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. They are the most basic monster in the gnome monster class, and are typically among the first type of gnome you will encounter.
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.
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.[1] 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.[2]
Gnomes are not a valid form for normal polymorph. A gnome zombie or gnome mummy will leave an aged gnome corpse behind upon death.
Strategy
Gnomes are generally 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.
