{{Short description|Fictional playable humanoid race}} {{Italic disambiguation}} {{Infobox fictional race | name = Dwarf | image = 200px | caption = An illustration of a dwarf | first = the original 1974 edition of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' | based_on = Dwarf | type = Natural Humanoid | alignment = Often Lawful Good }} {{Italic disambiguation}} A '''dwarf''', in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy roleplaying game, is a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for player characters. The idea for the ''D&D'' dwarf comes from the dwarves of European mythologies and J. R. R. Tolkien's novel ''The Lord of the Rings'' (1954–1955), and has been used in ''D&D'' and its predecessor ''Chainmail'' since the early 1970s. Variations from the standard dwarf archetype of a short and stout demihuman are commonly called subraces, of which there are more than a dozen across many different rule sets and campaign settings.
==History== The concept of the dwarf comes from Norse{{sfn|Tresca|2010|p=31|ref=tresca}} and Teutonic mythology.<ref>{{cite news | last=Gygax | first=Gary | author-link=Gary Gygax | date=March 1985 | title=On the influence of J.R.R. Tolkien on the D&D and AD&D games | periodical=The Dragon | issue=95 | pages=12–13 | quote=Dwarves, on the other hand, are well known in Teutonic and Scandinavian myths; here, the Professor and I build upon the same foundation.}}</ref> In particular, the dwarves in the Germanic story ''The Ring of the Nibelungen'' and the Brothers Grimm fairy tale "Rumpelstiltskin" have been called "ancestors" of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' dwarves.<ref name=bowman>{{cite book | author=Bowman, Sarah Lynne | title=The Functions of Role-Playing Games | url=https://archive.org/details/functionsrolepla00bowm | url-access=limited | chapter=6. Role-Playing as Alteration of Identity | page=[https://archive.org/details/functionsrolepla00bowm/page/n160 152] |date=May 2010 | publisher=McFarland | isbn=978-0786447107}}</ref> Along with giants, dwarves were one of the first types of non-humans to be introduced into the ''Chainmail'' game, the forebear of ''D&D'', when miniature figures of varying sizes were used together in the same wargame.<ref>{{cite journal | author=Guerra, Bob | title=Dungeons & Dragons: A Simulated Fantasy | journal=Compute | volume=12 | issue=6–9 | page=188 | year=1990 | publisher=Small System Services}}</ref> The dwarf in ''D&D'' is based on Tolkien's version of the dwarf.<ref name=reli278>{{cite book|title=Religions in play: games, rituals, and virtual worlds|last=Bornet|first=Philippe|year=2011|publisher=Theologischer Verlag Zürich|isbn=978-3-290-22010-5|pages=278|access-date=September 15, 2020|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t3X18dopUoMC&pg=PA282}}</ref>
The dwarf first appears as a player character race in the original 1974 edition of ''Dungeons & Dragons'',<ref>{{cite book | author1=Gygax, Gary | author-link1=Gary Gygax | author2=Arneson, Dave | author-link2=Dave Arneson | title=Dungeons & Dragons ''(3-Volume Set)'' | publisher=TSR, Inc | year=1974}}</ref> with a design that is strongly influenced by the dwarves of Poul Anderson's 1961 novel ''Three Hearts and Three Lions''.{{sfn|Tresca|2010|p=31|ref=tresca}} This early version of the ''D&D'' dwarf is limited to playing a fighter, and can not progress beyond the sixth level.{{sfn|Tresca|2010|p=31|ref=tresca}} With the release of the first supplement, Greyhawk, in 1976, they were then allowed to play a thief with no level restriction.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gygax and Kuntz|first=Gary and Robert|title=Dungeons & Dragons Additional Rules for Fantastic Medieval Wargames Campaigns Playable with Paper and Pencil and Miniature Figures Supplement I Greyhawk|publisher=TSR Rules|year=1976}}</ref> Beginning with the 1981 revision of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set,'' and continuing also in all subsequent revisions, demi-humans such as dwarves were treated as their own classes. Dwarves were only permitted a maximum level of 12 (compared to the Halfling's 8, the Elves' 10, and the human classes 36). With the arrival of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'', the dwarf was returned to a player character race in the ''Player's Handbook'' (1978) and detailed as a monster in the original ''Monster Manual'' (1977).