Looking for resources on Dwarves

[CrusaderX]

I may soon be playing a Lawful Good Dwarven Cleric of Clangeddin Silverbeard (god of valor, bravery, honor, etc) in the Forgotten Realms, and I'd like to do a bit of research on dwarven life and lore.

Can anyone recommend good dwarven resources, from novels to rulebooks to magazine articles?

I've read some of the Drizzt books, which feature Bruenor Battlehammer and his clan, as well as The Cleric Quintet with the Bouldershoulder Brothers. And I loved the character of Kharas, the noble dwarf from the DragonLance "War of the Twins" novel. And, of course, there's always Gimli from LOTR.

Is the 2nd ed Complete Book of Dwarves any good? Is there anything else out there that goes into dwarven life in detail?

 

[trentonjoe]

-Dragon magazine- 280? (its titled dwarves)
-Dwarves Deep- FR11? Forgotten Realms OOP supplement
-Unearthed Arcana- has some info and good pictures on the dwarven gods
-Powers and Pantheons- Forgotten realms deity book for most standard demihuman supplements
-Complete book of dwarves- It is pretty good for background info

Good Luck

 

[trentonjoe]

The module Axe of the Dwarvish Lords is okay too.

and N5 Under Illefarn has a great 1E dwarven clan as NPCs. Really gives insight to their motivation.

 

[MythandLore]

Is the 2nd ed Complete Book of Dwarves any good? Is there anything else out there that goes into dwarven life in detail?

-Dragon magazine- 280? (its titled dwarves)
-Dwarves Deep- FR11? Forgotten Realms OOP supplement
-Unearthed Arcana- has some info and good pictures on the dwarven gods
-Powers and Pantheons- Forgotten realms deity book for most standard demihuman supplements
-Complete book of dwarves- It is pretty good for background info

The Complete book of dwarves was pretty good on info and flavor.
Mmm.... Dwarffy Goodness...

 

[Sulimo]

Also, if you are into Dragonlance there is the Dwarven Nations Trilogy which might be of interest.

 

[Holy Bovine]

Beg, borrow or steal (well, don't steal) a copy of Best of Dragon Volume III. This has an extensive section on not only Dwarves but also Elves, Halflings, Gnomes and Half-Orcs. It has a brief history of dwarves and their culture including a listing of some additional Dwarven dieties. It is for the original 1E AD&D but rarely goes for more than $6 on eBay (and my local game shop usually has a copy of two kicking around).

I use this even today for shaping the cultures of demi-humans in my campaigns - great articles.

 

[Claude Raines]

Beg, borrow or steal (well, don't steal) a copy of Best of Dragon Volume III. This has an extensive section on not only Dwarves but also Elves, Halflings, Gnomes and Half-Orcs.

If you have the Dragon CD Rom archive, you also have all these articles in their original publication. But I agree that the Best of Dragon Vol. III was the best thing I ever laid hands on for 1e D&D.

 

[William Ronald]

For names, and some inspiration - try the Elder Eddas. Dwarves (or a dwarven or gnomelike race) also show up in the Mabonogion.

Besides, LOTR there are some dwarves in the Silmarillion.

There is also a dwarven warrior featured in Dragondoom by Dennis McKiernan. (A kind of Tolkien pastiche, but a great view of a dwarven culture.)

 

[Turlogh]

The Complete Dwarf Handbook was my favorite of the series, lots of ideas, and background stuff.

 

[reapersaurus]

If you have the Dragon CD Rom archive, you also have all these articles in their original publication. But I agree that the Best of Dragon Vol. III was the best thing I ever laid hands on for 1e D&D.

wHICH cd ARE THE ANNUALS ON?
i LOST THE FIRST cd. (whoops - i'm sorry, my boy keeps tapping Caps Lock)