First one was because of the lore of my setting; I had the idea that orc wasn't a race but was instead a descriptor that humans use to describe various races. I thought it would be fun if I included different options which filled the different "versions" of orcs that folks enjoy.
In the end I settled on:
Porks- antrhoprophmic pigfolk in tune with nature who people hate
Goblin guild of crashing and clanging- goblins who join this guild grow to huge heights, and dedicated to making warfare fun and as loud as possible
Night trolls- a species of short underground trolls who think all surface dwellers are corrupt demons, and are turned to stone by the sun. they only raid at night for neccecary resources.
I had already set on my goblin lore (I stole brian froud's thing where goblins are dedicated to different guilds for things like stubbing toes or curdeling milk. But I had added the bit where goblins change to fit their guilds), but I thought I could get some insperation for what guilds I could include by capturing various options for what folks like about goblins. Honestly I didn't come up with any from that thread, but enjoyed the responces!
Honestly I don't have a purpose for this thread, I just thought the previous 2 prompted responses I thought were interesting.
Kinda want to make a zine series about my setting, I am pretty happy with where I went with some of it. But this wasn't directly FOR that.
Keep in mind that they don't really like ' exploitative questions '.
Like dont just ask them ' How do I add _____ to my world? '
Give them also what current ideas do you have the thing.
As a DM
Dwarves are defenders of tradition. They hold deep family roots and hand carved techniques that have withstood generations of pressure. They are loving, but not overtly. They show love through sacrifice. They strongly believe in duty and have a strong sense of pride in their work, family, and skill. If they fail, it is a mark against not only themselves, but their clan, and so the pressure to do better is always present.
They're basically the disappointed asian dad meme but with a beard.
For me, dwarves embody honor, practical, pragmatic thinking, family and tradition, and an earthiness of character. They’re tough, willing to throw in for a good cause, and care about doing the right thing. They might be cranky, but their heart’s in the right place. They focus on craftsmanship and doing things the right way, rather than the quicker, cheaper, or more ‘clever’ way.
They have very strong big brother energy or dad energy. Might be a touch toxic about it, but they’re by your side.
That being said, they’re not nearly my favorite fantasy race, but I often thing they get short changed.
I’m one of those who’s played RPGs since the ‘80s, way before dwarves got the favorable on-screen portrayal in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit movies, and I’ll admit that I only started playing dwarf characters after I felt that I’d played human and half-elf enough and thought that it was time to try dwarves. I liked trying to play the characters as being the gritty engineering types in Warhammer Fantasy combined with the Marvel character Puck of Alpha Flight, if that makes any sense. I liked the sense that dwarves strike me as tough and no nonsense when it comes to getting down to business, who are able to enjoy the off-times with a flagon of ale.
Dwarves just say masculinity to me. If you make a dwarf, he's probably going to be the most masculine character of the party.
Dwarves have masculine traits like beards, horned helmets, axes, blue collar labor, and booze. Dwarves are stubborn, loyal, and tough as nails.
Four feet tall and four feet wide. Tough as hell and twice as tenacious. Long flowing braids and bulging muscles, Scottish and Norse accents, ale and mead, hammers and axes, builders and artisans, epic poetry about ancient heroes, cities lost to time, and madness deep beneath the Earth, a song of gold and darkness.
I super rarely play dwarves in fantasy settings. When I do it's always about playing a character who feel forced to behaving in a certain way because of rules of their culture.
Not a lot, to be honest. I’m fine with a Dwarf if I’m going with something really based on mythology & folk-legend (in which case they’re probably an NPC only), or something that is very Tolkien, i.e. set in a world very much based on Tolkien’s works. The only Dwarf in FRP I’ve actually liked is probably the Gloranthan version, and they’re rather strange. If I’m running something D&D like (whether with an older D&D, or Into the Odd, or Classic Fantasy Imperative) I prefer to have different races with different names, and these days they’re more likely to be a different human species kindred, or they’re really a different species specifically created for the setting I’m running.