<ref name="HW">{{cite book | author=Schick, Lawrence | title=Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games | publisher=Prometheus Books | year=1991 | isbn=0-87975-653-5 | pages=84–85}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author=Gygax, Gary | author-link=Gary Gygax | title=Player's Handbook | publisher=TSR Inc | year=1978 | isbn=0-935696-01-6| title-link=Player's Handbook }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author=Gygax, Gary | author-link=Gary Gygax | title=Monster Manual | publisher=TSR Inc | year=1977 | isbn=0-935696-00-8 | title-link=Monster Manual }}</ref> A number of dwarven subraces are presented as character races in the original ''Unearthed Arcana'' (1985).<ref name=arcana>{{cite book | author=Gygax, Gary | author-link=Gary Gygax | title=Unearthed Arcana | publisher=TSR, Inc | year=1985 | isbn=978-0-88038-084-3| title-link=Unearthed Arcana }}</ref>
In 1989, the hill dwarf, the most common dwarven subrace,<ref name=bowman/> appears as a character race in the second edition ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' ''Player's Handbook''<ref name=2phb>{{cite book | author=Cook, David "Zeb" | author-link=David Cook (game designer) | title=Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition Player's Handbook | pages=20–21 | publisher=TSR, Inc | location=Lake Geneva, Wisconsin | year=1989 | isbn=0-88038-716-5 }}</ref> and as a monster in the ''Monstrous Compendium Volume Two''.<ref>{{cite book | author=Cook, David "Zeb" | author-link=David Cook (game designer) | title=Monstrous Compendium Volume Two | publisher=TSR | year=1989 | location=Lake Geneva, Wisconsin | isbn=978-0880387538|display-authors=etal| title-link=Monstrous Compendium }}</ref> Dwarves are detailed as a race for the Forgotten Realms setting in ''Dwarves Deep'' (1990).<ref name="DwDeep">{{cite book | author=Greenwood, Ed | author-link=Ed Greenwood | title=Dwarves Deep | publisher=TSR, Inc | year=1991 | isbn=978-0880388801| title-link=Dwarves Deep }}</ref> Several dwarven races are detailed as player character races in ''The Complete Book of Dwarves'' (1991).<ref>{{cite book | author=Bambra, Jim | title=The Complete Book of Dwarves | publisher=TSR, Inc | year=1991 | isbn=978-1560761105}}</ref> The dwarf appears as a character race in the third edition ''Player's Handbook'' (2000),<ref name=phb3>{{cite book | author1=Tweet, Jonathan | author2=Cook, Monte | author3=Williams, Skip | title=Player's Handbook | page=14 | publisher=Wizards of the Coast | year=2000 | isbn=978-0786915507}}</ref> the 3.5 revised ''Player's Handbook'' (2003),<ref>{{cite book | last1=Tweet|first1=Jonathan | author-link=Jonathan Tweet |first2=Monte|last2=Cook|author-link2=Monte Cook|first3=Skip|last3=Williams |author-link3=Skip Williams | others=revised by Andy Collins | title=Player's Handbook v.3.5 | publisher=Wizards of the Coast | orig-year=2000 | year=2003 | isbn=0-7869-2886-7|title-link=Player's Handbook }}</ref> the fourth edition ''Player's Handbook'' (2008),<ref>Heinsoo, Rob, Andy Collins, and James Wyatt. ''Player's Handbook''. (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)</ref> and the fifth edition ''Player's Handbook'' (2014).<ref>{{Cite book| title=Player's Handbook | publisher=Wizards of the Coast | year=2014| title-link=Player's Handbook }}</ref> The arctic dwarf, gray dwarf, gold dwarf, shield dwarf, urdunnir, and wild dwarf are all detailed in ''Races of Faerûn'' (2003).<ref>{{cite book | author1=Reynolds, Sean K | author-link1=Sean K. Reynolds | title=Races of Faerûn | publisher=Wizards of the Coast | year=2003 | isbn=0-7869-2875-1|display-authors=etal| title-link=Races of Faerûn }}</ref> Dwarves are one of the races detailed in ''Races of Stone'' (2004).<ref name="RoS">{{cite book | author1=Decker, Jesse | author-link1=Jesse Decker | author2=Lyons, Michelle | author3=Noonan, David | author-link3=David Noonan (game designer)| title=Races of Stone | publisher=Wizards of the Coast | year=2004| isbn=978-0786932788| title-link=Races of Stone }}</ref> The dwarf, including the dwarf bolter and the dwarf hammerer, appears as a monster in the fourth edition ''Monster Manual'' (2008).<ref>{{cite book | author1=Mearls, Mike | author-link1=Mike Mearls | author2=Schubert, Stephen | author3=Wyatt, James | author-link3=James Wyatt (game designer)| title=Monster Manual | publisher=Wizards of the Coast | year=2008 | isbn=978-0786948529| title-link=Monster Manual }}</ref>
