My dwarves live in a highly ordered conservative society where every dwarf is born with a debt they owe to their lords. All aspects of the dwarven life are molded by this, and seldom a dwarf manages to pay off his - even if he worked all his life. Religions and customs are enforcing the belief in having to pay off the debt, and grim determination is exalted. Dwarves frown upon other races, especially elves, who waste their life not working - since clearly they should not dilly-dally and sing songs. Goblins interfere with their work, wasting their time, making interest accrue. The grim dwarven lords sometimes "hire" dwarven debtors to fight their wars, shortening their debt instead of paying a salary. Sometimes a dwarf might go rogue, leaving his home to try to find a fresh vein of precious metals and possibly succeeding, and eventually becoming a lord in his own right. From then on he and his family will live in luxury in opulent dwarven halls while others mine riches for them. Some might even try their luck as merchants, but some outcasts completely abandon their dwarven ways, leaving their debt unpaid, becoming unwelcome and outlaws. In romantic dwarven stories these outcasts come back, pay their debt with the treasures they found from their adventures - but that's just elf-talk.
Currently creating a deluded Elf who is convinced he is a dwarf. So I'm using this as reference material XD. Got to brush up on my dwarven lore and customs.
My favorite Dwarf character I've played is my current one, Therak, the Paladin. He has proved himself a fine craftsman, crafting masterwork gear for the party in the early days, and making items of high craftsmanship to sell later or give as gifts in social interactions. As a warrior he has been a bastion of strength and faith for his god and allies. He has stood and weathered a near unending tide of Goblins to buy time for others, and fought a forgeborn(I think?) in single combat to restore the honor of his high king and help unite the Five Mountains. He wields a large adamantine dwarven waraxe as tall as he is that is named Tide Cutter for it cut down waves upon waves of Goblinoids in a great battle. It is said they fell against his blade like waves against a mountain cliffside, and at the end of the day he stood upon a mountain of his fallen foes several heads taller than the orc warlord leading the attack and let it be known that this mountain could not be moved by the green tide. On our gameboard he is represented by a lego figure of Thorin Oakenshield wielding a custom lego axe I have built for him.
My Mountain Dwarf was my very first character and I like to play him when I can. He's pretty unconventional compared to what you say here. Considering that in my current Campaign he is an Eldritch Knight with Wizard levels, though I suppose some cultures are different in this homebrew campaign too. But I enjoy playing him due to the fact that while he respects his past, he is a person who is always seeking knowledge, learning new things and new ideas. Knowledge is key, in his eyes. He isn't greedy either, though I say that. He has most of the magic items in the group. But he uses them to help the party when he can.
I realize that while I have definite ideas about these and other peoples (hill Dwarves are like *this,* Wood Elves are like *that*) I've never stated any of it flat out. I think I should. I see a load of typing in my immediate future. Well, if you've set me to clarifying my game races, then you have done me (and any eventual players in my game) a service, and so I thank you.
My favorite Dwarf I played was Bard named Woodrow "Woody" Stonepecker. From a clan that had mostly been wiped out. He used a rapier named singer (like the sewing machine because it had the piercing quality ie. more crit. range) and had a stamp on the bottom of his boot that stamped everything (that was not obviously owned by someone) property Woodrow "Woody" Stonepecker of the Stonepecker Clan. So that he could rebuild his clan.
My mountain dwarf is a wizard. He is the majority of what you said, but not greedy. He has no need for material fulfilment, only knowledge. He is actually a noble of a mountain dwarf clan, a respected magi clan at that, that has an outpost in the mountains that gives travellers a place to rest and resupply. He went out on a journey away from this outpost for about 20 years seeking outer world knowledge, and when he came back quickly realised his father, head noble of the clan inducted bandits into the outpost for personal gain. The bandits would abduct travellers and sell them as slaves before anyone knew the better. In the end "Bubba", my character, exiled himself from the clan only to come back when he had made up for his clans deceits and dishonor.
Im currently playing a mountain dwarf fighter with a Greataxe as a weapon his name is Torin Thunderaxe. Torin is the son of Thurgin Thunderaxe and Thyrana Threadweaver. Thurgin is the sargeant in charge of weapons training for the Axe of Mirabar so he trained his son in fighting since he could lift an axe. However Torin decided guarding the mines of Mirabar was not what he wanted out of life so he left his family to seek out adventure.
i take a fair amount of inspiration from DragonAge when making my mountain dwarf. his name is Boariss Silvermole, middle child of King Derikk Silvermole of the silver mining clan. unlike his mother&father he is less a miner & more a military leader like his older brother, clearing the tunnles of goblin hoards to reclaim lost history or precious ore veins. insert a little DragonAgeOrigins betrayal via dwarven politics & you get Boariss the Exile. stripped of clan, honor, & forced to adapt to the surface world which he has never seen! yup
I think the traditional dwarvish archetype is the brash, hard drinking Scotsman (thanks Gimli). I always think of their society as being something more analogous to Soviet Russia. Or at least an idealized Communist society. Loyalty to the clan (or state) is more important than individual loyalty, everyone is a part of the whole, honor comes from labor. The symbolism seems to match as well. A dwarf is constantly reminded that he or she is a stone on which the rest of society rests.
