Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Deep Gnome (Svirfneblin) 

"Deep gnomes are much like their surfer cousins, eh surface cousins" No AJ, That wasn't a mistake. You just created the greatest of all D&D subspecies--surfer gnomes. So pitted.

Finally, we have been Gnomed.

Ahh, the Deep Gnomes. The perfect race for an Underdark Ranger Build.

The people are interesting enough, but I just love the name “svirfneblin.”

My Gnome has set up a gemcutting guild called "Deepslice" in Waterdeep his name is Gabber Goldstein and he's a 14 Illusionist/10Theif he's happy to cut gems for any of you and he's considered a master as he used 6 slots for Gemcuttingx2 and Appraisal as well. He can be found at the refurbished tavern called "The Bloody Fist" in the dock ward! First rounds on me friend! 😊

My current deep gnome character has a favorite snack, A dried beetle that's diet consists primarily of cultivated mushrooms. When the beetles grow fat they put in mesh cages are salted and smoked usually with larger mushroom stalks. The texture of the beetles are that of very salty but crunchy beef jerky.

Svirfneblin like it deep,true story! This message has been brought to you by the national gnome awareness institute. 😉

My youngest son just started a gnome ranger: Papa Svirf.

I loved the Underdark book for 3.5. I didn't have a lot of friends growing up, so I would read books like that and imagine worlds I wanted to play in.

Step 1: Dwell in the Underdark Step 2: Step 3: Profit

This gnomes are so deep Adelle tried to roll for it.

Seamus wuz here!

I think the Svirfneblin might be the only Underdark culture that hasn’t directly clashed with the Illithids.

I love me some gnome. And I prefer my gnome how I like my lungs. Black. - Innkeeper Vase Odin

i liked the deep gnomes was a good part in the drizzit story showing the underdark wasn't full of evil or cruelty and such

Kinda funny how it sounds like smurf goblin, and look like a mix of both, more or less x)

I don't think I could last even a month in the underdark. I'd be cracking jokes, getting nothing but stern stares in response and I'd end up getting killed for screaming at someone to "SMILE, YOU MISERABLE @#$&!". 😄

Back when, when the deck of many was using inscribed cards, I had a Gnome that inscribed them with fireballs, illusions, and stuff like that. His nickname was "Ogre". He heard that there was an "underworld" on the surface, and set out to take it as his own. For a while people thought that the Gnome was a herald for an underworld loan shark. People would be thrown on their faces, just so that they could make eye contact. He wasn't that bad. Not so much evil as trying to to follow a social convention. His fellow adventurers were a Barbarian named Gale, a Ranger SpellSinger named Hawk, A Thief/Druid, named Trevor, who was descended from an Elven god, (he had enough personality issues that no one was sure of his name) and a cleric that was gradually becoming an avatar of a God that had been the guardian of an ancient "city of the gods" that had been destroyed. The cleric was as interesting as the Gnome. Since the domains were not in use yet, I felt like I was a forerunner for that. He had certain spells that he was allowed to use in spell slots, like a sorcerer, like protection spells, while other s had to be prepared daily; so, the studied spells had to be written out, but he could substitute "domain-type" spells, like protection from Evil, or Wizard Lock, which could be substituted as long as he ticked off one of his prepared spells (often finding that he had needed that spell).

Very useful, though a couple of corrections: The "dour" nature of Deep Gnomes tends to be a front from outsiders and their natural disposition is much more similar to regular gnomes Deep Gnomes are also thought to have originally lived nearer their cousins, particularly with settlements found in places like Calimshan. Likely they originally didn't live far underground but were a tribe who were simply more adept at delving down there. And lastly they are in fact a player character in 4E! I'm planning a Deep Gnome cleric. I was going to do an adapted version of the Path of Light from Eberron, since I wanted a play on the idea of a "deep" Gnome, hearing about Gelf Darkhearth is interesting as I could write him in as an agent to the Dreaming Dark.

The Svirfneblin have always struck me as a mix of Drow and Kender cultural traits applied to the typical tinkering and inquisitive culture inherent in all Gnomes. Serious and dour yet friendly and detached from many of the concepts that normal cultures find essential(like history).

I absolutely want to meet your gnome character AJ. That guy sounds like the best! Good job as always you crazy cheese eating madman! Loved it.

