D&D General Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes and Halflings of Color

[LuisCarlos17f]

Maybe skins of longer-live humanoids become darker if they live in sunny zones for a couple of centuries, even keeping the original hair color.

Here we shouldn't worry too much, but the important key is how to create interesting characters.

Deng Xiajoping said "the color of the cat doesn't matter if it catchs mice".

 

[Faolyn]

Of course, the man who invented Hobbits (. . . I mean Halflings) described the "by far most numerous . . . and representative variety," the Harfoots, as being brown of skin. This description is found in the prologue to the Lord of the Rings. In the book itself, he described Sam's "brown hands". He also noted how other types were fairer, which implies both skin tone and hair color (this probably applied to both Pippin and Merry as representatives of the Took and Brandybuck families, respectively).

I was under the impression that, in that sort of British writing, "brown" was used to mean tanned, as in suntanned from working or sunbathing outside.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I was under the impression that, in that sort of British writing, "brown" was used to mean tanned, as in suntanned from working or sunbathing outside.

Just guessing, but I suspect JRRT would have called them “suntanned” or something equivalent if that’s what he meant.

 

[Laurefindel]

Just guessing, but I suspect JRRT would have called them “suntanned” or something equivalent if that’s what he meant.

Not sure about that, it's well within JRRT to use language figuratively.

And there are plenty of reference to Hobbits having blonde or golden hair, Merry and Sam amongst others. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Hobbits were imagined as white when the book was written.

It also ties in with pale skin = rich/can afford to live indoors (or sickly can't go outside) and dark skin = labourer/works outdoors most of the times, all within the Caucasian specter of skin.

 

[MGibster]

Just guessing, but I suspect JRRT would have called them “suntanned” or something equivalent if that’s what he meant.

I think what Faolyn was getting at is that calling them "brown" was the equivalent of saying they were suntanned.

 

[billd91]

Not sure about that, it's well within JRRT to use language figuratively.

And there are plenty of reference to Hobbits having blonde or golden hair, Merry and Sam amongst others. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Hobbits were imagined as white when the book was written.

It also ties in with pale skin = rich/can afford to live indoors (or sickly can't go outside) and dark skin = labourer/works outdoors most of the times, all within the Caucasian specter of skin.

There are references to Hobbits having blonde hair - but it's of note mainly because an unusual number of blonde Hobbits were born in the year after Sam spread Galadriel's gift around the Shire. Their hair is otherwise usually brown and curly and their fingers are described as clever and brown. Whether that's because of tanning or not is not explained, nor does it really matter. Hobbits are essentially written as English countryfolk who are white. And I doubt the issue of rich vs laborer would have held much sway since Hobbits, even gentlemen like Bilbo and Frodo, pretty much all seem to like being outside, working in gardens, etc regardless of their means.

 

[Orius]

Mexican Dwarves?
~ With a strong luchador tradition?
~ A penchant for using mushrooms and peppers in their cuisine, with many dishes served on sizzling hot cast iron plates?
~ who celebrate their ancestors with a whole day of ceremonies, special foods, and raucous music?

Yeah, I can see that.

I got the mental image of dwarven mariachi bands with truly magnificent mustaches.

But dwarf luchadors? That's really nutty, especially when one looks at how the dwarves in the Silmarillion went into battle with masks as part of their protective gear.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I think what Faolyn was getting at is that calling them "brown" was the equivalent of saying they were suntanned.

I agree that’s what he said, but I disagree with the conclusion.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I got the mental image of dwarven mariachi bands with truly magnificent mustaches.

But dwarf luchadors? That's really nutty, especially when one looks at how the dwarves in the Silmarillion went into battle with masks as part of their protective gear.

BTW, even though it’s from a complete different show-wrestling culture, you just KNOW Dwarven wrestlers would adopt names like “The Rock”, “The Mountain”, “Stone Cold” and “Iron _______”.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Wood Elves in recent 5e art seem to be brown skinned more often than "white"/pale skinned. Like in this amazing art from Tasha's:

I think it's interesting how Wood Elves in recent 5e art typically have darker skin than drow. Like this Drow from TCoE:

I'm assuming that this directional change is to make a typically evil race less tied to the connotations of "dark skin" making you be evil, as Wood Elves are typically a "good race" (or at least "not typically evil race"), and they're now more dark skinned than drow, and are more typical human-shades of skin tone than Drow previously were.