D&D General Dwarven Vikings

[Indagare Nogitsune]

Because my brain is a peculiar place, the following has been going on in it:

Though Dwarves are most often associated with hills and mountains, I don't see why they couldn't be sailors and farmers. If anyone would likely be similar to them, the Dwarves make the most sense. Of course, what this means is they'd (mostly) live in an area with fjords, mountains, and colder weather. They'd also mostly be farmers rather than miners with some few going out on boats to explore and trade (and occasionally plunder).

I couldn't get rid of the idea of them being miners and crafters, but I also get the idea that they'd likely have metal ships because I just can't see them wanting to go around in boats of wood. I could also see a variety of clans each of which has a particular job: fishing, farming, sailing, mining, etc.

Also, when my brain is in more sci-fi mode, I get the notion they could be Neanderthals since, from what I've read, their bodies would not be that dissimilar.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[aco175]

They can be anything, especially with the new edition and backgrounds and such, but traditionally and more historically, they are associated with mountains and underground. They do not like open water and sailing. Farming in mountains is not great due to soil and moisture conditions.

I like the idea of metal ships and an industrial feel to things. This would increase trade with clans making up the sailing and others the mining. They trade ore, iron, wool, and weapons for food and other goods from warm climates.

 

[Indagare Nogitsune]

They can be anything, especially with the new edition and backgrounds and such, but traditionally and more historically, they are associated with mountains and underground. They do not like open water and sailing. Farming in mountains is not great due to soil and moisture conditions.

Yeah, the new rules make it very easy to have them be anything, but tradition places them so much with the mountains and underground that I'm not sure folks could decouple it, which is why I'm asking folks here about it.

I like the idea of metal ships and an industrial feel to things. This would increase trade with clans making up the sailing and others the mining. They trade ore, iron, wool, and weapons for food and other goods from warm climates.

Thanks! I thought that if any species ought to be into industry, it should be the Dwarves (though, if we went by Tolkien, Goblins would be too). I think this sort of trade would make sense. Even if they didn't farm in the mountains (and let's not forget that in a D&D setting our RL limitations don't necessarily apply), the soil near the mountains would still be pretty rocky. Even if it's arable, there'd still likely be things that wouldn't grow there.

 

[Piperken]

...Though Dwarves are most often associated with hills and mountains, I don't see why they couldn't be sailors and farmers. If anyone would likely be similar to them, the Dwarves make the most sense. Of course, what this means is they'd (mostly) live in an area with fjords, mountains, and colder weather. They'd also mostly be farmers rather than miners with some few going out on boats to explore and trade (and occasionally plunder)...

Goodness, there are rapids in mountains. Why can't there be dwarfs who're specialized experts in navigating those?

 

[AlViking]

I used to joke that the only difference between a rock and a dwarf was that a rock doesn't care if it's beard gets wet when it's in water.

But joking (and traditional roles) aside, I could see dwarves sailing the seas in steam-powered iron ships. Maybe the heat for the steam is generated by captive fire elementals. Something like the Civil War iron-clad paddle boats perhaps?

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I used to joke that the only difference between a rock and a dwarf was that a rock doesn't care if it's beard gets wet when it's in water.

But joking (and traditional roles) aside, I could see dwarves sailing the seas in steam-powered iron ships. Maybe the heat for the steam is generated by captive fire elementals. Something like the Civil War iron-clad paddle boats perhaps?

This is exactly how it works with Warhammer Fantasy dwarves. They use steam powered ships (with cannons) that fairly closely resemble early ironclads. For example:

 

[monsmord]

Clearly dwarves...eat. And probably not just fungus and subterraneous beasts. Stereotypically, they also like to drink ale and beer. And do dwarves like flavouring beyond mined salt, and if so, where are they getting herbs and spices? Short of truly fantastical worlds/ecologies/biologies, dwarves must be growing and foraging "surface" food for themselves; even if robust trade is assumed, it would be foolish to rely solely on others for staples. (An argument could be made that the iconic dwarven pride is rooted in self-sufficiency.) Farming, fishing, hunting, foraging, and animal husbandry/herding on the surface seems not just plausible but almost certain. And maybe they've developed a taste for coal-smoke-cured meats, but they're probably also using wood for other things, so some forestry is likely. (I mean, axes, yes?) Hmm - if their mountainous region is not persistently cold, maybe some high-elevation step farming? Being dwarves, they likely know soil almost as well as rock, so there might be experts in irrigation and soil treatment and remediation to improve crop yields, and remediation might require sea-based materials (fish, seaweed). Supplement all that with the herding and hunting of mountain-acclimated species (goats, sheep, predators, or their fantasy equivalents)?