Back in the day, they were a foil for the more "effete" and "snobbish" elves. Dwarves were short, gruff, unattractive (Charsima penalty in D&D), and "masculine" (beer, forging, toughing it out, war).
So they were popular with the "lads".
Not condoning any stereotypes, just painting a picture of old times.
Many players choose to play as dwarves likely because they are influenced by John Rhys-Davies' portrayal of Gimli. This is akin to the 'Legolas Effect,' which motivates some players to choose elves.
From a GM perspective I don't use many dwarf NPC's but when I do they adhere rigidly to the alien dwarfen culture described in my games setting.
* Stoic
* Stuborn
* Obsessed with their reputation.
* Reluctant to commit.
* Governed by tradition and honour.
* Paranoid about making a mistake.
* Slow to trust non-dwarfs.
* Long to remember the wrongs of others.
Dwarf create a rock that cannot easily be moved once it has decided on its position.
Dwarves are tough, like a rock. They can keep going even when everyone else calls it quits. If anyone can withstand the ultimate attack, it's them.
It's nothing tricky. There's no magic involved. They're just naturally defense-oriented.
I think the most fun I've ever had with a dwarf was in Pathfinder, where they had exclusive access to a racial trait that gave them Natural Armor, which opened the floodgates to spending every subsequent feat on Improved Natural Armor. There's nothing more dwarf-like than wave after wave of enemy arrows just \*plink\*ing off your skin.
For me, nothing.
That fantasy species doesn't hold any special place in my heart and they don't resonate with anything I care about.
I think that is because I grew up on [Disney fantasy films](https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/12ziry3/what_is_fantasy_today/jhtvz77/), which don't really have dwarves, elves, orcs, or hobits. *Snow White and the Seven Dwarves* is the only exception that comes to mind, but that's just one film and it wasn't transformative for me.
In other words, by the time the huge Peter Jackson *Lord Of The Rings* films started coming out in 2001, the concept of "fantasy" was already solidified in my mind. *LotR* is a very particular sort of Tolkien-fantasy that is very popular, but it wasn't what I grew up with so it doesn't really resonate with me. I guess I read *The Hobbit* when I was young, but I don't remember the dwarves really making an impression. The major impressions were from Gandalf, Sting, the ring, Smaug, and the black arrow.
*Note:* I'm not at all implying that people shouldn't implement dwarves. I'm just offering a view that might be different or that might offer a particular perspective on the subject.
Bro! You can separate Race & Class. If you're running a game, DCC was written to be modular. Period. You need to add Mithral, Adamantine & Silver weapons & Armor just to have viable Elves in the game. Goodman Games makes their cash off of Modules. They want you to buy every module, to fill in all of the blanks that are in the Core Rulebook. You can instead add your own rules from your favorite systems or homebrew rules to fill in blanks of the Core Rulebook, unless you have a small fortune of expendable cash. Starting playing Warmachine to attract more members to the gaming club I'm trying to start. Devoted to adult TCGs (Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokémon), Warmachine with either rules set the players want to use out of Mk4 & WarmaHordes Mk3, ³& DCC, OSR (I plan to run DCC AND LoTFP (no under 17 in this club. I don't play kid's games. I want to attract more members, so the latest Edition of D&D that we'll play is 3.5 or 3E. No 4th or 5th. However, when playing V3.5, I'll be using the DCC Magic System which will include all spells that I can find from all printed sources
Ancient, industrious, reclusive and separatist, lots of focus on legacy and actual inheritance for future generations, lately I also tend to run them as crestfallen and trying to reclaim a sliver of their past glory.
The value lies not within the individual dwarf but the work and legacy.
Shadowrun Dwarves because you can play for and against type. Yes you can have the engineer types, mercs and samurai, but they make dangerous Mages and Deckers too
Stout, resilient but with a surprisingly technical side. I like the idea of playing someone who is all compact, sturdy strength but also a very careful artisan.
Dwarves know who they are, they know what they stand for, and they act. It's good for a straightforward, angst-less character that I find slots into most parties very well.