Great vid!! Thanks for doing one up on your Mountain Dwarves. I'm really hoping you plan on posting vids on all your takes on the races (hint hint lol). No joke, I really dig your "lore" videos. These and the campaign building vids you have really amp up my creativity. Thanks man! Please, keep me coming!
i take a fair amount of inspiration from DragonAge when making my mountain dwarf. his name is Boariss Silvermole, middle child of King Derikk Silvermole of the silver mining clan. unlike his mother&father he is less a miner & more a military leader like his older brother, clearing the tunnles of goblin hoards to reclaim lost history or precious ore veins. insert a little DragonAgeOrigins betrayal via dwarven politics & you get Boariss the Exile. stripped of clan, honor, & forced to adapt to the surface world which he has never seen! yup
Wow, it is really amazing how similar is your point of view about dwarfs with mine. I was creating my own house rules for my games and I can tell you that many of the ideas you expressed, have already become numerical values in my system:P Seems everybody have a knack for the archetypical dwarf!
im about to include a segmnent in my 4th ed d&d campaign that takes place in the underdark. specifically a mountian dwarf ancient city from the setting book. seems like it will be fun
My current dwarf is a former merc who, after a job where she and her comrads were backstabbed, framed, or killed, got on the bad side of those more important and respected than herself. Ss a result, she, along with her surviving friends, scattered to far off places where their lineages are unknown. As a result, while still being stubborn and honorable, isnt really a fan of certain tradions
My dwarfs are more like that of Tolkien's: Burly and grumpy small midgets who kick like a horse and take a real beating. They always are greedy for gold, and thats the only motivtion they have. And beer. My dwarfs are not really interesting :( PS: I know its dwarves, but I am lazy
Well I have a mountaindwarf player in my campaign, but amongst other things, I toned down the racism and gave that trait to the elves instead (no elves at the table - so they are the antagonists). That character is not at all a typical mountain dwarf, as he is part of a noble house in a human capital city and a chaotic neutral cleric of Olidammara. Generally, I don't like the standard D&D race descriptions. They are much to restrictive. I'd rather build the history and society of the races depending on what my players come up with as backstory, so everything fits neatly together with the campaign.
My most fun mountain dwarf character was a twist of a pail master. Strong Arm is a cleric of Reorx (god of the forge and crafter of the world) from dragonlance. As a youth in his adventures he befell a tragedy he was trying to save a Conrad by pulling him to safety in a cave in. not only did it crush his friend but it pinned his arm under a several ton piece of celling the only way from him to escape was amputation. In grief for not saving his friend he would allow none to regenerate his arm. Over time he learned the arts of golem construction and found he was blessed with the power to communicate with earth elementals and can command golems. Whit time he even found a way to craft a ne steal arm and he took it as a blessing of Reorx. If you want to see the inspiration for this character look up Warlord card game Strong Arm.
I would say it really depends, but *in general*, I think of mountain dwarves as aloof, guarded, and stubborn. But they are jovial enough people, reveling in drink and victory as much if not more as anyone else. Among friends, dwarves by nature are joyful and social. Among strangers, they're shrewd and suspicious.
Just wanted know if anyone uses Dragonborn a lot in their homebrew settings? I know I do in fact the most populous race in my setting are Dragonborn. I make them out to be communal and honour based.
Hmm i can that but i tend to lean more towards the friendly giants. I looked to large animals like the hippo and rhino who tend to have smaller creatures around them and so I have it that where there are dragonborns there are halflings and gnomes dunno make it less conventional to me :)
![Matt Click [aFistfulofDice]](http://yt3.ggpht.com/Omje4j2w1emmnZJeUp5Y3B1gbJd92-oXa8niOaMRg-LIt50KchuJ_KtB5WvBOW0YiDr3wdWwPA=s48-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj)
My dwarves live in a highly ordered conservative society where every dwarf is born with a debt they owe to their lords. All aspects of the dwarven life are molded by this, and seldom a dwarf manages to pay off his - even if he worked all his life. Religions and customs are enforcing the belief in having to pay off the debt, and grim determination is exalted. Dwarves frown upon other races, especially elves, who waste their life not working - since clearly they should not dilly-dally and sing songs. Goblins interfere with their work, wasting their time, making interest accrue. The grim dwarven lords sometimes "hire" dwarven debtors to fight their wars, shortening their debt instead of paying a salary.
