Gnome
Tier 3About
The Gnomes are Blood Bowl's newest entrants to the Halfling Thimble Cup circuit, and they bring a uniquely inventive approach to the game. Small, clever, and absolutely obsessed with tinkering, the Gnomes compensate for their diminutive stature with an array of gadgets, traps, and a surprising amount of cunning. Their Treemen allies provide the muscle, while the Gnomes themselves dart around the pitch causing chaos with their illusionist tricks.
What makes the Gnome roster distinctive is the combination of woodland allies and gnomish ingenuity. Treemen anchor the line and provide Throw Team-Mate capability for desperate one-turn touchdown attempts, while Illusionists bring unique abilities that can bamboozle opponents. The Gnome linemen themselves are tiny but surprisingly nimble, capable of slipping through gaps that larger players cannot follow.
Coaching Gnomes is an exercise in creative problem-solving. You will be outmuscled in almost every match, and your players will break if an opponent so much as looks at them sternly. But if you can keep the ball moving, exploit your Treemen effectively, and use your special abilities at the right moments, the Gnomes can pull off victories that leave opponents scratching their heads and wondering what just happened.
Positionals
| Position | MA | ST | AG | PA | AV | Cost | Starting Skills | Primary | Secondary | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gnome Lineman | 5 | 2 | 3+ | 4+ | 7+ | 40k | Jump UpRight StuffStuntyWrestle | Agility | Devious, General, Strength | 16 |
| Altern Forest Treeman | 2 | 6 | 5+ | 5+ | 11+ | 120k | Mighty Blow (+1)Stand FirmStrong ArmTake RootThick SkullThrow Team-mateTimmm-ber! | Strength | Agility, General, Passing | 2 |
| Gnome Beastmaster | 5 | 2 | 3+ | 4+ | 8+ | 55k | GuardJump UpStuntyWrestle | Agility | Devious, General, Strength | 2 |
| Gnome Illusionist | 5 | 2 | 3+ | 3+ | 7+ | 50k | Jump UpStuntyTricksterWrestle | Agility, Passing | Devious, General | 2 |
| Woodland Fox | 7 | 2 | 2+ | - | 6+ | 50k | DodgeMy BallSidestepStunty | Agility | 2 |
Strengths
- Treemen provide Throw Team-Mate for potential one-turn touchdowns
- Illusionists bring unique disruptive abilities to the pitch
- High agility on Gnome players makes ball-handling surprisingly reliable
- Very entertaining and unpredictable playstyle that opponents struggle to prepare for
- Cheap linemen allow quick roster rebuilding after casualties
Weaknesses
- Extremely low strength and armour across the roster
- Treemen are slow and prone to taking root at inconvenient times
- Heavily outmatched physically against almost every other team
- Tiny player count vulnerability -- losing even one or two players can be devastating
- Tier 3 team that requires significant skill to compete consistently
Tips & Strategy
- Always plan for the Throw Team-Mate one-turn touchdown -- it may be your best route to scoring
- Use your Illusionists' abilities to disrupt key enemy players at pivotal moments
- Avoid contact wherever possible; your players cannot afford to trade blows
- Keep Treemen near the line of scrimmage where their strength matters most
- Embrace the underdog role and focus on having fun -- Gnome victories are among the most satisfying in Blood Bowl