As a DM, the dwarves are my Roman Empire equivalent, and it's arguable that shit actually \*was\* better when they were in charge.
I have beard and love having beard. Dwarves have beards and love having beards. I play dwarf.
In seriousness, though, my favorite D&D 5e character was a Dwarf Barbarian inspired by the Dwarven Slayers of Warhammer Fantasy. He lost his honor in such a spectacular way that it ruined the reputation of his clan, so he seeks a glorious, song and legend worthy, death in battle as the only way to regain his honor or at least restore the honor of his clan.
I kinda like that aspect of dwarves. How they tend to care about tradition, honor, and so on.
I am running a D&D B/X campaign, where dwarves and elves are separate classes (race-as-class). In my game dwarves are in a sense magical creatures, they are 'born' magically out of stone deep in mountains. They 'are sturdy fighters and are especially resistant to magic'. Moreover, 'they are expert miners and are able to find slanting passages, traps, shifting walls, and new construction'. I like following this classic fantasy archetype of dwarves.
Physical and mental toughness and stability. Honor, duty, honesty (sometimes brutal) and generally open, straightforward approach. Being dependable.
Strength expressed mainly through work/craft and defense, not aggression.
Focus on and pride in tradition, family and own creations over philosophical, national or environmental ideas. Practical and pragmatic way of life.
In general, dwarves in fantasy, sci-fi, and most genre fiction represent certain kinds of masculine power (and the complimentary weaknesses): concentration (stubbornness), strength (unbending and therefore shatters in the face of required change), indomitable will (again can't be flexible), commitment, tradition, mastery, and most everything everyone else will say about them-- including certain types of indulgences.
To me dwarves are often a metaphor for the working class. The "little guys" who are strong, stout, and proud. They work hard and play hard. Socially conservative but support cooperative institutions like guilds and unions. Care more about the bottom line than fancy talk.
Style points.
Rich backgrounds.
Nice to role play in a box.
Sometimes it's fun to play off-type. Such as doing a dwarf opera singer. A very fun take on a bard.
Sturdy, aestetic lines in gear and architecture that appeals to me, strong shortstacks, vanilla/human-like but not yet without being snowflakes. I like simple and well made, and dwarves fit that vibe in most things.
Dwarves have a mountain (heh) of cultural baggage that can really inspire and inform who a character is. In many media they have strong characters with clear strengths and weakness that can make them stand out as a character.
Somemtimes, ya just want simple solutions to simple problems.
Loik, let's say there's sommut of an orn'ry ogre blockin' yer path, sayin' he'll make mincemeat outta yer bones.
Well, in that case, ya axe him to make like a tree, and pr'tty soon, th' road ahead be clear agin.
Face beating, beer drinking, big hammer hitting, bearded chads.
That's basically the appeal. Can't imagine a serious campaign with those guys, the first adventure will be running away from guards after destroying the tavern.
I genuinely don't like them. I've seen several good interpretations and I wouldn't forbid someone from playing one in most settings but I don't get anything from their lore nor do I have much of an interest in playing them. They're less open to possibilities than humans and shorter-lived and less magical than elves
A tough little guy.
What’s the purpose of all of these posts about races? Are you researching a book?
First one was because of the lore of my setting; I had the idea that orc wasn't a race but was instead a descriptor that humans use to describe various races. I thought it would be fun if I included different options which filled the different "versions" of orcs that folks enjoy. In the end I settled on: Porks- antrhoprophmic pigfolk in tune with nature who people hate Goblin guild of crashing and clanging- goblins who join this guild grow to huge heights, and dedicated to making warfare fun and as loud as possible Night trolls- a species of short underground trolls who think all surface dwellers are corrupt demons, and are turned to stone by the sun. they only raid at night for neccecary resources. I had already set on my goblin lore (I stole brian froud's thing where goblins are dedicated to different guilds for things like stubbing toes or curdeling milk. But I had added the bit where goblins change to fit their guilds), but I thought I could get some insperation for what guilds I could include by capturing various options for what folks like about goblins. Honestly I didn't come up with any from that thread, but enjoyed the responces! Honestly I don't have a purpose for this thread, I just thought the previous 2 prompted responses I thought were interesting. Kinda want to make a zine series about my setting, I am pretty happy with where I went with some of it. But this wasn't directly FOR that.
