Gnome

Myr Creation

Who originally created the Myr as a concept? Or is that not really attributable?

I attribute it to Brady Dommermuth. The set originally had Gnomes, and Brady didn’t want to do them, so I said, “Okay make me a cute artifact creature.”

Artifacts Creatures Gnome Myr

Gnomes on Beeble Scale

Given their recent highlight in Ixalan, where would you currently put Gnomes on the Beeble scale?

I’d call them a 5. I think we’ll see them again.

Beeble Scale Gnome Ixalan

Token Diversity Limits

I had a great time drafting OTJ last night! I noticed, after opening an entire box, there are a LOT of different tokens. My first thought was how they do an excellent job of increasing design space and contribute to overall worldbuilding. Unfortunately we didn't open any Mercenary tokens and only 1 treasure – the two most needed tokens in the set. Comparatively, we got 3 sheep, angels, gnomes, 5 food, & 4 Elk among others. I point this out because I think token diversity is a budget to consider.

It is. We do have set limits.

Angel Design Space Elk Food Gnome Mercenary Outlaws of Thunder Junction Sheep Tokens Treasure

Historic Criticism Parallels

Did people have the same flavour complaints about thopters and gnomes being historic during Dominaria, as people do about some stuff being or not being crimes?

Players always have complaints. : )

Dominaria Flavor Gnome Historic Humor Thopter

Token Color Indicators

"Why don’t tokens have color indicators? My best guess is they don’t technically need them." They kind of do. I keep running into the problem with the Gnome Soldiers being White, but everyone believing they're Colorless due to the token being borderless.

I wasn’t saying it wouldn’t help for game play purposes. I was saying the rules don’t require it.

Colorless Colors Game Play Gnome Rules Soldier Tokens White

Gnomes and Myr

Hiya, I've been loving LCI and surprised at how much I enjoyed the gnomes and it occurred to me to ask if there was ever a point where they were myr? Now that New Phyrexia/Mirrodin is phased out, I feel like having myr on another plane could be interesting (if multiple planes can develop ornithopters, why not myr?) and the Ixalan gnomes felt to me pretty similar (small useful guys). (I still want more gnomes! And waiting for more Runes like Kaldheims too)

The Gnomes were Gnomes from the first version of the file.

Gnome Ixalan Mirrodin Myr New Phyrexia Planes The Lost Caverns of Ixalan

Non-artifact Gnomes

Mark,regarding non-artifact gnomes, we had some of them in Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, and Battle for Baldur's Gate, so there are 10 in Magic in addition to Quarum Trench Gnomes

True. I was talking in-Magic universe.

Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Baldur's Gate Battles Gates Gnome Quarum Trench Gnomes

Non-Artifact Gnomes

If or when will we see non-artifact Gnomes? 𝘌𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 in the garden variety.

If. There is one (non-artifact, not garden variety) in early Magic.

Blogatog / Tumblr Gnome If/When

Gnome Design Praise

Hey Mark! I really like the gnomes, their design is novel and I like that they don't look like how I'd expect.

There’s no race like Gnome. : )

Gnome Humor

Gnomes vs Gremlins vs Goblins

Hi Mark! In terms of flavor, what is the difference between gnomes, gremlins, and goblins? I love them all, but to me, they all seem to be mischievous little creatures that care about artifacts. Thank you for everything you do!

Gnomes, at least in Magic, are artificial created beings.Gremlins tend to be destructive creatures without much sapience.Goblins are clever little creatures that natural instincts lend towards chaos.

Appreciation Artifacts Creatures Flavor Gnome Goblin Gremlin

Constructs vs Golems

Is there a mechanical or flavor difference for there being both constructs and golems as creature types? In my mind, golems would be a subset of construct. (Then again, the gnomes in LCI should also be subsets of constructs if that's the case) Is there an intended identity between them to make the distinction worth it? Because otherwise it feels like some things are named as constructs and some as golems for arbitrary "because we felt like it" reasons.

Constructs are a larger group for non-natural artifact creatures that don’t have a more localized creature type.

Artifacts Construct Creatures Flavor Gnome Golem The Lost Caverns of Ixalan

Gnomes Appearance Concern

"Is it the look of the Gnomes or just the fact they are called “Gnomes”?" At my shop we're all pretty much agreed we don't like that the random shaped constructs are called gnomes. An image generally comes to mind for the word gnome, and these aren't it

What does a Gnome look like? Like a lawn Gnome?

Construct Gnome

Gnome Opinions

I want to chime in one million percent in favor of gnomes. I've said before that I wish the underground video games aspect of the set had taken a more front and center role in the creative, and (though my opinion may change when I get to play it) gnomes feel like the last holdouts of a really awesome idea.

Gnome opinions seem to play into which aspect of the set you prefer.

Gnome

Gnomes in Ixalan

Hey Mark, I’m really stoked about the new take on Ixalan. I was not originally especially looking forward to this set, but the respectful take on Mesoamerican culture was a very pleasant surprise. After Amonkhet, I had thought that WoTC had chosen to avoid deep cuts that are not commonly known. The Mesoamerican fantasy setting that highlights what makes its source material great feels really fresh and exciting.However (and perhaps I’m just ignorant of the source material), I’m finding the Gnomes to be pretty jarring inclusion - and I love MTG Gnomes. I was probably the target audience for them. I had the Mirrodin Bottle Gnomes art as my desktop wallpaper for several years. I would have still preferred a creature type that was a little more authentic to the source material, or even just Construct or Robot. The degree to which Lost Caverns of Ixalan is referencing its source material is kind of making the Gnomes more jarring by contrast. At least the feathered Dinosaurs kind of have the tangential link to Quetzalcoatl. It kind of feels like if Theros had had some elven philosophers.

Is it the look of the Gnomes or just the fact they are called “Gnomes”?

Amonkhet Art Bottle Gnomes Construct Creatures Dinosaur Gnome Ixalan Mirrodin Robot Theros Wizards of the Coast

Gnomes and Golems

Everyone is talking about the Gnomes but I think the Golems are cool too.

They are.

Gnome Golem

Gnomes vs Dwarfs

whats the difference between gnomes and dwarfs mechanically?

Gnomes tend to be artifact creatures.

Artifacts Creatures Gnome

Gnomes Podcast Mention

Hey Mark, I love the podcast and I saw you were having Ovidio on next week. I have been burning with curiosity about the gnomes and was wondering if you could ask him to expand on them!

It’s already recorded, but I did ask him about the Gnomes.

Drive to Work Gnome

Appreciating Gnomes

I don't know who decided Gnomes decided so much love, but give them a high five for me!

Will do.

Gnome High Fives

Gnomes Appearance

Hi Mark,I was excited to see gnomes where in the set.But I was shocked that the couple of gnome spoiled so far don't even remotely look like gnomes. Why is that?

In Magic, Gnomes are (mostly small) constructed creatures, not necessarily things like look like lawn gnomes.

Constructed Creatures Gnome

Gnomes in LCI

Mark, I just wanted to say how excited I am to see gnomes returning to Magic in LCI, and how relieved I am that they are still artifact creatures! Fantasy races having unique identities within Magic adds so much to the multiverse IMO.

I share your love of artifact Gnomes.

Artifacts Creatures Gnome The Lost Caverns of Ixalan