World of Warcraft Reputation Guides - Superior Role in Cataclysm Guides
During the Third War the Gnomes were unable to help because their city was under siege by Troggs at the time. The Alliance found this out after the Third War and the Dwarves volunteered space in Ironforge, Khaz Modan, and Bael Modan. Since then they have continued working on assisting the Alliance with their technology and magic.
The Gnomes in WoW have kind of been a non-factor through most of the story. They were quiet in the first two expansions with only Gnomeregan having a large presence of Gnomes. Their other appearances where usually involving some random gadget or for Gnomish Engineering. They did have Toshley’s Station, but that was pretty much another city.
In WotLK we find out their origin. They establish a forward base, known as Fizzcrank Airstrip, and from there they learn that they were originally something called a “mechagnome” that was affected by the “Curse of Flesh” from Yogg’saron. In English, that means that they were originally small robots used by the Titans who were then turned Human. Kind of sounds like a story from Star Trek.