The Profile of a Dwarf for D&D
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Short and Stout. Those are the words that come to mind when we think of dwarves. Standing not even five feet tall, what members of the Dwarf race lack in stature, they more than make up for in grit, courage, strength, and endurance.
It’s in the ancient kingdoms that, for thousands of years, dwarves have marked their existence by hammering away solid rock mountain sides and crafting the finest forged wares around. A fiercely loyal bunch, the dwarf race is steeped in a tradition that shares a deep-seated hatred for all things goblin and orc, yet an unyielding devotion to thy neighbor.
What else sets dwarves apart from other races? Keep reading to find out.
Don’t think that dwarves are to be looked down upon. Even though humans are some two feet taller, dwarves can weigh much more.
Though most dwarves have skin with color that resembles the tones of the land which they inhabit, some dwarves can appear pale.
They wear their hair long and keep it kept in simple styles.
Male dwarves take great pride in their long beards. That’s reflected in their careful attention to grooming and upkeep.
Dwarves have had a chip on their shoulder since the beginning. Constant has been their struggle against physically larger races and they’ve long had to scratch and claw for their seat at the table. Once the laughing stock of many a kingdom, dwarves have earned the respect they deserve.
Over time, they’ve brandished a reputation as mighty warriors, skilled miners, and blacksmiths. Their traits of endurance and courage make them the perfect fit for any battlefield, and tough, skilled labor.
Forget and Forgive? Methinks Not!
Dwarves have a lifespan that dwarfs that of other races. In fact, they can live up to 400 years. That helps explain why they’re so deeply rooted in their traditions and fearlessly loyal to their brethren. Much of dwarf tradition lies in great devotion to the gods of dwarves and the values they embody. Hard work, bravery in battle, and dedication to the forge are all hallmarks of the dwarf identity.
Dwarf elders remember a world much different than the one in which they currently reside. Many have seen firsthand, the conquer of their lands and centuries of forced exile. Even when persecuted or displaced, dwarves never forget the mountains they call home. It’s here that they’ve weathered the passage of many a century with stoic endurance and little change.
Dwarves don’t take justice lightly. They’re all too stubborn to forgive those who have wronged them in the past. When an individual dwarf is wronged, his entire clan has been wronged. That’s why what others might perceive as one elf’s want for revenge, can all too soon fester into an all-out clan feud.
Dwarf kingdoms are deeply entrenched in the great mountains which they call home. It’s beneath these peaks that dwarves mine precious metals and stones, and forge them into precious works for the world to see.
What dwarves can’t find in the mountains, they trade for. Because of their strict aversion to boats, halflings and humans often barter in dwarven goods along the edges of waterways.
If deemed trustworthy, some members of other races are welcomed in dwarf villages. Even so, some areas remain off limits.
Social standing is a guiding pillar of the dwarf clan. Even when they venture far away, there’s no mistaking which clan a dwarf belongs to. Wherever they may go, dwarves proudly wield their affiliations and are quick to recognize relatives. There’s no worse fate for a dwarf than to be clanless.
Dwarves can be an adventurous lot. For some, this sense of wanderlust is motivated by a want to find treasure. Others sense a calling from a higher power to bring about glory in a deity’s name.
Ancestry and the clan can also play a role in causing a dwarf to venture from home. They might be out to right a wrong from long ago, restore honor to their clan, or even recover the axe of a lost ancestor from a battle many years ago.
It’s in the ancient kingdoms that, for thousands of years, dwarves have marked their existence by hammering away solid rock mountain sides and crafting the finest forged wares around. A fiercely loyal bunch, the dwarf race is steeped in a tradition that shares a deep-seated hatred for all things goblin and orc, yet an unyielding devotion to thy neighbor.
What else sets dwarves apart from other races? Keep reading to find out.
Physical Attributes
Don’t think that dwarves are to be looked down upon. Even though humans are some two feet taller, dwarves can weigh much more.
Though most dwarves have skin with color that resembles the tones of the land which they inhabit, some dwarves can appear pale.
They wear their hair long and keep it kept in simple styles.
Male dwarves take great pride in their long beards. That’s reflected in their careful attention to grooming and upkeep.
