Favorite non-human PHB race.

[exile]

Another Vote for the Dwarves

I play humans some 90+% of the time, but dwarves are probably my favorite non-human race in the PHB.

I vaguely recall reading something about dwarves being powered up for 3.X and elves being similarly powered down from previous editions. I never really thought of myself as a power gamer, but I can't honestly remember if I liked dwarves as much back in 2E or not (probably because I mostly play(ed) humans).

One thing I can say is that I definitely liek halflings a lot less now, and this change has nothing to do with mechanics/power level. I've always been a fan of the little hairy-footed types. I played a tallfellow halfling, Maggie Summertoes, back in 2E that I absolutely adored, but I have not yet played (or even made) a 3.X halfling.

 

[Kalendraf]

I've been fond of dwarves ever since reading LotR back in Junior High. That was a couple years before I started playing D&D. My first non-human character was a dwarf fighter and I played a few other memorable dwarves along the way.

Plus, it's just great fun to roleplay a typical dwarf... "Bring me some ale!" "Bash their skulls!" "Let them taste my axe!" "There's an elite dwarven force coming...me!"

 

[fafhrd]

It does my heart good to see so many fellow dwarf fans. Gimli got short shrift in the films and it seems the folks here know it. Comic relief me arse!

 

[VirtualWizard]

I voted for elves. Why? I guess it is the warrior/wizard aspect that elves seem to be modeled after. Or maybe I have a thing for pointy ears I have never played a dwarf mainly because I don't see them as lacking Charisma, but D&D shackles them with being gruff and anti-social. What about all those dwarven drinking songs?

 

[Gez]

The WotC boards definitely ruined elves for me.

My faves are gnomes. Small but tough, geeky but cute. I just loath the tinker archetype.

In fact, I dislike any comic relief archetype (like DL tinker gnomes, gully dwarves, kenders, for example) just as much as I dislike serious-ridiculous archetypes (like FR sun elves).

 

[beta-ray]

Dwarves.

I resemble them the most.

For some reason I never liked elves.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I just figured out that I somehow like Half-Orcs most. Okay, the probably got the shaft (hey, it`s a long time I read someone using this word!), and I can´t remember when (or if?) I ever played one, but I like the idea of an Half-Orc. Okay, so I guess my next character will have to be a Half-Orc...

Otherwise, I like Halflings. Sneaky, small, dangerous. (If you want them to be that).

Mustrum Ridcully

 

[Thanee]

Surely a lot of dwarf fans here.
I can't really say, that I like them, but that's ok.

I wonder, how many vote dwarf because of mechanical reasons (they are probably the most powerful race in the PHB) and how many like their stereotypical image... we'll never know...

Bye
Thanee

 

[exile]

Very good point Thanee. As I, not so eloquently, tried to express in my post, I'm not certain if I like dwarves more for their image/role-playing opportunities or for their mechanics. As I think more and more about it, it probably is a mechanics issue.

Also as mentioned, I have always loved playing humans and I have been tickled pink since the advent of 3E gave them a bonus feat and bonus skill points.

 

[Wombat]

I wonder, how many vote dwarf because of mechanical reasons (they are probably the most powerful race in the PHB) and how many like their stereotypical image... we'll never know...

I can't speak for the others, obviously, but I never choose a race or a class based on mechanics. Instead I go with what feels right at the moment.

That being said, I, like many others, got my first major taste of dwarves in The Hobbit. As I was growing up, many of my friends read LotR and became elf-nuts; this only caused me to dig in my heels and become more of a dwarf-fanatic -- dwarves weren't moaning low all the time about how the world was doomed, win or lose. I read through the book carefully to find the minor passages that mentioned the great wars going on around the Iron Hills where the dwarves were going out to fight goblins and the wainriders in force -- they were not hiding in their forests and playing Depeche Mode and Morrissey music! (okay, okay, I am way exaggerating here, but give me comic lisence...)

In other words, I loved the dwarves for their tenacity, their ability to see beauty in stone and gem, and their loyalty.

So in rpgs, I tend to play humans most often, but after that I play dwarves. They are often simple characters -- grab some armour, grab a heavyish weapon, and go forward to stomp goblin patootey! But given that simplistic exterior, there is an awful lot of room to develop a character -- a touch of craftsmanship or alchemy, an interest in ancient books, a Porthos-type with a love of fine clothing and jewelry. Consider me, in many ways, the anti-Tolkein -- because he so wanted to restore elves to their high place in literature, moving away from the Victorian flower-fairies, he ended up driving me towards the folk of earth and stone, the honourable dwarves.