Dwarf Mountains: Alps or Rockies?

[Orius]

Simple poll here, when creating a mountain range in your campaigns for the dwarves, which range inspires you more: the Alps or the Rocky Mountains? (I'm also including an "Other" option here, since I know at least one person is going to go there.)

I can see people picking the Alps. They're in Europe after all, and the typical old-school D&D campaign is inspired by medieval Europe. And the typical D&D dwarf is based on Tolkien's dwarves, whose greatest city was loated in the Misty Mountains, a range which was inspired by Tolkien's experiences in the Alps.

But when I picture a mountain range for the dwarves, I go with the Rockies. There's a lot of mineral wealth in the Rockies with deposits of gold, silver, and copper (not sure about the Alps, and Wikipedia was no help to me). Maybe it's because some of the D&D art from the '80s seemed to evoke the Rockies when they pictured mountains in the distance. Plus, the Rockies have all that cool clear water which is great for brewing ale.

 

[Blackrat]

I'll go with the Other. In my homebrew the mountains where dwarves live have been mostly influenced by Himalajas, which are a bit different from both. Maybe closer to Alps, but not really sure...

 

[Relique du Madde]

Andes. Mountain Dwarves live on mountain tops citadels built from massive 5 ton stone blocks that couldn't have been hauled up the narrow mountain trails that snake up the side of the mountain's side.

 

[Starfox]

Rockies? They're in America... Ok, that pretty much ends my knowledge of them.

And there is clear water in the alps too. Much beermaking going on. Actually, the famous beer countries of Europe are more or less situated in a ring around the alps (unless you consider British beer famous).

In the end, its the Scandes for me. Because I live in Scandinavia. And I thin that's the bottom line - dwarves live in your local mountain. Or hill.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

I think of canyon country - which I suppose could be the S. Rockies - or Appalachia.

I think of Dwarves as living in the Old Bones of the world, where fertile valleys are hidden within boundless hill country, and the metals of the earth are both shallow and deep.

Though I like the Andes idea a lot.

 

[Lord Xtheth]

If I had to put Dwarves in a mountain range, it'd have to be the Rockies. I can't look out my window without seeing them and immagining dwarves mining them for... *shrug* who knows what.

Alternately, in game, I've NEVER used mountains to describe where any dwarf lived. In my little fantacy world dwarves are bred, born and raised in bars, taverns, or brewries... mountains have nothing to do with it.

 

[Ravellion]

The Scandinavian mountains, without a doubt. They seem more mysterious than both the Alps and the Rockies.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I tend to go for the Sierra-Nevada myself.

 

[Pbartender]

The Scandinavian mountains, without a doubt.

I've got to get behind this one... My dwarves are short, stocky Vikings that live along the fjords at the base of the impenetrably snowy mountains of the north and sail longboat varieties for both trading and raiding.

They're constantly warring with the giants and trolls that actually live in amongst the mountains.

 

[Andor]

Alternately, in game, I've NEVER used mountains to describe where any dwarf lived. In my little fantacy world dwarves are bred, born and raised in bars, taverns, or brewries... mountains have nothing to do with it.

And here is the pool table where I was conceived, born, and educated. - Groundskeeper Willy