D&D 5E The Fall Of The Dwarves: What Races Do People Actually Play?

What races are people actually playing, and how much of it is Tolkien fantasy as against other stuff?

Fortunately D&D Beyond provides a better source of data than we've ever had. The most recent data from less than a week ago in December 2020 alas does not provide percentages.

1. Human
2. Half-Elf
3. Dragonborn
4. Tiefling
5. Half-Orc

In February 2019, using stats found via this very site:

1. Human
2. Variant Human
3. Half Elf
4. Tiefling
5. Dragonborn
6. Wood Elf
7. High Elf
8. Half-Orc
9. Goliath
10. Mountain Dwarf
11. Lightfoot Halfling
12. Hill Dwarf

Which is a bit of a change from what people were creating in launch month for D&D Beyond (mid 2017)

1. Human
2. Elf
3. Half-Elf
4. Dwarf
5. Tiefling
6. Dragonborn
7. Genasi
8. Halfling
9. Half-Orc
10. Gnome
11. Goliath

The percentages are presented in different ways in 2019 and the launch month, with launch month merging the various subraces. So to compare like with like:

• Wood elves and high elves taken together in the 2019 data are more popular than half-elves (or variant humans)
• Meanwhile if we split the wood elves and high elves from 2017 they are probably both behind tieflings and dragonborn
• Dwarves taken together in 2019 are only just behind dragonborn. They've still fallen from ahead of tieflings and dragonborn to behind them
• Halflings combined in 2019 are neck and neck with half-orcs and ahead of goliaths
• Genasi combined in 2019 are a little behind goliaths and slightly ahead of combined gnomes

Interesting that dwarves have fallen so heavily out of favour - and half orcs have climbed so strongly into favour; I guess there's been a lot of talk here. The thematics of tieflings and dragonborn (entirely unsurprisingly IMO) have made them core races and even the dwarfs are disappearing in favour of half-orcs (which IMO is a surprise).

 

[Zardnaar]

Anarchosyndacalist communism works just fine.

You just need to keep an eye out for moistened binks lobbing scimitars. Prevent any and all aquatic ceremonies (regardless of farcicality) so that strange women lying in ponds, lakes, or other such bodies of water, can't distribute bladed weapons.

Point. You can always ship any such women found in said bodies of water off to Icewind Dale.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Interesting. Given how weak (mechanically speaking) dragonborn are, I find interesting that they are among the top 5 most played races in the official site...

Shouldn't be a surprise. Most players don't care at all about optimization.

 

[Tonguez]

I think dwarves are probably one of the most thoroughly pigeonholed D&D races. I think a lot of it has to do with so much focus placed on their professions (Pick One: Miner, Stonemason, Smith) that it leaves the race feeling a bit one-dimensional.

Another angle I have seen more than once played on dwarves is the fact that they are all apparent alcoholics, and are the race to pick du juor if you want a character that is a shameless drunk.

I think the best portrayals of Dwarves tend to focus more on their associations with clan and politics and honor. The drunk blacksmith trope is sliding into cliche and it's hurting the race as a whole. At least that's my 2 cents.

The logic I applied to Dwarfs was that their physiology (lung capacity, short stocky stature and hirsuite bodies) is hyper adapted to the Under-Mountain environment, they thrive in their Mountain strongholds and thus have rich and vibrant cultures which few non-dwarfs get to see.
However as soon as a Dwarf leaves the mountains and goes to lowland altitudes they begin to suffer, the air is too thick and the temperature to warm, and the food too spicy. Thats why being sent into exile down the mountain is considered a punishment and to be avoided.
Its only because of their legendary endurance the Dwarfs continue functioning at low altitidues, however they also tend to be taciturn, grumpy and prone to drinking to get through a day.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

So if this correlates, in 6e they will be 6 feet tall and absolutely no one will play them.

I hope that in future settings (I don't think there will be a 6e) they will be Small, with a variant of Powerful Build that lets them use heavy weapons.

 

[Voadam]

I hope that in future settings (I don't think there will be a 6e) they will be Small, with a variant of Powerful Build that lets them use heavy weapons.

Everquest d20 RPG had dwarves as small size but with a +2 str mod over standard 3.0 dwarves. I felt either way was reasonable.

 

[Oofta]

Se in fantasy roleplaying Communism can work.

Hammer and sickle is funny for a dual wielder.

I think I may have my next dwarven fighter. In Clan Russia, Clan tell you what you think! Hmm ... Gimli the Red?

 

[embee]

I think I may have my next dwarven fighter. In Clan Russia, Clan tell you what you think! Hmm ... Gimli the Red?

Actually, I could see a dwarven settlement being run like a kibbutz.

 

[Zardnaar]

I think I may have my next dwarven fighter. In Clan Russia, Clan tell you what you think! Hmm ... Gimli the Red?

Da comrade. Drink this. Yellow can was around in Soviet times.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Yea, I agree. If I had to bet on the rankings a year from now, post-Tasha's, I'd guess:

1) Human
2) Custom Lineage
3) Half-Elf
4) Mountain Dwarf
5) Dragonborn

Tiefling and various Elves will be right below; Elves combined would probably make the top 5.

I doubt that we will see Custom Lineage anywhere near the top.

One thing to remember is that for D&D Beyond, a lot of the "most popular" subclasses are the ones which are available in the basic rules. For example, if you have not purchased the Player's Handbook on D&D Beyond (or any other content there like Xanathar's, Tasha's) and you make a cleric, then the Life domain is the only one you'll be able to choose.

A better thing to remember is that, unless you think the ddb guys are liars, the rankings don't change when you look at the accounts with all options available.

I've personally always envisioned dwarves as builders of large-scale industry and monumental designs, whereas rock gnomes are more interested in smaller-scale invention.

Me too. Dwarves want to reshape the landscape. They want their far flung descendants to look upon their works and know them.

Gnomes want to make new things. They come into the world laughing, and they delight in new things, and so their creativity is focused on invention. Not just tech or science, but new spells, new forms of music, etc.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

I'm trying to remember whether I have ever played a dwarf in any game ever. I can't remember that I would have. Perhaps as kid in some one shot and I've just forgotten. But they definitely are one classic fantasy race that I do not find at all appealing.