Creating the Bafflestone Gnomes: Tinkerers, Innovators, and a Little Bit of Mischief

When it comes to fantasy races, Gnomes have always held a special place in my heart. There’s just something incredibly fun and dynamic about a small, inventive race that is always tinkering with new ideas, pushing the boundaries of what's possible, and sometimes getting into more trouble than they bargained for. Whether they’re building wild contraptions, crafting new magical items, or just blowing things up in the name of discovery, Gnomes always bring a certain charm to the table. That’s why, when I started working on The Ardinock Chronicles, I knew I had to create my own unique take on them, leading to the birth of the Bafflestone Gnomes.

The Perfect Depiction of Inventor Gnomes

One thing I love about Gnomes is that, no matter where you encounter them in fantasy, they are almost always depicted exactly how you want them to be: small, eccentric tinkerers who are obsessed with invention. That’s the beauty of Gnomes—we know what we want out of them, and they never disappoint. Whether they’re crafting clockwork devices, experimenting with potions, or forging magical artifacts, Gnomes bring endless opportunities for creativity in world-building.

So, when I was designing the Bafflestone Gnomes, I wanted to capture that same sense of inventive curiosity but take it a step further. These weren’t just Gnomes tinkering in the back of a shop—these were Gnomes on the cutting edge of technology and magic. I wanted their leader, Fiddlefep, to be one of the most important inventors of the era, a name whispered across Ardinock for his genius. The idea was that Fiddlefep’s work would inspire or directly influence countless technological advancements across the realm, making the Bafflestone Gnomes a force behind much of the innovation happening in Ardinock.

Named by Rank, Not by Birth

One fun detail I included with the Bafflestone Gnomes is that only the highest-ranking Gnomes are given proper names, while the rest are simply identified by a number. This adds a bit of mystery and allows you to never really know how many Gnomes there are. You could meet Gnome #47, then later on encounter #197, leaving you to wonder how many of them exist and where they all come from. This also gives me a lot of freedom when running games. Anytime I want to introduce a new Gnome, I can just come up with a number and throw them into the story.

The Imperfection of Progress

One of the things that makes the Bafflestone Gnomes really interesting for me is that they’re not perfect. Sure, they’re brilliant inventors and engineers, but they make mistakes. They get things wrong. And, perhaps most importantly, they sometimes end up in bed with the wrong people. For the Gnomes, it’s not about morality—it’s about discovery. What else can they learn? What else can they create? And who’s going to pay for it?

That opens up a lot of fun opportunities for storytelling because it puts the Gnomes in tricky situations. Maybe they’ve aligned themselves with the wrong faction, like the Onyx Empire, just to get their hands on some new material or technology. Maybe they’ve created something that turns out to be far more dangerous than they expected. Whatever it is, the Bafflestone Gnomes’ pursuit of knowledge and progress sometimes comes at a cost, and it’s that imperfection that makes them so much fun to work with in a narrative sense.

Magic Meets Technology

One of the things I really enjoy about the Bafflestone Gnomes is the way they blend magic with technology. In a world filled with wizards, spells, and ancient magic, the Gnomes stand out by introducing technological innovations that border on the magical. From mechanical constructs powered by enchanted cores to magical firearms and arcane devices, the Bafflestone Gnomes are always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. This gives me endless opportunities to create new magic items and gadgets for players to use, keeping things fresh and exciting.

The Origins of the Bafflestone Gnomes

The Bafflestone Gnomes didn’t start as a large faction. In fact, they began as a small group of inventive Gnomes traveling from town to town, offering their skills to anyone who would pay. They were known for their clever devices and quick fixes, but as their knowledge and experience grew, so did their ambitions. Eventually, the Gnomes realized that they needed a permanent home—a factory where they could fully explore the limits of what was possible without constantly being on the move.

Over time, their inventions became more advanced, and their need for resources grew. So, they set up near the Ashen Mountains, where they could mine rare minerals and resources to fuel their work. But their location wasn’t just about access to materials. They also discovered a unique entry point to the Fey, a small patch of magical trees hidden in the woods. These trees, with their connection to the land of the Fey, held untapped magical properties that the Gnomes have begun to harvest and experiment with, further pushing the boundaries of their creations.

There’s even a rumor that one of the original members of the Bafflestone Gnomes wasn’t a Gnome at all, but a leprechaun from the Fey. This might explain the Gnomes' connection to the Fey and their fascination with these magical trees. As a nod to this origin, it’s said that the leader of the Gnomes passes down a very specific set of boots to their successor, a tradition tied to this mythical leprechaun. With each passing leader, the boots are upgraded and enhanced with the latest Gnome inventions, making them a symbol of both innovation and heritage.

Pushing the Boundaries of World-Building

The beauty of the Bafflestone Gnomes is that they’re always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. This makes them a fantastic faction for world-building because they constantly introduce new elements into the game—new technologies, new magical items, and new conflicts. Whenever you need a fresh idea or a new piece of tech for your players to interact with, the Gnomes are the perfect source. Their relentless pursuit of innovation ensures that there’s always something new around the corner.

And that’s what I love most about them—they’re not just inventors. They’re world-changers. Whether they’re creating a new magical device or getting tangled up in a political scheme, the Bafflestone Gnomes bring a sense of dynamism and excitement to the world of Ardinock, always keeping things moving forward.

The Bafflestone Gnomes continue to be one of my favorite factions in The Ardinock Chronicles. They’re the perfect blend of whimsy, danger, and ingenuity, always giving me new ways to introduce fun, inventive elements into the game. And with their thirst for discovery, there’s no telling what they’ll come up with next.