@Waronor: WCR coverage is currently extremely weak, but in a sample of 100 804 EU characters, there are 488 mechagnomes… and for comparison, 700 Kul Tirans and 582 lightforged Draenei. So mechagnomes are a lot more common than you think.
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Yes.
Realistically the options for gnomes were always going to be one of the following:
Wotlk mechagnomes
Leper gnomes
BFA mechagnomes
Only the latter has had sufficient lore development to be picked. Additionally it has the benefit of fitting an adventurer- it’s hard to see why completely robotic gnomes would choose to join a faction and go adventuring, given they operate on programming.
Also what people miss is that gnome fans would have been happy with any of the above. For us it’s not a case of “omg but I wanted this”. Gnomes getting any kind of development is a boon for us as they’re often the last to, so totally happy whenever they develop any gnome lore whatsoever. Speaking for myself at least.
Help I’d even be happy for a wierd off kilter “garden gnome” offshoot. A band of gnomes who reeling from the frequent calamities they’ve seen in their past due to tech (Mechagon, Gnomeregan) decide to relocate, and begin tinkering with only natural materials like woods and ore, and based on this cultivate a heavy agricultural culture where they tend forests and land using magnificent devices like windmills and giant operable ploughs that involve no chemicals or electricity etc. Instead they use natural elements like wind, water and fire to provide energy for their devices, thus shaman would be an option for such gnomes. They still love inventing, just they’re really into “green tech”, like a Gnomish parody of the renewable technology movement.
Now that would be a pretty neat offshoot that takes the garden gnome mythos and WoWifies it.
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Now that’s something I’d instantly race-change into. Would fit my monk amazingly well. (Would also allow gnome druids… just saying…)
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On top of that, mechagnomes are newer so less people have unlocked them compared to Kul tirans or DI dorfs. I don’t really get what the big deal is, sure set items look weird on mechagnomes but I think it adds to their charm being the strange cyborg wearing human clothes but not being perfect like all the elfs which froth at the mouth in anger. I think a game with strange creatures and perfect creatures is more fun than a game full of perfect humanoids without character.
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I think they’re pretty cool, despite the diaperbaby jokes.
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Yew the forms would need thinking through but based upon any lore could simply write it so their efforts and lifestyle had them interact with some nelf whom taught them so druidism/a wild God did so after recognising their efforts towards restoring the land.
Generally same classes swapping mage and lock for shaman and druid.
I should put this into a doc as I’ve done for my full tinker class concept.
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The mechagnome ‘look’ should have been a customization option (or rather; several cutomization options) for regular gnomes. That would make more lore sense; you finish the story where the mechagnomes are saved and join the alliance as gnomes. Now regular gnomes get access to the technology to ‘upgrade’ certain parts of their bodies.
Then we could have received another AR and I think most people would’ve been happier than they are now.
TBH this argument applies more to races like LFD, HMT, DID, MHO than KGs given their models are closer. So if it was done for them first, sure thing.
Otherwise it’s just another instance of “gnomes are unpopular, therefore they don’t get a proper AR” which isn’t fair. Popularity =/= entitlement in mmorpgs.
I think most ARs being linked to base races is so each section of the player base regarding race fans gets something. The idea if an AR doesn’t appeal to the wider audience it’s worth excluding is wrong in my view. How many people other than tauren fans likely got excited about HMT?
Most of the fellow gnome players I’ve encountered like the current MGs which means they do their job as far as I interpret it.
Seeing as blizz have gone with the “a whole new race route” they may as well keep to it. Either all the current ARs are reduced to customisation options sans vulpera or none of them are.
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No that wasn’t my argument at all. It would’ve just made more sense imo.
And fyi; I love gnomes.
But the way THIS particular AR was done, was bad imo.
The leg and arm thing is a dealbreaker for me, for instance.
There’s lots of other stuff they could have done with the gnome skeleton later down the line. Furry rabbit race based on the gnome skeleton, anyone? 
No, you could not have, because the customisation options would have required more development time than creating the Mechagnomes as an allied race. Why? Because allied races as a system already exists. Such level of customisation that would have required rolling MGs into Gnomes, does not, and would have to be developed. On top of all the other things that went into MGs.
No elfs for you, sorry.
Yes, I’m aware, just to be clear I wasn’t levelling that accusation at you directly so apologies if it seemed that way. My stance to clarify is either make majority of the AR custom options or none. Picking and mixing based upon stuff like race popularity is just an excuse to shoehorn more “popular” races in the spot of others so these players get more of what they like in comparison to others. At least with the current system, in theory, everyone gets something (except high elf fans until they introduce such as velf options anyway)
Nonsense. The options were already here because of the NPCs.
All that had to happen was make it an unlockable customization ala ‘night warrior’ for nelfs.
Wut?! Who said ANYTHING about those pointy eared freaks?!
Look at the awesome sets in SL and then tell me you will play MechaGnome 
There’s a huge difference between NPC and player customisation.
I thought everyone wants high elves?
A lot of the Kyrian armour works fantastically well with Mechagnomes seeing as the metal matches their own tones.
It’s more of a match than say tauren walking around in either metallic light plate, heavy elf themes sylvan stuff, scourge knock off gear or edgey Nosferatu cosplay.
I looked at them, they look nice on me. I’ll continue maining a mechagnome.
I mean…: https://shadowlands.wowhead.com/dressing-room#aBza0zJ8z9MzMM9o81pS8081p487c1p187V1Tm8081pO8081Tz8081pX8081pH87s - this looks quite awesome, thankyouverymuch.
The Bastion plate set looks similarly nice on my DK - also a mechagnome.
Yall been smoking something guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuud
Not saying there CAN’T be a huge difference; but in this particular case; no. No there isn’t.
I couldn’t care less tbh.
The issue of mechagnome hands looking jarring on say the night Fae armour is no different to an orc or forsaken rogue looking bizarre in being decked out in gear that makes them look like a druid.
It’s almost as if the covenants suit certain races, but not others! And mechagnomes fit very well with the kyrian aesthetics from what I’ve seen. So it’s not like they’re completely shafted here as it’s a very good match.
Stop it… Get some help !