Gnome (monster class)
The gnome is a monster class that appears in NetHack, and is represented by the uppercase G glyph (G). Gnomes are designated internally by the macro S_GNOME.[1]
The monster class contains the following monsters:[2]
- G gnome
- G gnome lord
- G gnomish wizard
- G gnome king
Contents
Common traits
Gnomes are small, omnivorous humanoid monsters that have infravision and can be seen with infravision. All monsters in the monster class have the gnome monster attribute.
Hostile gnomes will collect items that they are capable of using such as weapons, armor and wands.
Generation
Randomly generated monsters from the gnome monster class are always peaceful towards gnomish and dwarvish characters, and will be hostile towards the other playable races.
Several monsters from the gnome class are generated within the Gnomish Mines at level creation:
- Two random G are generated on each of the filler levels for the Mines.
- Many are generated in most maps of Minetown:
- One G is generated in an ordinary room on the Alley Town and College Town maps.
- One G is generated in the room to the west of Izchak's shop in Grotto Town, and another occupies the northern room between the temple and downstair.
- An ordinary room on the Bazaar Town map has a 3⁄4 chance of containing a G.
Gnomes may appear among the hostile monsters 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).[3]
Starting inventory
All monsters in the monster class 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.[4] 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 with weapon attacks that are not generated on the Rogue level have a 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.[5] The chance is 5⁄14 for standard gnomes, 5⁄12 for gnome lords, and 1⁄2 for gnome kings.
Strategy
Gnomes appear in large numbers in the Gnomish Mines and are mostly slower than an unburdened character, but are still a frequent cause of death for the incautious and low-leveled, especially if they pick up certain wands and tools.
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 - the other gnome monsters first appear in NetHack 3.0.0.
Variants
SLASH'EM
SLASH'EM features more gnome variants:
dNetHack
| G gnome lady File:Gnome lady.png | |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 5 |
| Attacks |
Weapon 1d1 physical, Weapon 1d1 physical |
| Base level | 3 |
| Base experience | 38 |
| Speed | 8 |
| Base AC | 10 |
| Base MR | 4 |
| Alignment | 0 (neutral) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 1 (Very rare) |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 700 |
| Nutritional value | 120 |
| Size | small |
| Resistances | sleep, poison, petrification, level drain, disease |
| Resistances conveyed | |
|
A gnome lady:
| |
| G gnome queen File:Gnome queen.png | |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 7 |
| Attacks |
Weapon 1d3 physical, Weapon 1d3 physical |
| Base level | 5 |
| Base experience | 66 |
| Speed | 10 |
| Base AC | 10 |
| Base MR | 20 |
| Alignment | 0 (neutral) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 0 (Not randomly generated) |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 750 |
| Nutritional value | 150 |
| Size | small |
| Resistances | sleep, poison, petrification, level drain, disease |
| Resistances conveyed | |
|
A gnome queen:
| |
dNetHack has separate growth chains for male and female monsters. Female gnomes will grow up into gnome ladies and gnome queens, instead of female gnome lords and gnome kings.
GruntHack
In GruntHack, lords and ladies are racial monsters that replace gnome lords and other similar monsters; kings and queens serve the same purpose for gnome kings, including generation on a throne in throne rooms.
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.