Sometimes a dwarf might go rogue, leaving his home to try to find a fresh vein of precious metals and possibly succeeding, and eventually becoming a lord in his own right. From then on he and his family will live in luxury in opulent dwarven halls while others mine riches for them. Some might even try their luck as merchants, but some outcasts completely abandon their dwarven ways, leaving their debt unpaid, becoming unwelcome and outlaws. In romantic dwarven stories these outcasts come back, pay their debt with the treasures they found from their adventures - but that's just elf-talk.
***** I like it! Very interesting ideas.
Currently creating a deluded Elf who is convinced he is a dwarf. So I'm using this as reference material XD. Got to brush up on my dwarven lore and customs.
I love those mountain dwarves, I thought of them that way too in my campaigns ! (Lawful and good part) ^^
This is very reserved and sober for a ode to the stout folk of the Mountain Halls! Ale! Gar! Shield and hammer! The Oath of the Anvil!
Drunkens & Dragons: Play D&D Like a Badass Aye!
Too bad Mountain Dwarves aren't allowed to start with shield in 5e......what a stupid rule.
Start the vid around 2:40, that's when it gets good.
"...and then, in the darkness behind them, they heard a wisper, from a red shadow:
- You will pay, now"
(Mountain Dwarf Rogue Thief)
My favorite Dwarf character I've played is my current one, Therak, the Paladin. He has proved himself a fine craftsman, crafting masterwork gear for the party in the early days, and making items of high craftsmanship to sell later or give as gifts in social interactions. As a warrior he has been a bastion of strength and faith for his god and allies. He has stood and weathered a near unending tide of Goblins to buy time for others, and fought a forgeborn(I think?) in single combat to restore the honor of his high king and help unite the Five Mountains. He wields a large adamantine dwarven waraxe as tall as he is that is named Tide Cutter for it cut down waves upon waves of Goblinoids in a great battle. It is said they fell against his blade like waves against a mountain cliffside, and at the end of the day he stood upon a mountain of his fallen foes several heads taller than the orc warlord leading the attack and let it be known that this mountain could not be moved by the green tide. On our gameboard he is represented by a lego figure of Thorin Oakenshield wielding a custom lego axe I have built for him.
My Mountain Dwarf was my very first character and I like to play him when I can. He's pretty unconventional compared to what you say here. Considering that in my current Campaign he is an Eldritch Knight with Wizard levels, though I suppose some cultures are different in this homebrew campaign too. But I enjoy playing him due to the fact that while he respects his past, he is a person who is always seeking knowledge, learning new things and new ideas. Knowledge is key, in his eyes. He isn't greedy either, though I say that. He has most of the magic items in the group. But he uses them to help the party when he can.
I realize that while I have definite ideas about these and other peoples (hill Dwarves are like *this,* Wood Elves are like *that*) I've never stated any of it flat out. I think I should. I see a load of typing in my immediate future.
Well, if you've set me to clarifying my game races, then you have done me (and any eventual players in my game) a service, and so I thank you.
Sailor Barsoom Awesome!
My favorite Dwarf I played was Bard named Woodrow "Woody" Stonepecker. From a clan that had mostly been wiped out. He used a rapier named singer (like the sewing machine because it had the piercing quality ie. more crit. range) and had a stamp on the bottom of his boot that stamped everything (that was not obviously owned by someone) property Woodrow "Woody" Stonepecker of the Stonepecker Clan. So that he could rebuild his clan.
My mountain dwarf is a wizard. He is the majority of what you said, but not greedy. He has no need for material fulfilment, only knowledge. He is actually a noble of a mountain dwarf clan, a respected magi clan at that, that has an outpost in the mountains that gives travellers a place to rest and resupply. He went out on a journey away from this outpost for about 20 years seeking outer world knowledge, and when he came back quickly realised his father, head noble of the clan inducted bandits into the outpost for personal gain. The bandits would abduct travellers and sell them as slaves before anyone knew the better. In the end "Bubba", my character, exiled himself from the clan only to come back when he had made up for his clans deceits and dishonor.
Very helpful for my character and to help explain my actions and words to my group.
Im currently playing a mountain dwarf fighter with a Greataxe as a weapon his name is Torin Thunderaxe. Torin is the son of Thurgin Thunderaxe and Thyrana Threadweaver. Thurgin is the sargeant in charge of weapons training for the Axe of Mirabar so he trained his son in fighting since he could lift an axe. However Torin decided guarding the mines of Mirabar was not what he wanted out of life so he left his family to seek out adventure.
i take a fair amount of inspiration from DragonAge when making my mountain dwarf. his name is Boariss Silvermole, middle child of King Derikk Silvermole of the silver mining clan. unlike his mother&father he is less a miner & more a military leader like his older brother, clearing the tunnles of goblin hoards to reclaim lost history or precious ore veins. insert a little DragonAgeOrigins betrayal via dwarven politics & you get Boariss the Exile. stripped of clan, honor, & forced to adapt to the surface world which he has never seen! yup
I think the traditional dwarvish archetype is the brash, hard drinking Scotsman (thanks Gimli). I always think of their society as being something more analogous to Soviet Russia. Or at least an idealized Communist society. Loyalty to the clan (or state) is more important than individual loyalty, everyone is a part of the whole, honor comes from labor. The symbolism seems to match as well. A dwarf is constantly reminded that he or she is a stone on which the rest of society rests.
love this
Currently playing a Mountain Dwarf in a 5e game, so this was very useful.
