Enchanter Race - DElf vs. Gnome

[oZtiaZ]

Hello,

I am deciding between D.Elf and Gnome as a race for enchanter; while I understand there are 'better' races in terms of starting stats (e.g. High Elf or Human), I am set on either D.Elf or Gnome because I can't really stand how the other races look except for maybe Erudites, but Erudites don't get hide or tinkering!

Gnomes have more stamina when comparing the two races side-by-side after adding +25 CHA and +5 STA to either, which also seems 'better'.

I see tinkering as fun and entertaining and I could make stalking probes for necromancers - including my own - but am not sure if there's really any benefit to having tinkering as an enchanter - is there? I just don't know the ins-and-outs as I am still pretty green to all of this.

Additionally, a gnome enchanter may also serve as a legit. blacksmith too in that they could also enchant ore to create magical items from what I understand - is that correct? Not that a D.Elf enchanter - or other race - couldn't do the enchanted ore and magical item crafting thing, but it makes more sense to have a more focused crafter like having tinkering AND blacksmithing all on the same enchanter, right?

Is 'hide' really that important for an enchanter in that it is 'game-changing' or a 'game-breaker'? Is 'hide' really that much more important than 'tinkering' and +5 more STA by default? +5 STA seems way more important then -1 INT when comparing the two side-by-side anyway.

Hope that wasn't too wordy, and, thanks in advance for the help!

-Oz