D&D General why are dwarves harder to think of varients for?

[Charlaquin]

image is broken you're lucky I have varrics face carved into my brain.

Yeah, noticed that, swapped it for a different image, which was also broken, then finally swapped that for a third image that actually worked.

he feels less like a new group and more someone who never saw himself in his people, I find it relatable but does not fix the problem

That’s because he is. I was responding to @EzekielRaiden saying that a well-written character who bucks the trends of traditional dwarfiness is what’s needed to expand what dwarves as a people can be. I think Varric has certainly done a good job of that. Now, the charming storyteller is an archetype that feels acceptably dwarf-like to anyone who’s a fan of Dragon Age, and beards no longer seem 100% essential.

 

[FrozenNorth]

image is broken you're lucky I have varrics face carved into my brain.

he feels less like a new group and more someone who never saw himself in his people, I find it relatable but does not fix the problem

I love dwarf characters, and I generally agree with the advice on this thread: start with one memorable dwarf individual and build out from there. It helps if the memorable dwarf individual has at least a couple of traits that are grounded in traits that are recognizably dwarvish, even if they subvert other traits.

I’ve been playing around with the idea of a dwarf ranger. A character who explores the wilderness looking for valuable resources to extract as a prospector rather than lofty ideals of “preserving the wilderness”. It reinforces the dwarf aspects of greed and knowledge of gems and minerals while subverting the tropes that dwarves aren’t at ease in forests.

 

[jmartkdr2]

Incidentally, 2/3 PF2 kineticists I've theory-crafted are dwarves, and I'll probably add more. It helps that they're naturally good fits, but elementalist dwarves feels like the kind of magic they would use (well, that and runes.)

 

[Tonguez]

Yeah, noticed that, swapped it for a different image, which was also broken, then finally swapped that for a third image that actually worked.

That’s because he is. I was responding to @EzekielRaiden saying that a well-written character who bucks the trends of traditional dwarfiness is what’s needed to expand what dwarves as a people can be. I think Varric has certainly done a good job of that. Now, the charming storyteller is an archetype that feels acceptably dwarf-like to anyone who’s a fan of Dragon Age, and beards no longer seem 100% essential.

Varric is still short, hairy and hangs out in taverns enjoying a drink. Storytelling and singing has always been a dwarf tradition (see Tolkien) so nothing strange about a Dwarf bard.
also the Varric image shared has facial stuble.
Now Varric himself says he doesnt have that sense of Dwarven pride so making him the base of Dwarf culture seems a bit off

 

[Charlaquin]

Varric is still short, hairy and hangs out in taverns enjoying a drink. Storytelling and singing has always been a dwarf tradition (see Tolkien) so nothing strange about a Dwarf bard.
also the Varric image shared has facial stuble.

Yes, he is still fairly close to the basic dwarf template, because if you push too far, the character stops feeling like a dwarf. Varric is an example of what @EzekielRaiden was talking about, a dwarf character who breaks the stereotype, while still feeling distinctly dwarvish, which is the type of character we need more of in order to expand the range of what will feel acceptably dwarvish in the fantasy zeitgeist.

Now Varric himself says he doesnt have that sense of Dwarven pride so making him the base of Dwarf culture seems a bit off

He’s not supposed to be the base of dwarf culture. He’s a well-written dwarf character who is intentionally a bit of an outsider to dwarf culture, which is exactly what the fantasy genre needs in order to expand the bounds of what dwarf culture can be.

 

[Incenjucar]

One of the broad things D&D needs to be a lot better at (and fiction in general) is allowing fictional races and species to have non-monolithic cultures without having to be physically different. Planet of the Hats needs to die in all forms.

 

[Scribe]

One of the broad things D&D needs to be a lot better at (and fiction in general) is allowing fictional races and species to have non-monolithic cultures without having to be physically different. Planet of the Hats needs to die in all forms.

This isnt an issue with D&D though, its an issue with writers, players, DM's, whoever. The system isnt preventing anything, it hasnt for decades.

ASI, Alignment, Culture, Species, whatever. None of that is a straightjacket, hasnt been for longer than most 5e players have existed on the planet.

Want to have a suave, nature loving, CN dwarf Bard with dump stats of Str and Con? Go nuts.

 

[Incenjucar]

This isnt an issue with D&D though, its an issue with writers, players, DM's, whoever. The system isnt preventing anything, it hasnt for decades.

ASI, Alignment, Culture, Species, whatever. None of that is a straightjacket, hasnt been for longer than most 5e players have existed on the planet.

Want to have a suave, nature loving, CN dwarf Bard with dump stats of Str and Con? Go nuts.

It's a problem with the writing for D&D which sets the tone and expectations of the players and DMs. A lot of folks struggle with going against what is presented.

Edit: It's also a little absurd and gross. Not like maliciously so, but it's bad writing and worse sociology.

 

[Scribe]

It's a problem with the writing for D&D which sets the tone and expectations of the players and DMs. A lot of folks struggle with going against what is presented.

The text has said for a long time 'you do not have to do this'. Its not D&D's fault if players and especially DM's lack the will/creativity/desire to do something different. Its not the games job to tell you you dont have to have a beard on your dwarf and carry an axe.

 

[Incenjucar]

The text has said for a long time 'you do not have to do this'. Its not D&D's fault if players and especially DM's lack the will/creativity/desire to do something different. Its not the games job to tell you you dont have to have a beard on your dwarf and carry an axe.

You don't have to do anything. You could play poker instead.