==Description== Dwarves average four feet in height, with stout, broad bodies.<ref name=dummies4/><ref name=PJC>{{cite thesis|last=Clements|first=Philip J.|date=December 2019|title=Dungeons & Discourse: Intersectional Identities in Dungeons & Dragons|type=PhD|url=http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1573729920432102|access-date=2020-09-22|pages=58, 67, 78, 165}}</ref> Male dwarves grow thick facial hair. The female dwarves in ''The Lord of the Rings'' novels, which greatly inspired ''D&D'', were able to grow beards as well.<ref>{{cite book | author=Guiley, Rosemary | title=The Encyclopedia of Magic and Alchemy | chapter=Lord of the Rings, The | page=170 | year=2006 | publisher=Infobase Publishing | isbn=978-1438130002}}</ref> Some authors, such as R. A. Salvatore, have followed suit in their writing. This was reflected in game mechanics as well, but the game rules' official position was rarely concrete or specific, and it varied by dwarven culture or ancestry. In ''The Complete Book of Dwarves'', women amongst the deep dwarves "wear their beards long, unlike other dwarf women (who are typically cleanshaven)."<ref name=CBD13>{{cite book | first1=Jim | last1=Bambra | author-link1=Jim Bambra | title=The Complete Book of Dwarves | pages=13 | publisher=TSR, Inc | year=1991}}</ref> Additionally, in specific campaign settings the potential for female dwarven facial hair sees much variation: In the ''World of Greyhawk'', all dwarves—including females—grow and wear beards, but only a portion of females are known to shave,<ref name=PG2e>{{cite book |first1=Anne |last1=Brown |author-link1=Anne Brown (game designer) |title=Player's Guide |pages=37–38 |publisher=TSR, Inc |year=1998 |quote=Males and females both wear beards, though some females are known to be smooth-faced.}}</ref><ref name=TAB15>{{cite book |first1=Roger |last1=Moore |author-link1=Roger E. Moore |title=The Adventure Begins |pages=15 |publisher=TSR, Inc |year=1998 |quote=Both males and females are bearded.}}</ref><ref name=TAB87>{{cite book |first1=Roger |last1=Moore |author-link1=Roger E. Moore |title=The Adventure Begins |pages=87 |publisher=TSR, Inc |year=1998 |quote=Dunar Khorshkan, ''dwarf female''... the bearded Dunar... Many think of her as a male, but she is used to this sort of nonsense from humans.}}</ref><ref name=LGG>{{cite book |last1=Holian |first1=Gary |author-link1 = Gary Holian |author-link2=Erik Mona |first2=Erik |last2=Mona |author-link3=Sean K. Reynolds |first3=Sean K. |last3=Reynolds |author-link4=Frederick Weining |first4=Frederick |last4=Weining |title=Living Greyhawk Gazetteer |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |year=2000 |isbn=0-7869-1743-1 |page=9 |quote=All dwarves are bearded.}}</ref> in the ''Forgotten Realms'' they can grow full beards but also usually shave,<ref name=2e-FR>{{cite book | first1=Ed | last1=Greenwood | first2=Jeff | last2=Grubb | author-link1=Ed Greenwood | author-link2=Jeff Grubb | title=A Grand Tour of the Realms | pages=7–8 | publisher=TSR, Inc | year=1993}}</ref> and in ''Eberron'' they do not grow facial hair at all. The art of various editions (especially later editions), however, has frequently portrayed dwarven women as beardless. In the preview for the fourth edition of Dungeons and Dragons, ''Wizards Presents: Races and Classes'', artist William O'conner discussed how the design team gave him specific direction to change the way female dwarves were depicted.<ref name=WPRC33>{{cite book | first1=Michael| last1=Carter | author-link1= | title=Wizard Presents: Races and Classes | pages=33 | publisher=Wizards of the Coast | year=2007 | quote=... to make them beautiful, even sexy" and that O'conner "had no inclination to depict them with beards.}}</ref> Rob Heinsoo also said in the same book that O'Conner's art "gifted us with a magnificent new look for dwarf women. Strong, sensual, earthy and feminine, with an exotic beauty that no one would think to splash a beard on."{{sfn|Tresca|2010|p=32|ref=tresca}} However, this was not reflected in fourth edition rules, only in art, and still varied depending on the campaign setting.
