D&D General Should Bearded Female Dwarves be the Default?

[TwoSix]

I think as a 5E default, anything aesthetic about races should be left as vague as possible. There's too many external sources that people reference that forcing the game into one particular direction just causes contention. It's definitely a case where "D&D as fantasy toolkit" should take precedence.

 

[Weiley31]

Do female tortles have boobs under their shells?

Don't know, Raphael is too busy hooking up with a fox chick to confirm.

 

[Tonguez]

I like female dwarfs having beards, its a distinct cultural trait that differentiates their biology and beauty standards from Humans. Dwarfs are far more hirsuite than humans being almost furry (I was thinking of making baby dwarfs covered in fur but decided that was a trait of gnomes instead).

I also make Gnomes imc hermaphrodites, most gnomes in a clan will be genderless with only one developing female reproductive organs to become a Clan Matriarch, and around 3-6 developing male reproductive capability as her mates.

I mean, to be totally honest, I think it would be fine, but I think if you go there, you should really "blow the lid off" things in terms of races not being just "different-looking humans who live really long". All elves being able to change gender (even if they choose not to) is always cool. Dragonborn can lose their dragonboobs. And so on.

Maybe Dragonborn are Synasids and produce milk despire their reptilian-like appearance. I’ve tended to rationalise human like torsos in Lizardfolk and Yuan-ti as being due to musculature required to host arms (and wings), they’re not the same as human boobs but humans just associate them as such.

But reptiles without boobs isnt an issue for me either

 

[Charlaquin]

I go by the "Female Dwarves can grow beards but modern ones shave."

Basically

1. Traditional Female Dwarves grow out their beards and look like males when in armor or thick clothing. In their society, a dwarf is a a dwarf.
2. Modern Female Dwarves shave their beards and grow out long hair. Female and male dwarves have different gender roles and the hair symbolizes it.
3. Surface Female Dwarves that live with humans wear human hair styles. Dwarves that live primariliy with other races take on the hairstyles and grooming of the majority dominant race and culture.

I like1 and 3 a lot. 2 could work, though I’d be interested to know what factors are driving this cultural shift among dwarves.

This raises a good point though - even if dwarf women growing beards is the default, any player who wants to play a beardless female dwarf can do so, same as they can play a beardless male anything. Just shave.

 

[jgsugden]

This is an amusing thing to ponder, but in the end, if a player came to me and said that either they wanted their dwarf to have a beard or not have a beard, I would always follow their request regardless of race, gender or pretty much anything else.

 

[Weiley31]

I like1 and 3 a lot. 2 could work, though I’d be interested to know what factors are driving this cultural shift among dwarves.

This raises a good point though - even if dwarf women growing beards is the default, any player who wants to play a beardless female dwarf can do so, same as they can play a beardless male anything. Just shave.

1, 3, and Mullets work for me.

 

[jayoungr]

For a "halfway" solution, you can always go with the compromise from ... I think it was Knights of the Dinner Table Illustrated, or possibly Nodwick? Female dwarves can grow beards, but not mustaches.

 

[Fenris-77]

For a "halfway" solution, you can always go with to compromise from ... I think it was Knights of the Dinner Table Illustrated, or possibly Nodwick? Female dwarves can grow beards, but not mustaches.

So lady dwarves are all Amish? Yikes.

 

[MGibster]

Do female tortles have boobs under their shells?

Myrtle has never allowed me the honor and pleasure of reaching second base so I can't say for sure.

 

[Oofta]

After a comprehensive, exhaustive study of the two women I currently have contact with and who are currently or have recently played female dwarves, the verdict is in.

Female dwarves do not have beards. You're welcome.