Svirfneblin verses drow, i can imagine how intence fights like that could get. Two civilisations of magical maniacs going at it. In urban warfare, retreat through the coridor full of angry enemy infantry and charge at the empty coridor - Or should you do the opposite because thats what they want you to think? Your a human mercinary and you can't tell. You keep asking the drow but they wont stop smiling. They're having the time of their lives... 😟

"I know you Emyreans consider yourselves to be deitis. For the longest time now, I wondered to myself, how does one go about killing a god? Well, in hindsight, the answer was quite apparent. You make a deal with the devil." This is a quote from a recent campaign I played in which a group of humans stood up to a group of tyrannical Empyreans. This was a quote from the leader of the party before summoning an ancient god of destruction.

A.J. i asked my little boy who he saw on the thumbnail and without missing a beat he said "its yoda,but whys he black and not green?".........lol

I'm excited. I'll be playing my 1st adnd campaign as a deep gnome wizard. Thank you aj for all your videos. Your work keeps dreams alive.

You deserve more subs, your great at this. If we only had U-tube back in the eighties, cheers

Another quality video AJ! That thumbnail looks like an affirmative action yoda dude lol.

i imagine that heat metal would be used to cook things often in the underdark

So, there is/was an Urdunnir Dwarven city called Iltkazar, that was one of the deepest, most defended, and secretive places in Faerun. I'm actually sort of surprised that the Deep Gnomes don't have some similar place. A city hidden in the deep rock, with only a few entrances, warded by their skilled craft, and hidden by their great illusion magic, guarded by earth elementals, naybe some golems, and a few fed xorn, almost feels appropriate, except I guess they don't value anything, apart from each other, enough to erect such mighty defenses. Beyond that, ive always sort of liked the Svirfneblin. It's nice to have at least one Underdark race who aren't evil, aren't all slaves, and the like. I've never actually played one, but I've imagined several Illusionist Wizards, Gloomstalker Rangers, and ruby-dotted Hexblade Warlocks from among their people, and maybe someday, I even will.

Nice video AJ!

Was looking forward to this :)

Hi, anyone want to join this paladin on an adventure to the underdark?

Ah yes I've been waiting for this one! Love the sverfneblin

Love the vids...would love to see more terrain videos...really enjoyed the making vids...keep up the great work...

Sorry that I wasn't here earlier. I was busy adding a bunch of reuploads from a content creator who quit youtube and deleted his videos to a playlist.

I started reading the drizzit books about 3 months ago and I have to say I'm hooked. On book nine now. I have to say I enjoy drizzits good burrow warden friend. Maga camradra or however you say it. Takes some effort to gain a deep gnomes friendship, but once you gain it you gain a friend for life it seems.

oh you think Drow be emo? lemme tell ya bout the dark gnomes.

Bonus points for pronunciation. /salute

Absolutely love it

I'm currently running Out of the abyss and your videos have been invaluable! Subscribed and joined! I look forward to listening to many more of your videos (the lines at the start of your Orcus video I enjoyed the most so far).

I think I am going to play deep gnome barbarian next.

Yessssssssss!!!!!!! Thank you!

Talk some on underdark oceans. I promise you will get views.

Great video AJ. In my campaigns, I tell my players that pick that race they are totally the black sheep of their race, no matter how close they choose to play a Deep Gnome type PC. At the very least, they are willing to leave their community and go to the surface world. At the most, they are more human (player) in personality and are akin to the player.

Thats gnome... I mean thats deep!

great artworks

Great video. What domain did your cleric of Gelf Darkearth use? I'm absolutely stealing the whole 'break their item over the anvil holy symbol' thing btw :D

Yay deep gnomes. My go to race.

Hey you do a great job bringing these creatures and monsters to life! The dark setting of deep gnomes reminded me of The Lost City, a module I am struggling with, and The Cynidicean tribe/people. Could you add them to your list of future videos?!

good video

Freed a bunch of svirfneblin slaves from some fire salamanders and drow. Might make a player character who is a Necromancer but is afraid of ghosts,etc and has a penchant for drow and orc women.its gonna be hilarious when i do

4:24 Papa Svirf

Rafeeki and the deep gnomes would get along very well 😃

Imagine having to call someone mr brongle.

I didn't know he updated the merch, I dig it.

1.) In the Elemental Evil Players Companion it says that some become merchants or middle men between different races both above and below the surface, and that "Drow, duergar, and other peoples know that svirfneblin are usually neutral in outlook and typically honest in their dealings". Is that just with races of the under-dark or with those who have experience dealing with them? 2.) Is there some sort of story of how they ended up down there like with the drow or duergar or did they just see a place and expanded into it? 3.) How do they get along with other gnomes? Do they have any connections (trade, alliances, communication, friendly relations, etc.)?