Philip J. Clements listed the dwarves' skill in metalworking and fondness for ale as cultural characteristics.<ref name=PJC/>
The book ''Three Hearts and Three Lions'' by Poul Anderson strongly influenced ''Dungeons & Dragons'', having a dwarf named Hugi with a Scottish accent.{{sfn|Tresca|2010|p=31|ref=tresca}} Most popular portrayals of dwarves feature such an accent.{{sfn|Tresca|2010|p=31|ref=tresca}} Dwarves tend to be more useful for combat-oriented players, as they gain a number of special abilities and bonuses in combat, mostly related to their hardiness and smaller stature compared to humans.<ref name=dummies4>{{cite book | first1=Bill | last1=Slavicsek | first2=Richard | last2=Baker | title=Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition For Dummies | chapter=Chapter 12: Picking a Race | pages=145–146 | publisher=John Wiley & Sons |date=July 2008 | isbn=978-0470292907}}</ref> Dwarves are also resistant to poison and magic, can see in the dark (a skill called ''infravision'' in earlier editions and ''darkvision'' beginning with third edition), and can detect different types of mining-related features underground, such as sloping tunnels.<ref name=2phb/> The dwarven ability to detect a sloping passage underground is also taken directly from Anderson's book.<ref name=bowman/>
Dwarves are generally good in alignment.{{sfn|Mitchell-Smith|2009|p=212}}<ref name=PJC/> Ilan Mitchell-Smith wrote that dwarves, along with other races allowed for use by players such as elves and halflings, are "defined in terms of subjectivity, and ultimately, humanity" as opposed to many other creatures who serve as a type of "monstrous ''other''".{{sfn|Mitchell-Smith|2009|p=209}} Philip J. Clements observed that dwarves "tend to embody an extreme vision of masculinity".<ref name=PJC/>
Dwarves usually worship Moradin,<ref name=dummies>{{cite book | first1=Bill | last1=Slavicsek | first2=Richard | last2=Baker | title=Dungeons & Dragons For Dummies | url=https://archive.org/details/dungeonsdragonsf00slav_844 | url-access=limited | chapter=Chapter 21: Roleplaying and Working Together | page=[https://archive.org/details/dungeonsdragonsf00slav_844/page/n288 267] | publisher=John Wiley & Sons |date=April 2005 | isbn=978-0764584596}}</ref> whom they believe is their creator. According to their legends, Moradin fashioned the dwarves into a likeness of himself using gems and metal. He then breathed life into them. In many campaign settings, the dwarven pantheon of gods consists of the leader Moradin, as well as Abbathor, Berronar Truesilver, Clanggedin Silverbeard, Dugmaren Brightmantle, Dumathoin, Muamman Duathal, and Vergadain, and Laduguer is god of the duergar.<ref name=arcana/><ref>{{cite book | author=Sargent, Carl | author-link=Carl Sargent | title=Monster Mythology | publisher=TSR, Inc | year=1992 | isbn=978-1560763628| title-link=Monster Mythology }}</ref> Several gods including Hanseath were introduced in ''Races of Stone''.<ref name="RoS"/> Other dwarven gods may be present in different campaign settings.