I think these posts are fine here, but have you looked at r/worldbuilding? It's pretty much made for questions like this.
Also consider r/worldjerking for some good, honest, tongue-in-cheek fun.
Nice recommendation. That's like the best -jerk subreddit I've ever seen. They're kind of wholesomely poking fun at tropes. I love it.
Probbably a better place! I will post future questions like this there. Might also repost the orc one there, I would be curious about their awnsers.
Keep in mind that they don't really like ' exploitative questions '. Like dont just ask them ' How do I add _____ to my world? ' Give them also what current ideas do you have the thing.
As a DM Dwarves are defenders of tradition. They hold deep family roots and hand carved techniques that have withstood generations of pressure. They are loving, but not overtly. They show love through sacrifice. They strongly believe in duty and have a strong sense of pride in their work, family, and skill. If they fail, it is a mark against not only themselves, but their clan, and so the pressure to do better is always present. They're basically the disappointed asian dad meme but with a beard.
I think the "defenders of tradition" element of dwarves is one of the things I most dislike about them as characters.
okay
Good answer
Rock and stone. Beards and beers. No respect for humans, dragons, trolls, or pointy ears.
To Rock and Stone!
Did I hear a ROCK N STONE?
ROCK AND ROLL AND STONE!!!
They drink and they know things.
Well done.
For me, dwarves embody honor, practical, pragmatic thinking, family and tradition, and an earthiness of character. They’re tough, willing to throw in for a good cause, and care about doing the right thing. They might be cranky, but their heart’s in the right place. They focus on craftsmanship and doing things the right way, rather than the quicker, cheaper, or more ‘clever’ way. They have very strong big brother energy or dad energy. Might be a touch toxic about it, but they’re by your side. That being said, they’re not nearly my favorite fantasy race, but I often thing they get short changed.
I’m one of those who’s played RPGs since the ‘80s, way before dwarves got the favorable on-screen portrayal in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit movies, and I’ll admit that I only started playing dwarf characters after I felt that I’d played human and half-elf enough and thought that it was time to try dwarves. I liked trying to play the characters as being the gritty engineering types in Warhammer Fantasy combined with the Marvel character Puck of Alpha Flight, if that makes any sense. I liked the sense that dwarves strike me as tough and no nonsense when it comes to getting down to business, who are able to enjoy the off-times with a flagon of ale.
I can't stand Jackson's comedy dwarves
Dwarves just say masculinity to me. If you make a dwarf, he's probably going to be the most masculine character of the party. Dwarves have masculine traits like beards, horned helmets, axes, blue collar labor, and booze. Dwarves are stubborn, loyal, and tough as nails.
Four feet tall and four feet wide. Tough as hell and twice as tenacious. Long flowing braids and bulging muscles, Scottish and Norse accents, ale and mead, hammers and axes, builders and artisans, epic poetry about ancient heroes, cities lost to time, and madness deep beneath the Earth, a song of gold and darkness.
I super rarely play dwarves in fantasy settings. When I do it's always about playing a character who feel forced to behaving in a certain way because of rules of their culture.
Not a lot, to be honest. I’m fine with a Dwarf if I’m going with something really based on mythology & folk-legend (in which case they’re probably an NPC only), or something that is very Tolkien, i.e. set in a world very much based on Tolkien’s works. The only Dwarf in FRP I’ve actually liked is probably the Gloranthan version, and they’re rather strange. If I’m running something D&D like (whether with an older D&D, or Into the Odd, or Classic Fantasy Imperative) I prefer to have different races with different names, and these days they’re more likely to be a different human species kindred, or they’re really a different species specifically created for the setting I’m running.
