombie]]s, depending on their killer{{refsrc|src/role.c|690|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;in practice, there is no means of killing any hero that causes them to rise as a zombie.
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|aeb0ea65e3ea173ccab744964fa7a0bb8425dc0c}}, if the hero is killed by a zombie or a [[Lich (monster class)|lich]], they will rise from the grave as a zombie of their race's type, and will be present as a zombie if a [[bones]] file is created. Per {{commit|3c421da746cdd3844c7f8d2312c7be5e5a25cfb9}}, the zombie will have the same intrinsics as the former hero.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|aeb0ea65e3ea173ccab744964fa7a0bb8425dc0c}}, if the hero is killed by a zombie or a [[Lich (monster class)|lich]], they will rise from the grave as a zombie of their race's type, and will be present as a zombie if a [[bones]] file is created. Per {{commit|3c421da746cdd3844c7f8d2312c7be5e5a25cfb9}}, a mummy or zombie left in bones this way will have the same intrinsics as the former hero.}}
 ===Attributes===
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 ! Starting HP !! Pre-cutoff !! Post-cutoff
 |-
-| Gnome || 1 || 0 || d6
+| Gnome || 1 || 0 || 1+d6
 |-
 ! Energy gain
 ! Starting energy !! Pre-cutoff !! Post-cutoff
 |-
-| Gnome || 12 || 4 || 2 + d2
+| Gnome || 12 || 4 || 2+d2
 |}

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 ===dNetHack===
 In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], gnomish heroes have several significant differences from ''NetHack''.
 Gnomish heroes are small like non-player gnome monsters: due to the changes around [[monster size]] as well as the size of weapons and armor in dNetHack and its derivatives, this means that their starting inventory will consist of weapons and armor primarily designed for small monsters, medium-sized weapons will always be two-handed for gnomish heroes, and their carrying capacity is heavily limited. This also means that gnomish heroes burn [[nutrition]] at half the rate of medium-sized heroes, and gain twice the duration of [[temporary intrinsic]]s from consuming [[corpse]]s, [[Potion of blood (dNetHack)|blood]] or [[tin]]s.

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 ===Racial items===
 {{main|Racial equipment}}
-There is one racial substitution made for gnomish heroes involving the [[crossbow]]:{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|230|nethack=3.6.7}} gnomish heroes in roles that start with a [[bow]] and [[arrow]]s instead receive a [[crossbow]] and [[crossbow bolt]]s, which only applies to [[Ranger]]s.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|115-L117|nethack=3.6.7}} Gnomish heroes and other gnomes also receive a +1 multishot bonus for firing crossbow bolts from a crossbow.{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|177|nethack=3.6.7}}
+There is one racial substitution made for gnomish heroes involving the [[crossbow]]:{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|230|nethack=3.6.7}} gnomish heroes in roles that start with a [[bow]] and [[arrow]]s instead receive a crossbow and [[crossbow bolt]]s, which only applies to [[Ranger]]s.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|115-L117|nethack=3.6.7}} Gnomish heroes (along with other gnomes) also receive a +1 multishot bonus for firing crossbow bolts from a crossbow, and only require 16 strength to avoid multishot penalties as opposed to 18 for other races.{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|177|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|193|nethack=3.6.7}}
 While the [[aklys]] and [[candle]]s are not defined as racial equipment, they are heavily associated with gnomes due both to default [[monster starting inventory]] mechanics and to gnomes in unlit Gnomish Mines levels generating with lit candles.

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 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], gnomish heroes can be played as [[Flame Mage]]s, [[Ice Mage]]s or [[Undead Slayer]]s.
+In [[SLASH'EM]], a gnomish hero can be played as an [[Archeologist/SLASH'EM|Archeologist]], [[Caveman/SLASH'EM|Caveperson]], [[Flame Mage]], [[Healer/SLASH'EM|Healer]], [[Ice Mage]], [[Ranger/SLASH'EM|Ranger]], [[Undead Slayer]], or [[Wizard/SLASH'EM|Wizard]].
 Gnomish heroes retain their traits from ''NetHack'', and additionally gain [[stealth]] at experience level 5. They start with the [[vanish]] [[technique]] and gain the [[tinker]] technique at experience level 7, which allows them to upgrade certain items.

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 Gnomish heroes have a lower [[strength]] cap than [[Human (starting race)|human]] heroes, but are level with them in other aspects and even have a higher [[intelligence]] cap of 19. This makes them more capable of [[spellcasting]], while their physical capability is still more than sufficient for melee damage and maximizing [[carrying capacity]].
-The HP growth of a gnomist hero is tied for the lowest among playable races with [[Orc (starting race)|orcs]], with only +1 to starting HP, +1 for each level gained while they are below their role's "cutoff" level, and no HP for each level gained while at or above the "cutoff".<ref name="HP"/> For [[energy]], gnomish heroes have the second-best growth after [[Elf (starting race)|elves]], with +2 to their role's starting energy, +2 for each level gained while below their role's "cutoff" level, and +2 for each level gained while at or above the "cutoff" level.<ref name="energy"/>
+The HP growth of a gnomish hero is tied for the lowest among playable races with [[Orc (starting race)|orcs]], with only +1 to starting HP, +1 for each level gained while they are below their role's "cutoff" level, and no HP for each level gained while at or above the "cutoff".<ref name="HP"/> For [[energy]], gnomish heroes have the second-best growth after [[Elf (starting race)|elves]], with +2 to their role's starting energy, +2 for each level gained while below their role's "cutoff" level, and +2 for each level gained while at or above the "cutoff" level.<ref name="energy"/>
 ===Racial items===