Great vid!! Thanks for doing one up on your Mountain Dwarves. I'm really hoping you plan on posting vids on all your takes on the races (hint hint lol). No joke, I really dig your "lore" videos. These and the campaign building vids you have really amp up my creativity.
Thanks man! Please, keep me coming!
i take a fair amount of inspiration from DragonAge when making my mountain dwarf. his name is Boariss Silvermole, middle child of King Derikk Silvermole of the silver mining clan. unlike his mother&father he is less a miner & more a military leader like his older brother, clearing the tunnles of goblin hoards to reclaim lost history or precious ore veins. insert a little DragonAgeOrigins betrayal via dwarven politics & you get Boariss the Exile. stripped of clan, honor, & forced to adapt to the surface world which he has never seen! yup
Wow, it is really amazing how similar is your point of view about dwarfs with mine. I was creating my own house rules for my games and I can tell you that many of the ideas you expressed, have already become numerical values in my system:P Seems everybody have a knack for the archetypical dwarf!
im about to include a segmnent in my 4th ed d&d campaign that takes place in the underdark. specifically a mountian dwarf ancient city from the setting book. seems like it will be fun
Mountain dwarves for life
My current dwarf is a former merc who, after a job where she and her comrads were backstabbed, framed, or killed, got on the bad side of those more important and respected than herself. Ss a result, she, along with her surviving friends, scattered to far off places where their lineages are unknown. As a result, while still being stubborn and honorable, isnt really a fan of certain tradions
My dwarfs are more like that of Tolkien's: Burly and grumpy small midgets who kick like a horse and take a real beating. They always are greedy for gold, and thats the only motivtion they have. And beer. My dwarfs are not really interesting :(
PS: I know its dwarves, but I am lazy
My dwarf is based of thorin Oakenshield from the hobbit
Another interesting video on races. Good stuff Matt!
Bjorn Big Dick, the best fighter I've ever used.
Well I have a mountaindwarf player in my campaign, but amongst other things, I toned down the racism and gave that trait to the elves instead (no elves at the table - so they are the antagonists). That character is not at all a typical mountain dwarf, as he is part of a noble house in a human capital city and a chaotic neutral cleric of Olidammara.
Generally, I don't like the standard D&D race descriptions. They are much to restrictive. I'd rather build the history and society of the races depending on what my players come up with as backstory, so everything fits neatly together with the campaign.
Do they have any negative benefits for saying picking the wizard class?
My most fun mountain dwarf character was a twist of a pail master. Strong Arm is a cleric of Reorx (god of the forge and crafter of the world) from dragonlance. As a youth in his adventures he befell a tragedy he was trying to save a Conrad by pulling him to safety in a cave in. not only did it crush his friend but it pinned his arm under a several ton piece of celling the only way from him to escape was amputation. In grief for not saving his friend he would allow none to regenerate his arm. Over time he learned the arts of golem construction and found he was blessed with the power to communicate with earth elementals and can command golems. Whit time he even found a way to craft a ne steal arm and he took it as a blessing of Reorx. If you want to see the inspiration for this character look up Warlord card game Strong Arm.
Should Mountain dwarves (in general) be charismatic, joyful and social or uncharismatic, serious and anti-social?
I would say it really depends, but *in general*, I think of mountain dwarves as aloof, guarded, and stubborn. But they are jovial enough people, reveling in drink and victory as much if not more as anyone else. Among friends, dwarves by nature are joyful and social. Among strangers, they're shrewd and suspicious.
Do more D&D races Episodes!!!!!!!!!!
Rise of nations intro? Subbed
Anti magic armor...yes
We're do you get knowledge from?
awesome video and epic tee! Like! (Y)
Joahn Liebert Thanks!
Just wanted know if anyone uses Dragonborn a lot in their homebrew settings? I know I do in fact the most populous race in my setting are Dragonborn. I make them out to be communal and honour based.
Yea i started using Dragon born. I just feel they have a certain evil look that looks epic
Hmm i can that but i tend to lean more towards the friendly giants. I looked to large animals like the hippo and rhino who tend to have smaller creatures around them and so I have it that where there are dragonborns there are halflings and gnomes dunno make it less conventional to me :)
Rascist against goblins.....
+++