Arms and the Gnome

 Last post left off on a question: are Gnomes warriors? I think yes, and no. 

No, in that they don't - or hardly ever go to war. They are not a martial people, and we could turn to  J.R.R.Tolkien's Hobbits as a comparison; also peaceful peoples, albeit with a ready to assemble militia and sheriff as needed (and even during the events of the destruction of the Ring this is rarely employed - and even then by third parties)

So perhaps yes in the sense that they will fight if they have something to defend. The D&D Gnome in the wild has a lair, and the various Monster Manuals give them colonies of many individuals, defences and guardian animals. The Monster manuals also express a preference for crossbows (since Greyhawk, as far as I can see), which lends more towards the mechanical side of Gnomes - or perhaps is a 'different flavour' necessary to distinguish them from their cousins.

Myself, I would strip this back. 

If pragmatism is a characteristic of the woodland Gnome, then it makes sense that he or she would be prepared to defend their home, their friends, or their livelihood with whatever may be at hand. I would surmise then that like peasant warriors they would adapt their common tools into ready arms - or be skillful enough to wield them so. For a woodland Gnome this could be a staff, a hatchet-style axe, a sturdy knife, or a club (frankly, a much overlooked weapon). A ranged weapon might be more along the lines of hunting equipment: shortbow, sling or blowdart. Spears? Maybe. Swords, pole arms, maces - and yes, crossbows - are out.Shields and armour? None to speak of.

Metals being rare in woodlands, and war even rarer, such resources would be reserved for more practical things. Take a Gnome out of the woods, however, and the story may well change...