Fun Fact: Dwarves in the norse mythology weren't actuallly small (only in comparison to higher beings like gods or giants) and they mostly had long beards because most of the dwarves described just happen to be old. They also aren't really that stubborn or proud, but rather trickster-like beings.
As much as I might gripe about the typically generic take on dwarves, I have to admit that while I tried to include every fantasy race I could think of for my world, dwarves were one of the last ones I thought of for some unknown reason. Once I realized that, I had to go in and try to come up with something different - not necessarily completely different, but still different. While mine certainly make for fine crafters, miners, and soldiers (no warriors in my world - there are major differences between warriors and soldiers), they are best-known for their incredible strength despite - or maybe because of - their size. They found ways of utilizing their strength and attention to detail for things other than combat or mining. They are essentially living mobile power-lifters, able to make their way into tight places where such strength might be needed, such as in, say, emergency services. Thus, the most common profession they take up is firefighting. If any number of people are trapped, any number of dwarves are typically the first to be sent in to get the victims out, and their natural strength not only makes it easier for them to power through obstacles (without needing heavy power tools like firefighters on Earth do, reducing their loadout weight and further freeing them up), but also helps them carry pretty much any race out, including the larger heavier ones such as centaurs and orges. Their attention to detail also extends to more than just sight or sound. I must mention that this comes from something that all dwarves possess: synesthesia - you know, seeing sounds, tasting colors, and all other sense fusions. This gives them quite the range of possibilities for creativity, especially on the visual/performance side of art. Thus, the dwarves that for whatever reason do not take up service professions like firefighting usually become some type of artist (it is even often their chosen retirement plan). Whenever there is a new painting held up in high regard, a dancer sweeping audiences up with their energy, or a new hit song or even a full-on new music genre, odds are that a dwarf created it. They are highly caring of their skills and those they share with, so while highly protective, they are not greedy. They have a reputation of never being one to start a fight but would certainly end it in one way or another. After going through designing them (and probably still gonna go back for more), in many ways, they are now some of the biggest unsung heroes of my world, which is a little ironic, given their aforementioned record for music.
Something to note about dwarves in addition to their craftsmanship is their physical advantages over humans. Enough that it’s important to ask: “why are humans the ones who rule the world?” The most popular solution I’ve seen is hitting the birth rate, culture is seen as a flimsy excuse, so something like forgotten realms reduces fertility. A long pregnancy is usually attributed to elves, for probably impure reasons.
In the fantasy story I'm working on, dwarves are adapted to cold climates, being heavily built and stocky with copious body hair and being associated with mountains. So, the reason they haven't taken over the world is because they overheat easily in warmer climate. They are actually the dominant species of humanoid in the cold north, with vast empires and countries of their own.
@@metaltornado3457 hmmm, do they perhaps not sweat? In cold enough weather that is a downside due to potentially freezing, and overheating becomes a significant limiter on stamina without sweat.
@@eMercody Possibly, they have lower stamina than humans and are more reliant on physical strength, being about 6 times stronger than an average adult man. Thanks to a "blessing" by their god, their bodies slowly turn to stone as they age, so that could probably interfere with their ability to sweat.
Been a DM for 43 years. Never played a dwarf. My players know I despise dwarves. I tried to be unbiased but cannot. I despise them and am unfair to them without trying. I ran a five year campaign that the player were convinced over years to despise thwm.and they completed the campaign of killing the dwarven pantheon and thus the race died off. The players were told how serious and lasting their actions would be. Since that campaign dwarves DO NOT exist. They cannot be played. They are now only historical footnotes. How could anyone not like thwm you ask. Well they are unattractive, selfish, workaholics, barely functioning alcoholics, greedy, rude, have horrible manners, egotistical without reason and basically soulless (read the Simarillion. And yes I do adore Elves. I am 58 and my table had all the players I wanted and submitted to these limitations.
Also "dwarves being extinct, because of god stuff" reminds me of The Elder Scrolls series, where "Deep-elves" (dwarves) all vanished after they tried to play god or something
