Gnomes in WORLD OF WARCRAFT: CHRONICLE VOLUME 1

Will there be Gnomes in WORLD OF WARCRAFT: CHRONICLE VOLUME 1?

We don’t know much about Mechagnomes.  They definitely predate the opening of the Dark Portal.  With all the coverage of the Titans and (presumably) the Watchers, we should learn more about the Mechagnomes.  My fear is it contain only one sentence like, “And Mimiron created Mechagnomes” and that will be it.

Gnome history is ‘messy’ and has the biggest gaps of any race. Some questions I hope (but do not expect) to be answered.

• Why were Mechagnomes created?
• How did gnomes end up in Dun Morogh?
• Why don’t gnomes have a Monarchy anymore?
• How are High Tinkers elected? for how long?
• Sand/Voodoo Gnomes, WTF?
• Are gnomes related to pygmies, and by extension goblins?
• Is there a depreciated gnome descendant, like dwarves devolved to troggs?

These are all things that happened well before the Opening of the Dark Portal.

What I expect from Chronicles is:

1. Old Gods vs Titans
2. Old Gods vs Trolls
3. Trolls vs Night Elves
4. Night Elves vs Alarm Clocks
5. Humans

I hope Tauren, Dwarves, Goblins etc get coverage, and I really hope the Night elf stuff is not just War of the Ancients rehash, because I’ve read the War of the Ancients trilogy, all that stuff is well established and easily accessible.  There is no reason to revisit it in detail.

I’m excited for Chronicle.  I’m a complete lore nerd and the book looks beautiful.  I just have to remind myself that it’s still a book and will have limited space, so their will be no way they could ever possibly answer every question I personally have.

What questions are you hoping get answered?

Gnome Zodiac – Prisms

From the gnome library archives

This except is from the diary of Illuminator Galixie Astrosurge written in the year 278 G.M.E. (Gnome Monarchy Experiment)  It represents beliefs of ancient gnomes that may or may not apply to today.

Another Reason We Need Lore

Head canon is fun, but the less lore their is, the harder it is to role-play.

My blog posts contain conflicting head canon, because I change my mind about things, or have ideas I like, but they don’t actually work together.  As fun as the #Sicco2016 campaign is, I’ve gotten some questions I can’t answer, because the answers do not exist.

Who votes for High Tinker?

How often are elections?

What are the term limits?

What are the requirements to run?

What kind of succession is there to replace a High Tinker in the even one dies or goes missing?

Under High Tinker, what kind of cabinet positions exist?

More generally, I have talked to several people about what gnomes do when they are not at war?  What do Gnomeregan civilians do?  What function do mages, rogues, and other serve in Gnomeregan society proper?

It’s almost impossible to write a character history for a gnome that goes back before the fall of Gnomeregan, because we know nothing about Gnomeregan pre-explosion.

I really hope Chronicles, or the (possible) future re-releases of Warcraft I, II and III on mobile gives us some new tidbits or glimpses in to Gnome history.

The Cornerstones of my Campaign

I’ve been going back though my #Sicco2016 posts to see what has been the most popular, so here are the things I’ve decided to make the core of my message to the gnome people!

#EndPunting

Grand City for Gnomes

Fix the RNG! and include more safeguards

More gnome influence on Azeroth

Make the Vile Fumigators mask cosmetic and transmogrify-able!

Build a wall across Dun Morogh, and make Ironforge pay for it

Create name projector for mounts!

And of course Gnome Paladins, Gnome Druids and Gnome Shamans

 

Polling Numbers

Mekkatorque and I have both been getting some polling numbers to see where our campaigns stand.  Even though he APPEARS to be showing a lead, I still feel like I’ve got a strong showing.  The MOST disappointing thing to me is how few people bothered to vote.

The media might cast me as the villain, but gnomes know things are never so black and white.  I have guided all of recent gnome history.  I’m the first gnome that new gnomes learn about.  I’ve stuck with Gnomeregan.  I’m not leaving until it is restored.  I know Mekkatorque is busy restoring Orgrimmar for the horde, because reasons?  I’m sure he has a good excuse why he’d rather fight for Vol’jin than for gnomes.

The truth is gnomes need me, and I need them! Lets gather here, in this city and raise it up to be the best place on Azeroth.  We can do it!  I believe!

