Gnomes were added late in the games development, explaining their lack of presence in both Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor. It’s been 14 years since launch and they’re still the most underdeveloped playable non-allied race. Blizzard is known for their rich lore and brilliant story telling yet Gnomes have been left behind. This is prevalent in the design for their Heritage Armor, which is the most lack luster revealed so far. Gnomes have minimal architectural assets and a culture so thin they can be summarized as “ambitious tinkerers”.
Blizzard’s desire to solidify the engineer niche has prevented them from branching out into other roles. There was backlash in Cataclysm for introducing Gnome Priests because “Gnomes don’t believe in the Light. They’re scientist” and Gnome Hunters in Legion because “they’ll get eaten by squirrels”. Even mentioning the Gnome source material (Nature Faeries) and the prospect of Gnome Druids is considered highly controversial.
This year at Blizzcon we were introduced to Mechagnomes, a race of cybernetically enhanced gnomes hidden in an underground society ruled by a devious King. Mechagnomes have, prior to their release, surpassed Gnomes in interesting architecture, culture, customization, and lore. They are the most likely candidates for a Gnomish Allied Race, blowing traditional Gnomes out of the water.
This tragedy is also a blessing. Mechagnomes add a great contrast to existing gnomes by showcasing the extremes of engineering. We’ve been introduced to a number of Gnomes in the past whom have chosen a different path in the pursuit of knowledge. Most of the Gnomeish content is based around individual Gnomes and not the Gnomeish Society themselves. This would be an ideal time for a handful of gnomes to put more emphasis in life science and medicine, or Restoration. A Restoration Gnome Druid isn’t a farfetched idea as their affinity to tinkering and learning is the basis of Anatomy and Biology.
Gnomes are the victims of biological terrorism. They’ve yet to fully recover the land from the pollution. It makes perfect sense for one of the most intelligent people on Azaroth to study biology and biochemistry. Their small stature and use of various magics should also enable them to transform into more powerful forms in combat. Not every playable Druid race get their powers from Elune. Gnomish Druidism can certainly be based scientific discovery and need.
The duality of Life and Artificial Life would have awesome synergy in the game. The Kul’Tiran Humans have added a much-needed option for Druids in the Alliance. I hope the Horde can get an additional Paladin to the Zandalari too.
3 Likes
Oh wow, I could have kitten form… do it Bliz!
1 Like
gnome druids but they turn into house cats(feral), drop bears(guardian), parakeets(flight travel), goldfish(aquatic travel) rabbits(travel) and baby moonkin model(balance)
1 Like
At least I won’t know that I’m looking at a lowly gnome
Gnomes did get monks and hunters. Goblins haven’t gotten one new class though since their release. I’d say that if one of the short races needs a turn getting a new class its goblins. Keep in mind that we haven’t even gotten our model updates yet nor heritage armor and we certainly aren’t getting an entire world all about us at this time or any foreseeable AR yet. Goblins are also less played. I’d say we are in far more need of love right now than gnomes.
Every non-gnome should adopt a gnome as a punting toy.
If you get Gnome Druid I want Tauren Rogue.
I want void elf druids. I don’t care how they do it, I just want it.
Our magic can just be void, and we turn into void animals. Please, I just want to be a velf again ;___;
pleasePleasePLEASEPLEASEPLEASE!!! let me be a gnomekin!!!
This is a terrible idea and ruins immersion.
Blizzard will do it.
A gnome druid is my #1 class/race combo I dream of
This is my dream: gnome druids in kitten form using Noggenfogger … in BGs.
I can hear the air turning blue in front of Horde players’ computers right now.
1 Like
Not that Gnome Druids make sense with the current lore, maybe if they reveal something about the junker gnomes wanting to get as far away from tech as possible given the backstory, but Tauren Rogues have a bit of a problem.
CLIP CLOP CLIP CLOP CLIP CLOP
imsosneaky
CLIP CLOP CLIP CLOP CLIP CLOP
thinks about being 59 in hellfire just questing away so many years ago
questions what just killed me as I run back to my body
sees a fel reaver laughing and pointing at my corpse then it vanishes
If the reavers can be rogues, so can a tauren.
Edit: Returning to the topic. I want a transforming ironman suit for my druid forms!
1 Like
Rage overflow error, please consult your system administrator
BLARGH! 
Stealth is shadow magic! Shadow magic dampens perception. You don’t have to be quiet, that’s why you can stealth in the middle of an open field and people won’t see you.
Also, the Grimtotem already HAD rogues. They were all over South Kalimdor, making stealth whooshies and ambushing the player.
Finally! Tauren hoof pads are probably soft, like an elephant. If they didn’t have soft pads, they’d need to be shoed like horses.
/rant
1 Like
That’s not the reaver being stealthy, that’s you rolling a 1 on your spot check with 6 wis.
I watched Good Hunting on Love, Death, Robots with a huli jing, a kitsune fox like creature. She found her powers again when a man gave her a metal nine tail fox form.
I thought of the mechagnomes and that maybe they could have discovered druidic powers through the power of the metal unobtainium. They could have sleek metal animal forms. A platinum looking owlbear maybe resembling bubo on clash of the titans. They could have a nine tail fox travel form, metal cat, metal bear, metal otter water form.