Dwarves get along well with gnomes, who are often regarded as close cousins of the dwarven race.{{sfn|Stewart|1993|pp=159|ref=stewart}} Dwarves are accepting of humans, half-elves and halflings. Dwarves often do not get to know humans well as they live longer than the average human, and prefer to become friendly with the human's family in general.<ref name=phb3/> Dwarves do not trust half-orcs, and fail to appreciate elves,<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Clements |first=Philip J. |date=December 2019 |title=Dungeons & Discourse: Intersectional Identities in Dungeons & Dragons |type=PhD dissertation |publisher=Bowling Green State University |url=http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1573729920432102 |access-date=2022-12-15 |page=36}}</ref> with whom they only ally in their many battles against orcs, goblins, evil giants and trolls.{{sfn|Stewart|1993|pp=94–95|ref=stewart}}
=== Dethek script{{anchor|Dethek}} === In the first edition ''Cyclopedia of the Realms'', released with the ''Forgotten Realms Campaign Set'' in 1987, the dwarves are described having a runic-type script called ''Dethek'', which translates directly into "Common". It is said they prefer to not write on that which can perish, and thus inscribe on metal or stone. Books can be made from bound metal sheets. The stone tablets they write on are called "runestones" in common tongue and described as being diamond-shaped, about an inch thick, and of some very hard rock. Inscriptions spiral around the edge, being read from the outer edge toward the center.<ref name="Dethek">{{cite book |author1=Ed Greenwood & company |title=Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Forgotten Realms: Cyclopedia of the Realms |date=1987 |page=8-9 |edition=1}}</ref>
Words are separated by spaces, sentences by crossed lines; and capital letters have a line drawn above them. If any glyphs are painted, names of beings and places are commonly picked out in red, while the rest of the text is colored black or left as unadorned grooves. A numbering system also exist, essentially a variation of pentadic numerals, as well as ideographs for clans, tribes and races. Some tablets bare reliefs and can be used as stamps for various purposes.<ref name="Dethek"/>
==Subraces== Over the history of ''D&D'' publications and rules editions, more than a dozen subraces of dwarf have been described. Hill dwarves are the standard dwarven race.<ref name=bowman/> Mountain dwarves live deeper underground and have fairer skin than hill dwarves.<ref name=2phb/> Aleithian dwarves are deep-dwelling psionic dwarves who follow the dragon god Sardior.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031002174931/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psb/20030926a Psionic Bestiary: Aleithian Dwarves - The Legend of Sardior, Part 2]</ref> In the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd editions of ''D&D'', Azers physically resembled dwarves, though they were unrelated. In the 4th Edition of the game, they are a product of the enslavement of dwarves by giants and titans. Badlands dwarves have adapted to life in the inhospitable wastes, developing a natural knack for finding water and tolerance to heat and thirst.<ref>{{cite book | author1=Cordell, Bruce | author2-link=Jennifer Clarke-Wilkes | author-link1=Bruce Cordell | author2=Clarke-Wilkes, Jennifer | author3-link=JD Wiker | author3=Wiker, JD | title=Sandstorm | publisher=Wizards of the Coast | year=2005 | isbn=978-0786936557| title-link=Sandstorm (Dungeons & Dragons) }}</ref> Deep dwarves dwell underground and have a greater ability to see in the dark, but are sensitive to light. They are more resistant to magic and poison than standard dwarves. Dream dwarves are contemplative dwarves in touch with the world around them, which they call the "earth dream."<ref name="RoS"/> The duergar, or "gray dwarves",<ref name=DiFilippo>{{cite conference |url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02910410/document |title=La mythologie nordique dans Donjons & Dragons - Entre réception et stéréotypes |last=Di Filippo |first=Laurent |date=2018 |publisher=Didaskalie |book-title=Les clichés dans l'histoire |page=75 |location=Chazey-sur-Ain |conference=Fest'Ain d'Histoire}}</ref> are an "evil and avaricious"<ref name=bowman/> subrace that live in the Underdark. The name duergar is derived from Norse mythology.