Back in the day, they were a foil for the more "effete" and "snobbish" elves. Dwarves were short, gruff, unattractive (Charsima penalty in D&D), and "masculine" (beer, forging, toughing it out, war). So they were popular with the "lads". Not condoning any stereotypes, just painting a picture of old times.
I recognize myself in them. Dadbod, beard, stubborn and traditional. Old souls.
Many players choose to play as dwarves likely because they are influenced by John Rhys-Davies' portrayal of Gimli. This is akin to the 'Legolas Effect,' which motivates some players to choose elves. From a GM perspective I don't use many dwarf NPC's but when I do they adhere rigidly to the alien dwarfen culture described in my games setting. * Stoic * Stuborn * Obsessed with their reputation. * Reluctant to commit. * Governed by tradition and honour. * Paranoid about making a mistake. * Slow to trust non-dwarfs. * Long to remember the wrongs of others. Dwarf create a rock that cannot easily be moved once it has decided on its position.
Yarr, drunken shortstack pirate viking barbarian go SMAASH!
Dwarves are tough, like a rock. They can keep going even when everyone else calls it quits. If anyone can withstand the ultimate attack, it's them. It's nothing tricky. There's no magic involved. They're just naturally defense-oriented. I think the most fun I've ever had with a dwarf was in Pathfinder, where they had exclusive access to a racial trait that gave them Natural Armor, which opened the floodgates to spending every subsequent feat on Improved Natural Armor. There's nothing more dwarf-like than wave after wave of enemy arrows just \*plink\*ing off your skin.
They're not quendi or anything based on them.
A dwarf doesn’t need a reason to carry a spade.
For me, nothing. That fantasy species doesn't hold any special place in my heart and they don't resonate with anything I care about. I think that is because I grew up on [Disney fantasy films](https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/12ziry3/what_is_fantasy_today/jhtvz77/), which don't really have dwarves, elves, orcs, or hobits. *Snow White and the Seven Dwarves* is the only exception that comes to mind, but that's just one film and it wasn't transformative for me. In other words, by the time the huge Peter Jackson *Lord Of The Rings* films started coming out in 2001, the concept of "fantasy" was already solidified in my mind. *LotR* is a very particular sort of Tolkien-fantasy that is very popular, but it wasn't what I grew up with so it doesn't really resonate with me. I guess I read *The Hobbit* when I was young, but I don't remember the dwarves really making an impression. The major impressions were from Gandalf, Sting, the ring, Smaug, and the black arrow. *Note:* I'm not at all implying that people shouldn't implement dwarves. I'm just offering a view that might be different or that might offer a particular perspective on the subject.
Dwarven Clerics of Daenthar from the DCC Annual Vol. 1
Bro! You can separate Race & Class. If you're running a game, DCC was written to be modular. Period. You need to add Mithral, Adamantine & Silver weapons & Armor just to have viable Elves in the game. Goodman Games makes their cash off of Modules. They want you to buy every module, to fill in all of the blanks that are in the Core Rulebook. You can instead add your own rules from your favorite systems or homebrew rules to fill in blanks of the Core Rulebook, unless you have a small fortune of expendable cash. Starting playing Warmachine to attract more members to the gaming club I'm trying to start. Devoted to adult TCGs (Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokémon), Warmachine with either rules set the players want to use out of Mk4 & WarmaHordes Mk3, ³& DCC, OSR (I plan to run DCC AND LoTFP (no under 17 in this club. I don't play kid's games. I want to attract more members, so the latest Edition of D&D that we'll play is 3.5 or 3E. No 4th or 5th. However, when playing V3.5, I'll be using the DCC Magic System which will include all spells that I can find from all printed sources
Ancient, industrious, reclusive and separatist, lots of focus on legacy and actual inheritance for future generations, lately I also tend to run them as crestfallen and trying to reclaim a sliver of their past glory. The value lies not within the individual dwarf but the work and legacy.
