Why is there no dwarf-hate?

[Dykstrav]

Wait... I don't think I've ever seen any hate for Halflings.

Does anyone actually hate them? Even I like halflings, and I usually hate the small demihumans.

Oh yeah, I hate halflings. Although that's largely based on my experiences with the folk who play halflings... Given a different set of players, perhaps they'd be cool. But halfling hate is really a topic for a different thread.

I like dwarves, lots and lots. Besides my own "dwarves are cool" preference, I think they're popular because they're pro-active. Elves remind me of the snotty clique of popular kids in high school who think everyone envys them, whereas playing a half-orc is usually taken to mean that you intend to break things. While those snotty elves dance and frolic under the stars, the dwarves are burrowing into the earth's heart to get the metals they need. While half-orc tribes battle each other in the badlands, dwarves are building fortifications and weapons for inevitable battles. They get things done, which is easy for anyone to admire.

 

[Clavis]

While those snotty elves dance and frolic under the stars, the dwarves are burrowing into the earth's heart to get the metals they need. While half-orc tribes battle each other in the badlands, dwarves are building fortifications and weapons for inevitable battles. They get things done, which is easy for anyone to admire.

Stupid things like stockpiling gold they never spend on anything, but things nonetheless.

Did I mention I really dislike Dwarves?

Gnome love gnow!

 

[ivocaliban]

All of my hate is reserved for the races of Eberron.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

There is no dwarf hate.

Dwarves rock, on toast.

 

[DrunkonDuty]

I love the ol' Stunties. So much so that my current campaign is an all-stunty game. The PC's all serve in the army of a dwarven kingdom.

Why do I like them? Many of the reasons already mentioned. They give off this vibe of 'let's get things done.' And I like playing fighters and Dwarves have always made good fighters.

And I like the fact they have character flaws that are presented as character flaws. They ARE suspicious, insular and have a, um, heightened sense of materialism. Elves are seriously flawed with that whole FIGJAM (... I'm Good, Just Ask Me) attitude of theirs but are expected to be excused this for some reason I don't get.

 

[Templetroll]

See now I have always thought of dwarves as one trick ponies. Every dwarf I have ever seen played is usually a fighter with a surly attidue. Leading me to really dislike them.

I usually play almost friendly dwarf rogues or surly dwarf wizards now. The time I played a dwarf cleric he was odd - his name was G'Narley G'Nome (you pronounced the guh sound for the g) and he was a cleric thief of Vergadain. He only ever claimed to be a Sage of Architecture and Student of Library Science. He was a blast.

 

[Timothy]

Oh yeah, I hate halflings. Although that's largely based on my experiences with the folk who play halflings...

Hey, Halflings rock, even more than Dwarves.

So back off!

 

[dmccoy1693]

Add to that, dwarves may be played gruffly, but elves are often played as haughty and "more beautiful than *sniff* you".

I think this has alot to do with it. I mean a dwarf is kind of the 'hard working laborer turned butt-kicker' concept. Elves draw on more concepts of the 'rich, powerful, arrogant snobs that never do any work that run around with their little bows and cast magic.' Combine that with the feminine bent that all elves have (regardless of gender) and the male bent that all dwarves have (again, regardless of gender) and you can see how a dwarf gets alot less hate then elves ever do.

 

[Darklone]

Dwarves are German?!

Och, -- N

Dodge 'dis axe, beardless siss'!

 

[Klaus]

Well, let's not forget their insularity and general distrust towards many other races.

Picture this scene: You are in front of a bar full of dwarves. You hear dwarven conversation and laughter coming from the inside. All in all, it sounds like they are having a good time.

Then you step inside. Suddenly, all conversation stops, and all the dwarves stare at you, as if to say: "What are you doing here?" or "This is the wrong bar for you!" You take the hint and go outside again. Behind you, you can hear how the conversations start again.

This kind of attitude is likely common among dwarves, and likely to explain the -2 Cha modifier.

"Insularity and general distrust" is often applied to elves as well. With the added aggravant that the elves are portrayed as not only distrusting you, but also as thinking you are a pitiful, inferior being.