<ref name=DiFilippo/> ''Bleeding Cool'' editor Gavin Sheehan praised the more detailed background for duergar in ''Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes'', "with their own set of goals and reasoning behind what they [as] both exciting and horrifying", called "their lore [...] fascinating and intriguing" and declared them "a force to be dealt with" in no easy way.<ref>{{cite web|first=Gavin|last=Sheehan|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/05/29/review-dungeons-dragons-mordenkainens-tome-of-foes/|title=Review: Dungeons & Dragons — Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes|website=Bleeding Cool|date=29 May 2018|access-date=2025-03-28}}</ref> Frost dwarves are extra-planar dwarves who reside on the Iron Wastes of the Infinite Layers of the Abyss. They were once duergar enslaved by frost giants.<ref>{{cite book | author1=Cordell, Bruce | author-link1=Bruce Cordell | author2=F.M. Kestrel, Gwendolyn | title=Planar Handbook | publisher=Wizards of the Coast | year=2004 | isbn=978-0786934294| title-link=Planar Handbook }}</ref> Glacier dwarves reside in cold glaciers, mining a special material known as blue ice. These dwarves have great skill at crafting with ice and magical ice, and are tolerant to cold weather.<ref>{{cite book | author1=Baur, Wolfgang | author-link1=Wolfgang Baur| author2=Jacobs, James | author-link2=James Jacobs (game designer) | author3=Strayton, George | title=Frostburn | publisher=Wizards of the Coast | year=2004 | isbn=978-0786928965| title-link=Frostburn}}</ref> Seacliff dwarves make their home in high seaside cliffs and are excellent swimmers.<ref>{{cite book | author1=Baker, Richard | author-link1=Richard Baker (game designer) | author2=Carriker, Joseph D. | author3=Clarke-Wilkes, Jennifer | title=Stormwrack | publisher=Wizards of the Coast | year=2005 | isbn=978-0786936892| title-link=Stormwrack }}</ref>
===In campaign settings=== On Athas, the planet of the ''Dark Sun'' campaign setting, dwarves stand less than 5' tall and weigh nearly 200 lbs. Each dwarf pursues a singular obsession, called a focus, that requires at least a week to complete.<ref name="Dragon #185">{{cite journal| author=Swan, Rick| title=Role-playing Reviews | journal=Dragon | issue=185 | pages=65–66 | publisher=TSR, Inc | location=Lake Geneva, Wisconsin |date=September 1992}}</ref> Athasian dwarves do not live underground, but some communities focus on unearthing long-lost dwarven strongholds. Physically, the dwarves of Athas are unique among their kind, having no hair at all. Athasian dwarves can breed with humans to produce muls, who are sterile offspring that share the strength and resiliency of dwarves with the size of humans.<ref name=dark-sun>{{cite book | author1=Brown, Timothy B. | author-link1=Timothy Brown (game designer)| author2=Denning, Troy | author-link2=Troy Denning | title=Dark Sun: Campaign Setting |date=October 1991 | publisher=TSR, Inc | isbn=978-1560761044| title-link=Dark Sun Boxed Set}}</ref>
In the ''Dragonlance'' setting, the dwarves are divided into three distinct groups, which are sub-divided into clans. Hill dwarves consist of a single clan called the Neidar. They are very similar to the mountain dwarves but are slightly more forthcoming towards other races and cultures. ''Flint Fireforge'', one of the Heroes of the Lance, is a Neidar.<ref>{{cite book | first1=Mary | last1=Kirchoff | author-link1=Mary Kirchoff | first2=Douglas | last2=Niles | author-link2=Douglas Niles | title=Flint the King | publisher=TSR, Inc |date=May 1990 | isbn=978-0786930210| title-link=Flint the King }}</ref> Mountain dwarves consist of several clans, two of these being the Hylar and the Daewar clans. Gully dwarves, or Aghar ("the Anguished") are thought to be the offspring of gnomes and dwarves. Gully dwarves are first referred to in the ''Dragonlance Chronicles'', by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, as a "miserable lot."<ref>{{cite book | author1=Weis, Margaret | author-link1=Margaret Weis | author2=Hickman, Tracy | author-link2=Tracy Hickman | title=Dragons of Autumn Twilight | page=176| publisher=Random House |date=November 1984 | isbn=0-88038-173-6| title-link=Dragons of Autumn Twilight }}</ref> Several clans live together, following the rule of their chieftains or one particular powerful leader. Gully dwarves are known to be vicious fighters when cornered. They are generally stupid and often hold menial jobs. They have been characterized as "a tiny, dirty, unorganized folk", but as having heart.