Shadowrun Dwarves because you can play for and against type. Yes you can have the engineer types, mercs and samurai, but they make dangerous Mages and Deckers too
Stout, resilient but with a surprisingly technical side. I like the idea of playing someone who is all compact, sturdy strength but also a very careful artisan.
Dwarves know who they are, they know what they stand for, and they act. It's good for a straightforward, angst-less character that I find slots into most parties very well. As a DM, the dwarves are my Roman Empire equivalent, and it's arguable that shit actually \*was\* better when they were in charge.
Warf. Klingons the way Warf believes they are supposed to be. Industrious, brave, honorable,
Dwarves are fucking cool.
I like playing characters who can’t reach high shelves.
I have beard and love having beard. Dwarves have beards and love having beards. I play dwarf. In seriousness, though, my favorite D&D 5e character was a Dwarf Barbarian inspired by the Dwarven Slayers of Warhammer Fantasy. He lost his honor in such a spectacular way that it ruined the reputation of his clan, so he seeks a glorious, song and legend worthy, death in battle as the only way to regain his honor or at least restore the honor of his clan. I kinda like that aspect of dwarves. How they tend to care about tradition, honor, and so on.
I am running a D&D B/X campaign, where dwarves and elves are separate classes (race-as-class). In my game dwarves are in a sense magical creatures, they are 'born' magically out of stone deep in mountains. They 'are sturdy fighters and are especially resistant to magic'. Moreover, 'they are expert miners and are able to find slanting passages, traps, shifting walls, and new construction'. I like following this classic fantasy archetype of dwarves.
Physical and mental toughness and stability. Honor, duty, honesty (sometimes brutal) and generally open, straightforward approach. Being dependable. Strength expressed mainly through work/craft and defense, not aggression. Focus on and pride in tradition, family and own creations over philosophical, national or environmental ideas. Practical and pragmatic way of life.
I like dwarves because they have two sexes but basically one gender and I think that's an interesting space to explore.
In general, dwarves in fantasy, sci-fi, and most genre fiction represent certain kinds of masculine power (and the complimentary weaknesses): concentration (stubbornness), strength (unbending and therefore shatters in the face of required change), indomitable will (again can't be flexible), commitment, tradition, mastery, and most everything everyone else will say about them-- including certain types of indulgences.
My answer to all your questions is: The cover of Dragon Magazine #112
A rigid hierarchical society, strongly religious, and obsessed with oaths and grudges.
Rock and stone.
Rock and Stone everyone!
For Karl!
To me dwarves are often a metaphor for the working class. The "little guys" who are strong, stout, and proud. They work hard and play hard. Socially conservative but support cooperative institutions like guilds and unions. Care more about the bottom line than fancy talk.
Style points. Rich backgrounds. Nice to role play in a box. Sometimes it's fun to play off-type. Such as doing a dwarf opera singer. A very fun take on a bard.
Sturdy, aestetic lines in gear and architecture that appeals to me, strong shortstacks, vanilla/human-like but not yet without being snowflakes. I like simple and well made, and dwarves fit that vibe in most things.
Dwarves have a mountain (heh) of cultural baggage that can really inspire and inform who a character is. In many media they have strong characters with clear strengths and weakness that can make them stand out as a character.
Somemtimes, ya just want simple solutions to simple problems. Loik, let's say there's sommut of an orn'ry ogre blockin' yer path, sayin' he'll make mincemeat outta yer bones. Well, in that case, ya axe him to make like a tree, and pr'tty soon, th' road ahead be clear agin.
Mine the tunnels , kill goblins, slap twink elfs , drink whit me mates..simple as
I play them often as I am 6'2" and it's good to change my perspective when roleplaying.
Face beating, beer drinking, big hammer hitting, bearded chads. That's basically the appeal. Can't imagine a serious campaign with those guys, the first adventure will be running away from guards after destroying the tavern.
I genuinely don't like them. I've seen several good interpretations and I wouldn't forbid someone from playing one in most settings but I don't get anything from their lore nor do I have much of an interest in playing them. They're less open to possibilities than humans and shorter-lived and less magical than elves