Are gnomes made from lead?

[Kromm]

Gnomes and dwarves aren't just scaled-down humans! They're as big as extra-stocky humans above the waist, and have shorter but much thicker legs below.

For humans, legs count for 40-50% of height. Thus, humans who "have heights between 4'10" and 6'11"" are 2'10" to 3'6" torso and 2' to 3'5" leg. For gnomes and dwarves, legs count for 15-25% of height. Thus, gnomes and dwarves who are "between 3'3" and 4'8" tall" are 2'9" to 3'6" torso, and 6" to 1'2" leg.

But wait, there's more! A dwarf's torso is heavier than a human's because of larger heart and lungs (FP+3), an overdeveloped liver (Resistant to Poison 6), and significant thicker fat and muscle (Tough Skin 1 and Lifting ST 2). A gnome is built similarly, but with a bit less fat and muscle (no Tough Skin or Lifting ST). Those extra FP probably imply wider airways, too, meaning a thick neck, big nose, etc. . . . the head won't be tiny.

In both cases, the legs are overdeveloped as well. Again, this is most prominent for dwarves with their Lifting ST, but both races have "just" Basic Move-1 despite having around 1/4 to 1/3 human stride length. They're taking two or three strides per human stride to manage this, yet moving as much or more weight with each stride. Thus, they have remarkably powerful legs, far thicker than a human's . . .

The net result? Human-sized head, neck, and arms; larger-than-human-sized torso; and shorter-but-thicker legs that weigh almost as much as a human's. Thus, no part is likely to weigh less than for a human, and many significant parts are likely to weigh more. That's why where humans weigh "between 90 lbs. and 300 lbs.," gnomes weigh "from 90 to 250 lbs." (about as much as a human if small to slightly less if large), and dwarves weigh "120 lbs. at the short end to well over 350 lbs." (a bit more than a human across the board, thanks to that ox-like torso).

Is this realistic? I have no idea! But the takeaway message is that gnomes and dwarves aren't just scaled-down humans.

[Bruno]

I like to think of dwarves as being fundamentally cubic. Not two cubes stacked on top of each other, just one cube.

[LokRobster]

Perhaps “Ugly bags of mostly water”? 150lbs is 20 gallons... but I can’t visualize volume in a humanoid shape...

I like the breakdown of the DFRPG stats that make them heavier for their height.

And thinking of dwarves more like cubes is a good comparison. For gnomes, or other small-thin build critters, it is more difficult to picture the extra weight.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by LokRobster

And thinking of dwarves more like cubes is a good comparison. For gnomes, or other small-thin build critters, it is more difficult to picture the extra weight.

Apparently gnomes aren't thin-built in DFRPG.

[LokRobster]

Originally Posted by Anders

Apparently gnomes aren't thin-built in DFRPG.

I was thinking particularly of the gnomes in Nordvorn, the Nordlandr Folk’s art. But yeah, the standard gnome links directly to the Adventurer’s race entry with a few tweaks, but not physical changes.

On page 7, for Nordvorn-style halflings, it has the Neveri Halflings as 1-2” taller and 5-10lbs lighter. (The same page has optional rules to lower weight (and DR) with SM reductions, something my players asked for.)

2” and 10lbs may not scales these little guys into human-like proportions, but hey magic.

The other good idea from Nordlandr Folk is the dwarve’s close affiliation to stone, i.e. stone-like skin texture and color. Need Nordic twist on the classic dwarf.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by LokRobster

The other good idea from Nordlandr Folk is the dwarve’s close affiliation to stone, i.e. stone-like skin texture and color. Need Nordic twist on the classic dwarf.

Classic Nordic dverge are made from carrion maggots in the corpse of the ur-giant Ymer. There are four of them that hold up the sky.

[kjamma4]

Originally Posted by Kromm

But wait, there's more! A dwarf's torso is heavier than a human's because of larger heart and lungs (FP+3), an overdeveloped liver (Resistant to Poison 6), and significant thicker fat and muscle (Tough Skin 1 and Lifting ST 2)

Great rationale. Reminds me of a description of a centaur's dual set of lungs where the horse lungs act as a supercharger for the human lungs.

Originally Posted by Kromm

Is this realistic? I have no idea! But the takeaway message is that gnomes and dwarves aren't just scaled-down humans.

Realistic enough in a fantasy setting. Cool trumps absolute realism.

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by Kromm

Gnomes and dwarves aren't just scaled-down humans! They're as big as extra-stocky humans above the waist, and have shorter but much thicker legs below.

For humans, legs count for 40-50% of height. Thus, humans who "have heights between 4'10" and 6'11"" are 2'10" to 3'6" torso and 2' to 3'5" leg. For gnomes and dwarves, legs count for 15-25% of height. Thus, gnomes and dwarves who are "between 3'3" and 4'8" tall" are 2'9" to 3'6" torso, and 6" to 1'2" leg.

Um, six inch long legs that are thicker than those of a human? I'm having difficulty imagining that, and the body mechanics seem bizarre.

[Ejidoth]

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

Um, six inch long legs that are thicker than those of a human? I'm having difficulty imagining that, and the body mechanics seem bizarre.

Six inches is probably too short for them to still have functioning knees on human-thickness legs, so that might get a bit silly. Especially if they try to run, or kick anything.

The basic idea of 'legs are proportionally shorter' seems to hold true with most fantasy artwork of dwarves and gnomes, but at a glance the ratios I'm seeing are more like 25%-40%, rather than 15%-25%. I suppose 25% is still a valid overlap there, though.

[Anthony]

There were old character sheets for 3e that had character portraits of various races on them. Are those online anywhere?