Metal ships? YES. Enormous metal wagons that convert to boats that convert to submarines with metal appendages for hunting, acquisition, defense, or even attack (dwarf Viking pirates in a Nautilus)? YES.

In a homebrew alternate Earth campaign many years ago, I had dwarves be descended from Neanderthals, too.

 

[Indagare Nogitsune]

Goodness, there are rapids in mountains. Why can't there be dwarfs who're specialized experts in navigating those?

There could be and should be, which is why I think there are and this sort of conversation is interesting!

 

[Micah Sweet]

Yeah, the new rules make it very easy to have them be anything, but tradition places them so much with the mountains and underground that I'm not sure folks could decouple it, which is why I'm asking folks here about it.


Thanks! I thought that if any species ought to be into industry, it should be the Dwarves (though, if we went by Tolkien, Goblins would be too). I think this sort of trade would make sense. Even if they didn't farm in the mountains (and let's not forget that in a D&D setting our RL limitations don't necessarily apply), the soil near the mountains would still be pretty rocky. Even if it's arable, there'd still likely be things that wouldn't grow there.

I like the idea of Dwarves making use of terrace farms in the hills outside their holds.

 

[Indagare Nogitsune]

Clearly dwarves...eat. And probably not just fungus and subterraneous beasts. Stereotypically, they also like to drink ale and beer. And do dwarves like flavouring beyond mined salt, and if so, where are they getting herbs and spices? Short of truly fantastical worlds/ecologies/biologies, dwarves must be growing and foraging "surface" food for themselves; even if robust trade is assumed, it would be foolish to rely solely on others for staples. (An argument could be made that the iconic dwarven pride is rooted in self-sufficiency.) Farming, fishing, hunting, foraging, and animal husbandry/herding on the surface seems not just plausible but almost certain. And maybe they've developed a taste for coal-smoke-cured meats, but they're probably also using wood for other things, so some forestry is likely. (I mean, axes, yes?) Hmm - if their mountainous region is not persistently cold, maybe some high-elevation step farming? Being dwarves, they likely know soil almost as well as rock, so there might be experts in irrigation and soil treatment and remediation to improve crop yields, and remediation might require sea-based materials (fish, seaweed). Supplement all that with the herding and hunting of mountain-acclimated species (goats, sheep, predators, or their fantasy equivalents)?

I would agree that it's unlikely Dwarves would want to be too reliant on other species for staples. They've almost certainly got potatoes if those exist. Barbeque could definitely be a thing. I'm sure at least some Dwarves would be wood carvers, especially of more durable types of wood. I'd assume that there'd be many elevations for their mountain home and with spells like control weather it's very possible the mountain steeps would be great for farming. They'd almost certainly know anything about soil one cares to ask and would be really good geologists. The fact they're not more often paired with mountain-acclimated species (like griffins and giant eagles) is, quite frankly, baffling.

Metal ships? YES. Enormous metal wagons that convert to boats that convert to submarines with metal appendages for hunting, acquisition, defense, or even attack (dwarf Viking pirates in a Nautilus)? YES.

Hehe. I imagine even airships could be possible (though maybe not planes) if we can give them broader views on things. Though, realistically, almost as soon as pilotable balloons came about they started to be used in warfare. (In real life, the first person flying balloon was on November 21, 1783 and the first military use of a balloon was June 26, 1794 during the Battle of Fleurus to observe from above.)

In a homebrew alternate Earth campaign many years ago, I had dwarves be descended from Neanderthals, too.

Cool!