<ref>{{cite book |editor1=Robert A. Collins |editor2=Robert Latham |title=Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review Annual 1991 |publisher=Meckler Corporation |isbn=9780313283260 |page=414}}</ref> The highest an average gully dwarf can count is 2, though some have become smart enough to count to 3.<ref>{{cite book |first=Stephen |last=Muires |title=The Game of Thinking: A Book for the Free Mind |date=2018-10-13 |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=978-1721963041 |page=4}}</ref> They are smaller than normal dwarves. They have no land of their own and live in ruined cities, sewers, and dirty parts of cities.<ref name="Gully Dwarves">{{cite book | first1=Margaret|last1=Weis|author-link1 = Margaret Weis | first2=Don|last2=Perrin|author-link2=Don Perrin | title = Dragonlance Campaign Setting | date = August 2003 | edition = 1st | publisher = Wizards of the Coast | isbn = 0-7869-3086-1 | chapter = Chapter 1, Races, "Gully Dwarves" | pages = 14–16}}</ref> Blogger Graeme Barber criticized their portrayal as "unintelligent sub-humanoids" who are "profoundly mentally disabled to the point of not really even having a language" as stereotypical.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/story/dandd-must-grapple-with-the-racism-in-fantasy/ |title=D&D Must Grapple With the Racism in Fantasy |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |date=24 January 2021 |website=Wired |access-date=10 October 2023}}</ref> Gully dwarves could be used as player characters in the ''D&D'' game. They were by design weaker than other character options, and so only appealing to few players who "enjoy the underdog status" they provided.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Garthoff |first=Jon |date=2017-12-30 |title=Playability as Realism |journal=Journal of the Philosophy of Games |volume=1 |issue=1 |page=14 |doi=10.5617/jpg.2705 |issn=2535-4388|doi-access=free }}</ref>
The ''Forgotten Realms'' world of Faerûn has several major dwarven subraces. Shield dwarves, also known as mountain dwarves, are the dominant dwarves in the northern parts of Faerûn.<ref name=2e-FR/> These dwarves tend to be fatalistic due to generations of declining numbers.<ref name=2e-FR/> Gold dwarves, also known as hill dwarves, are the dominant dwarves in southern Faerûn. They are generally a more upbeat group than their northern cousins.<ref name=2e-FR/> They primarily reside in and around the Deep Realm, an underground realm surrounding a Grand Canyon-like gorge. Arctic dwarves (also known as the Inugaakalikurit), found in the northernmost reaches of Faerûn, are smaller and stronger than most other dwarves, and immune to cold. Urdunnir, also known as {{not a typo|orecutter}} dwarves, have the magical ability to shape metal and stone, and can walk through the latter. Wild dwarves are short, primitive dwarves found in the deep jungles of Faerûn. Gray dwarves, or duergar, are mainly found in the Underdark, and have an aversion to light. Bruenor Battlehammer, a Shield Dwarf, is the king of Mithril Hall in the ''Forgotten Realms'' setting who reclaims his homeland from monsters including a shadow dragon named Shimmergloom that he kills single-handedly.<ref>{{cite book | author=Dekirk, Ash | title=Dragonlore: From the Archives of the Grey School of Wizardry | chapter=Dragons in Literature | page=139 | year=2006 | publisher=Career Press | isbn=1-56414-868-8 }}</ref> Their gods include Deep Duerra, Gorm Gulthyn, Haela Brightaxe, Marthammor Duin, and Thard Harr.<ref name="DwDeep"/>
In the ''World of Greyhawk'' setting, the group of humans known as Flan call dwarves ''{{Not a typo|dwur}}''. They are found throughout the Flanaess, and are particularly numerous in the Lortmils, Principality of Ulek, Glorioles, Iron Hills, Crystalmists, and Ratik. Lord Obmi is a notable dwarf of the setting, a servant of Iuz and member of the Boneshadow organization.<ref>{{cite book | author=Gygax, Gary | author-link=Gary Gygax | title=Artifact of Evil | year=1986 | publisher=TSR Inc | isbn=978-0394745794| title-link=Artifact of Evil }}</ref>
Dwarves in the ''Spelljammer'' campaign setting operate in huge spacefaring asteroids, honeycombed with tunnels.<ref name="Dragon #154">{{cite journal| author=Rolston, Ken | author-link=Ken Rolston | title=Role-playing Reviews | journal=Dragon| issue=154| pages=59–63 | publisher=TSR, Inc| location=Lake Geneva, Wisconsin |date=February 1990}}</ref>