Tough and Hardy
Dwarves have had a chip on their shoulder since the beginning. Constant has been their struggle against physically larger races and they’ve long had to scratch and claw for their seat at the table. Once the laughing stock of many a kingdom, dwarves have earned the respect they deserve.
Over time, they’ve brandished a reputation as mighty warriors, skilled miners, and blacksmiths. Their traits of endurance and courage make them the perfect fit for any battlefield, and tough, skilled labor.
Forget and Forgive? Methinks Not!
Dwarves have a lifespan that dwarfs that of other races. In fact, they can live up to 400 years. That helps explain why they’re so deeply rooted in their traditions and fearlessly loyal to their brethren. Much of dwarf tradition lies in great devotion to the gods of dwarves and the values they embody. Hard work, bravery in battle, and dedication to the forge are all hallmarks of the dwarf identity.
Dwarf elders remember a world much different than the one in which they currently reside. Many have seen firsthand, the conquer of their lands and centuries of forced exile. Even when persecuted or displaced, dwarves never forget the mountains they call home. It’s here that they’ve weathered the passage of many a century with stoic endurance and little change.
Dwarves don’t take justice lightly. They’re all too stubborn to forgive those who have wronged them in the past. When an individual dwarf is wronged, his entire clan has been wronged. That’s why what others might perceive as one elf’s want for revenge, can all too soon fester into an all-out clan feud.
There’s No Place Like Home
Dwarf kingdoms are deeply entrenched in the great mountains which they call home. It’s beneath these peaks that dwarves mine precious metals and stones, and forge them into precious works for the world to see.
What dwarves can’t find in the mountains, they trade for. Because of their strict aversion to boats, halflings and humans often barter in dwarven goods along the edges of waterways.
If deemed trustworthy, some members of other races are welcomed in dwarf villages. Even so, some areas remain off limits.
Social standing is a guiding pillar of the dwarf clan. Even when they venture far away, there’s no mistaking which clan a dwarf belongs to. Wherever they may go, dwarves proudly wield their affiliations and are quick to recognize relatives. There’s no worse fate for a dwarf than to be clanless.
Motivations
Dwarves can be an adventurous lot. For some, this sense of wanderlust is motivated by a want to find treasure. Others sense a calling from a higher power to bring about glory in a deity’s name.
Ancestry and the clan can also play a role in causing a dwarf to venture from home. They might be out to right a wrong from long ago, restore honor to their clan, or even recover the axe of a lost ancestor from a battle many years ago.
Dwarf Traits
- Ability to Score Increase – Constitution score increases by 2.
- Age – Mature at the same rate as humans and considered young until 50. Average lifespan is 350 years.
- Alignment – Believe in the benefits of law and order. Embody a strong sense of fairness and believe that everyone benefits accordingly.
- Size – Between four and feet tall weighing an average of 150 pounds. Size is medium.
- Speed – Base walking speed is 25 feet. Speed is not impacted by wearing armor.
- Darkvision – Superior vision in low light conditions. Cannot make out colors in darkness, only shades of gray.
- Dwarven Resilience – Can save throws against poison and resistant to poison damage.
- Dwarven Combat Training – Adept with axes and hammers.
- Tool Proficiency – Gain aptitude with the tool of your choice: smith’s tools, brewer’s supplies, or mason’s tools.
- Stonecunning – When making an Intelligence check about stonework, add double your proficiency bonus.
- Languages – Can speak, write, and read Common and Dwarvish.
Subrace
There are two primary subraces in the dwarf race, hill dwarves and mountain dwarves.
Hill Dwarves
- Hill dwarves possess tremendous intuition and resilience.
- Ability Score Increase – Wisdom score increases by one.
- Dwarven Toughness – Maximum hit point increases one, and one more every time you advance a level.
Mountain Dwarves
- Like the terrain they inhabit, mountain dwarves are strong and tough.
- Ability Score Increase – Strength score increases by 2.
- Dwarven Armor Training – Proficient with light and medium armor.
Final Thoughts
Dwarves are tough and hardy. With their own eyes, they’ve seen the world change over many centuries. With a strong sense of purpose, right and wrong, and a tireless devotion to their kind and craft, dwarves are a race of morality and loyalty.
Though short in stature, their heart on the field of battle can’t be denied. Should you cross a dwarf or his clan, be ready to have a fight on your hands.
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