Why don't dwarves like magic?

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

I always thought it's because spell books rot and no dwarf could possibly trust someone who's ancestors mated with a dragon.

 

[S'mon]

Because it's tradition pure and simple (like- for all fellow Pratchett fans- how it's not polite to ask a dwarf's gender unless you're courting them)

It's post-Tolkien tradition; the modern RPG dwarf is entirely a Tolkien creation. Mythological dwarves were usually highly magical. My favourite dwarves though are the ones in Slaine, a bunch of sneaky low-down backstabbing rogues, if Ukko's any guide.

 

[Drawmack]

I always figured it was because arcana is a scholarly art and dwarves are more into an honest days work for an honest days pay type thing.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Because it's tradition pure and simple (like- for all fellow Pratchett fans- how it's not polite to ask a dwarf's gender unless you're courting them)

No, even then they don't ask. That makes courting such so difficult in the dwarven community: You must find out what gender the other one is.



I think dwarves don't like magic cause it has nothing to do with axes or hammers

 

[Gez]

I think dwarves don't like magic cause it has nothing to do with axes or hammers

Even magical axes and hammers? From Mjolnir to Sunder to Aegis-Fang, dwarves have created lots of magical hammers (and often, magical axes too).

 

[Hand of Evil]

I always felt they did like magic but were more careful and controlling of it than the other races, they did not rely on it to perform a task that they could do themself.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

IMC dwarves aren't afraid of magic. Just not very fond of it. The'll use magic weapons and armor, and clerics are important, but wizards and sorcerers are less common than with other races (but they do exist and a PC who plays a dwarven arcanist won't get any repercussions for it)

 

[I'm A Banana]

3e certainly solves the problem of magical dwarves. They actually make pretty kick-ass wizards (that CON bonus could potentially more than double a potential wizard's hit points). Sorcerers and bards less so (darn Cha penalties!), but still....

And magic IS hard work! They may not give a flying flumph about making their lives easier, but the idea of magic as a craft and an art can really resonate with 'em.

Still, I like a bit of mythological explanation thrown in there. It gives them EXPERIENCE in magic's negative side. When every one of the greatest figures of your race that have dabbled in arcanism turn to evil, it ends up like necromancy, or summoning fiends...it sure as heck ain't good, and only bad can come of it later.

 

[Sejs]

Even magical axes and hammers? From Mjolnir to Sunder to Aegis-Fang, dwarves have created lots of magical hammers (and often, magical axes too).

Tch! That's what clerics are for!

 

[totoro]

It's post-Tolkien tradition; the modern RPG dwarf is entirely a Tolkien creation. Mythological dwarves were usually highly magical. My favourite dwarves though are the ones in Slaine, a bunch of sneaky low-down backstabbing rogues, if Ukko's any guide.

Tolkien's dwarves used magic. At Bilbo's birthday party, toys were given out that were made by dwarves, some of which were magical. They also made magic armor and magical doors.

Tolkien's elves didn't seem to use magic much differently than that. When asked if the cloaks of Lothlorien were magical, the elves were confused. They didn't cast any spells; they just made them that way. No elves seemed to "cast" any spells. Legolas didn't use any magic at all (same as Gimili).

Aragorn (a human) was able to lay on hands and use the palantir. He seemed to cast more spells (e.g., lay on hands) than any other elf (though he said that Elrond's healing powers were greater than his own, which implies Elrond could lay on hands, too). The only spellcasters in the books seemed to be Gandalf and the other wizards.

So, I don't think the non-magical dwarves of modern RPGs can be attributed to Tolkien.