Mekkatorque and Thermaplugg, The Doctor and the Master

Mekkatorque and Thermaplugg, The Doctor and the Master

Every time I watch an episode of Doctor Who that has the master in it, I think, ‘That is how I imagine Mekkatorque and Thermapluggs frienemy relationship.’

listen to these quotes!

 

*Doctor Who spoilers maybe?*

 

Doctor: You’ve come here to kill me, of course?

Master: But not without considerable regret.

Doctor: How very comforting.

 

Doctor: I envy you your TARDIS, Master.

Master: Excellent, Doctor, envy is the beginning of all true greatness!

 

Doctor: I was the only one who could end it. And I tried, I did, I tried everything.

Master: What did it feel like, though? Two almighty civilizations burning, [inhales dramatically] Tell me… how did that feel?

Doctor: Stop it!

Master: You must have been like God.

Doctor: [still talking on the phone] I’ve been alone ever since. But not anymore. Don’t you see? All we’ve got is each other.

Master: [sarcastic] Are you asking me out on a date?

 

Doctor: Why are you doing this?

Master: I need you to know we’re not so different. [gentler] I need my friend back. Every battle, every war, every invasion, from now on, you decide the outcome. What’s the matter, Mr. President? Don’t you trust yourself?

Putting Gnomes on the MAP!

I’m putting the name “Thermaplugg” on the map with this blog!  Check out this spike in “Thermaplugg” searches from Dec 2014.

I’m sure that has everything to do with ME and nothing to do with that being the month that Hearthstone: Goblins vs Gnome launched.

Tragedy ≠ Serious

The Gnomes in Warcraft start off with a bang, a literal one.  Not a great be happy motivating bang, but a kick in the teeth genocide bang.

On the one hand, right out of the gate it shows gnomes as something more than just comic relief, which is great.  On the other hand, it shows gnomes as incompetent.

The fact that after so much time Gnomes can’t reclaim their city or even just move on and build a new one speaks volumes about what they are able to accomplish, unfortunately it says, ‘not much’.  There needs to be a triumphant victory to counter the low starting note. Show that gnomes can accomplish great things even when they come from one of the most tragic situations of any race on Azeroth.

Note: I think part of the perception comes from the fact that Gnomeregan is a low level dungeon.  I realize this is just a game mechanic issue and not really a lore issue, but I think it does undermine the image of gnomes.

Fallen/Shadow Paladins

I would love a quest like the Warlock Green fire quest to replace holy with shadow for Paladins.

Paladins would embark on a quest that would either:

1. Call on them to do questionable things in the line of duty -OR-
2. They take a quest from someone that gets them to go against their code for what seems like the ‘greater good’ with disastrous results.

Option two seems like a better option, something like Maraad’s “Lords of War” story.  Through the course of the story they struggle with reconciling the teachings and philosophies of the light with the horrors and war of Azeroth.

At the same time Night Elf and Forsaken Paladins could be introduced that start off fallen and can do a quest chain to be redeemed.

Examples:

Maiev Shadowsong and the Wardens as shadow paladins.

Leonid Barthalomew the Revered and Commander Springvale as undead paladins.

Worgen and Gnomes, might be able to fit this paradigm as well.  Worgen Shadow Paladins that channel the darkness of their curse, or the light through Elune. Cynical gnome fallen paladins that have given up hope on restoring Gnomeregan through reputable means, and have their hearts filled with rejection.

 

I CAN’T Be Wrong, so YOU Must Be!

Well my poll closed, and I can’t believe the results! 112 people LIKE to level? only 65 people would skip leveling every time.  Well a good gnome knows when to admit he is wrong, but I am not that gnome!

Most of the comments were about how people would like the ability to skip one expansion (usually BC)  I will admit, Outland is the reason I’ve never played a Death Knight.  Honestly it made no sense for DKs to drop in to Outland instead of going to Northrend for their revenge on the Lich King.  I’m glad they are sending Demon Hunters straight to the Broken Isles.

Fine, I’ll just equip my heirlooms, close my eyes and try not to be OCD about finishing every quest in a zone before I leave.

Do you prefer leveling or would you rather skip to current content every time? #Warcraft #DeathToLeveling

— Sicco Thermaplugg (@SiccoThermaplug) January 27, 2016