I can picture your NPC having a stash of rocks that he can easily polymorph into the object that has been surrendered by the person seeking magical help which then he sleight-of-hands the precious object for the polymorphed duplicate...smashing the duplicate while saving the actual objects for some dark ritual involving many items of personal attachment & that's when the End of Sorrow is accomplished for the previous possession. Spriggan was that part of the Svirfneblin race?

Dang, I just started with the Siege of Darkness and had to stop at 3:00 minutes so I don't spoil it for myself. Guess I'll have to come back in a few days now.

i've always believed that these gnomes were based on the Smurfs... at least back in 1e. cant wait to hear what AJ researched on these creatures

Yeah buddy. First like!

I'd assume you make a badass dm.

My favorite gnomes! Also at 10:27, it sounds like you said Neep Domes by mistake

That underdark map at 3:06, what suppliment did that come from? I wantz it!

@12:16 Shinckledick lol

I wonder what the interactions would be like with that deep gnome cleric of yours and an anti highwayman? As to say an anti highway man wont just have marble architecture in their their house, but they'll have mahogany doors. The interaction with a highwayman and an anti highwayman would go something like this: "your money or your life." reply "my money sir." ans "stand and delivour!" reply "I deliver myself, into the jaws of death." Ans "If you were part with your belongs, no more than the hefted burdening purse at your side. And afew easily detachable items of jewlry, then one could continue? Unaccosted? And with ones dignity intact?" Reply "my money is my dignity. to be exposed to destitution, is fate far more terrofying to my sensibilities than death. And since i cannot best you sir, then i am forced to plead for a civilized mercy. So that in my passing i might be spared the sight of my own diminishment." Ans "But you have lands..." Reply "Of the least of which i can aford on my own person..." Ans "But surely sir/madam the stones..." Reply "Priceless relics..." Ans "The shirt on your bach?" Reply "spiders silk hand woven by..." Ans "Good god man/woman!?!? It's your life!" Reply "I know, it's a shame, i'm a fine breed." Ans "And you would die for it all, linens, coins, cloacks and stones. And would have me leave here ideally were i not so beset to rob you in a carriage turned casket, departed in, but not parted from your own lavish oppulence?" Reply "You would honour me sir, for you see, for one as refined as i. Luxury is sacrosanct." Ans "But sir/madam" Reply "I already provide, "arms for the poor"." Ans "And now you insult me." Reply "Discharge your wepon, the horses are of finer stock than i." Ans "Must one procede pose for the shot aswell!?" Reply "Ofcourse! One has no buisness dying out of fashion."

Have you done the dwarf base race yet?

Just what we need. More Gnomes. ( i am being very sarcastic)

OMG!! FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I HEAR HOW U ACTUALLY PRONOUNCE Menzoberranzan ! 2:38 I read so many drizzt books and trust me i never pronounced it this way

17:20 I want that pipe!

13:15.... LMFAO

How do they know when to have their festivals if they don’t have calendars?

Hi quality vids mate. What creatures do you think dwell the deepest in the Underdark? Aboleth? Or are there other unknown things that lurk in the greater dark?

So do Deep gnome players get those natural occurring spells? I didn’t see anything about it on DND beyond

BIVRIP!!!

Best place to find copy or good summaries of the Underdark sourcebook?

Don't think I would ever play one of these.To grim for me. Great video though.

Is that word in bottom of thumbnail silvermine in english

It's HOGGLE!

They are completely hairless, yes?

Sniff fib linn I pernounce it

Fermented fish alcohol?... That doesn't sound tasty at all. Why they don't drink fermented rothe milk? Oh well, they like salty food so why not XD

Wtf RU-vid how come I got no notification

The only cool kind of gnome.

I hope you're doing well my friend I hope your peaceful Little slice of the world returns to peace soon sorry to hear about all the craziness and the authoritarian steps your government's been taken i hope your safe

"deep" sense of community... lolz

Deep Gnomes drink the juice of surstrommings, I now like them even less.

If you decide to rebrand, you should rebrand your channel as something having to do with "Deeply Nerdy". Like, "Dungeons, Dragons, and Deeply Nerdy" Or "Deeply Nerdy D&D Lore" / "Deeply Nerdy Extras: Tabletop Bling" / "Deeply Nerdy Surprise: Book of Erotic Adventures". You know, just re-contextualize your regular content :)