==Novels== ''D&D'' novels prominently featuring dwarves include the following:
*''Dragonlance'' ** ''Dragons of the Dwarven Depths'' (July 2006), by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, ({{ISBN|0-7869-4099-9}}) **''The Last Thane'' by Douglas Niles **''Dark Thane'' by Jeff Crook **The ''Dwarf Home'' trilogy by Douglas Niles **The ''Dwarven Nations'' trilogy by Dan Parkinson **''The Gates of Thorbardin'' by Dan Parkinson **''Gully Dwarves'' by Dan Parkinson ** ''Kender, Gully Dwarves, and Gnomes'' (August 1987), edited by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, ({{ISBN|0-88038-382-8}}) *''Forgotten Realms'' **The ''War of the Spider Queen'' series by R.A. Salvatore **''The Icewind Dale Trilogy'' by R.A. Salvatore
==Legacy== Next to J.R.R. Tolkien's work, being a core player character race in ''Dungeons & Dragons'' has contributed significantly to popularizing the concept of the dwarf in contemporary culture.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Acker |first1=Paul |last2=Bardowell |first2=Matthew |last3=Weinstock |first3=Jeffrey A. |title=The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters |date=2016 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |editor-last=Weinstock |editor-first=Jeffrey A. |chapter=Dwarf |isbn=9781317044253}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Pramas |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Pramas |date=2017 |title=Dwarf Warfare |location= |publisher=Rosen Publishing Group |page=5 |isbn=9781508176275}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Levi |first1=Corwin |last2=Aldredge |first2=Michelle |last3=Benjamin |first3=Siona |author-link3=Siona Benjamin |last4=Connell |first4=Anne |last5=Cutler |first5=Amy |author-link5=Amy Cutler |last6=Grimm |first6=Jacob |author-link6=Jacob Grimm |last7=Grimm |first7=Wilhelm |author-link7=Wilhelm Grimm |date=2017 |title=Mirror Mirrored - A Contemporary Artists' Edition of 25 Grimms' Tales |publisher=Gwarlingo & Uzzlepye Presses |page=343 |isbn=9780982517611}}</ref>
The depiction of dwarves in ''Dungeons & Dragons'' has been cited as the inspiration for the dwarves in ''World of Warcraft''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kendall |first=Jamie |date=2020 |title=The Art & Making of Fantasy Miniatures |publisher=Pen & Sword Books |page=7 |isbn=9781526767431}}</ref>
Environmental humanities scholar Matthew Chrulew considered the dwarves division into subraces as an option "to customize a campaign, [...] based on relationship to place".<ref name=CM>{{Cite journal|last=Churlew|first=Matthew|date=2006|title="Masters of the Wild": Animals and the Environment in ''Dungeons & Dragons''|url=http://www.concentric-literature.url.tw/issues/Animals/6.pdf |journal=Concentric: Literary and Cultural Studies|volume=32|issue=1|pages=135–168|access-date=2026-03-16}}</ref>
==References==
===Footnotes=== {{reflist|30em}}
===Bibliography=== {{Refbegin}} *{{cite book|last=Mitchell-Smith |first=Ilan |author-link=Ilan Mitchell-Smith |chapter=11: Racial Determinism and the Interlocking Economics of Power and Violence in Dungeons & Dragons |editor1-last=Harden |editor1-first=B. Garrick |editor1-link=<!--B. Garrick Harden, 1981– --> |editor2-last=Carley |editor2-first=Robert |editor2-link=<!--Robert Carley, 1973–--> |title=Co-opting Culture |location=Lanham, MD |publisher=Lexington Books |date=May 2009 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ar1yUk0aDS8C&pg=PA219 |pages=207–223|isbn=978-0-7391-2597-7}} *{{cite book | editor=Stewart, Doug | title=Monstrous Manual | pages=94–95 | publisher=TSR, Inc | year=1993 | isbn=978-1560766193 | ref=stewart}} *{{cite book | author=Tresca, Michael J. | title=The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games | chapter=One: The Lord of the Rings |date=November 2010 | publisher=McFarland | isbn=978-0786458950 | ref=tresca}}
{{Refend}}
==External links== * [https://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/dwarf.htm Dwarf entry] at the Hypertext d20 SRD
{{D&D topics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dwarf (Dungeons and Dragons)}} Category:Dungeons & Dragons creatures from folklore and mythology Category:Dungeons & Dragons humanoids Category:Dungeons & Dragons monsters Category:Dwarves in popular culture Category:Fictional story elements introduced in 1974