ABOUT  CONTACT  PUBLISHING     

COLUMNS NEWS & MORE REVIEWS TOOLS SYSTEMS SETTINGS TRIBALITY PUBLISHING

NEWS PLANAR MYSTERIES RACES

22 UNUSUAL DWARF TYPES

 JESSE COHOON -  February 19, 2018 -

Dwarves in popular culture are often depicted as being these dour, bearded, short and squat
creatures who excel in mining gems and precious metals from the earth, have a great fondness of
drink, are expert miners, and excel at smithing. But a more thorough look at these creatures may
show them to be a bit more complex than rst thought. Unless explicitly stated, the dwarves listed
herein are within the general guidelines of being a dwarf as far physical appearance.

1. Snow White’s dwarves (Disney & Others) are shown to be jolly mining creatures, singing while
mining all day. Most depictions have them being clever against the wiles of Snow White’s evil
stepmother, saving her life a few times before she gets put into suspended animation from
eating the poisoned apple.

TRIBALITY
PUBLISHING

Tribality Publishing is now producing titles

that you can use our ideas directly into yo
games. You can view our current digital tit
at:
TRIBALITY PUBLISHING
2. “Deal-making” dwarves are dwarves that show up in time(s) of need, o ering a service in
exchange for a horrible price, such as marrying them, giving away their rst born child, giving
away all their wealth or some other horrid deal. Some of these dwarves also bring horrible
pronouncements of bad luck with them if their end of the deal isn’t held up. Rumpelstiltskin is
just such a dwarf.      SUPPORT TRIBALITY
 

3. Dwemer (Skyrim Dwarves) were an ancient, “Lost Race” who had an advanced race and
civilization, in many respects far ahead of the other races and civilizations of their time, Support us in improving our site and build
developing technology, engineering, crafting methods, metalwork, stonework, architecture, city- our community
planning, science, mathematics, magic, and the academic arts. Those that studied these crafts
LEARN MORE OUR SUPPORTERS
would been elevated to the highest, most respected and most prestigious of positions in
Dwemer society and their cities showed how important these ventures were, being marvels of DRIVETHRURPG
these studies. Few written works have described the appearance, personality, or achievements
of individual Dwemer; most knowledge of them regards the race as a whole. Despite being
called “dwarves” by giants, the Dwemer are actually of average human height.
4. Derro are a strange and sadistic race; they are clever, stealthy, and murderously insane, said to
have been created by some crazed deity in ages past, mysterious fay, or by genetic
experimentation by the Illithid. Derro travel in groups to ambush unwary travelers, taking
WHAT IS TRIBALITY?
captives as slaves using poison, crippling weapons, and natural spell casting to further their
aims. Individuals devote themselves to strange quest, such as collecting certain types of
gemstones for a magical device or slaying as many members of a particular race as possible or Tribality.com is an ENnie nominated webs
are assigned speci c missions by powerful derro savants. which provides a collection of advice,
5. Gully Dwarves are a potbellied stupid race of dwarves skin whose is often covered with scars, homebrews, tools, research, news and ot
boils, sores, and lth, hair color ranges from dirty blond to dull black, and has watery blue, dull fun tabletop RPG stu for Gamemasters a
green, or hazel eyes, speaking a pidgen tounge known as gullytalk, a constantly shifting language Players.
which borrows words from whatever main language is nearby. They eke out a meager existence
mainly in refuse heaps, sewers, and other places most civilized races would not care to touch, ABOUT CONTACT

foraging for their sustenance. They may seem cowardly, running from most any danger, but REQUEST AN ARTICLE
corner a them and you will be in for a surprise
6. Arctic dwarves are short, squat and hardy – most of them barely reaching 3 feet tall, having WRITE A GUEST ARTICLE
blocky bodies, pinched faces, and stubby legs, bright blue eyes, ruddy cheeks, and white-blue
ADVERTISE ON TRIBALITY
skin, and wearing polar bear fur tunics. They are generally open and friendly and can be quite
sociable with neighboring races, with the exception with their mortal enemies: the frost giants. PUBLISHING!!
Unlike other dwarves, they don’t mine or excel in crafts, instead devoting themselves to hunting,
raising children, and leisure. Though they are curious about the outside world, they have little
inclination to go and explore it.
RECENT COMMENTS

Colin McLaughlin
Bitheism, Clerics, and the Service Domain
I am glad you like it. As you know, I'm a big
fan...
18 hours ago

Brandes Stoddard
Bitheism, Clerics, and the Service Domain
I really like the multiple potential playstyles...
19 hours ago

7. Gold dwarves are a charismatic, if highly materialistic race who believe that the resources of the
Colin McLaughlin
natural world exist only to serve the purpose of conscious beings that enjoy fashioning minerals 22 Unusual Dwarf Types
of the earth into things of usefulness and beauty including their nely, often enchanted crafted I still maintain there is some good modern
weapons and armor. They most commonly, employing weapons that can also be used as tools, Redcap...
such as axes, picks, or hammers. They are a proud race con dent in their race’s future after 22 hours ago
millennia of stability and because of this they have earned a somewhat deserved reputation for
xenophobia and supremacism, believing themselves to be the greatest of all races and tribality
Creatures of Vathis: Volume One
themselves to be the greatest of all dwarves.
Kickstarter
8. Shield dwarves are a cynical and gru people, taking a long time to trust and even longer to
Regardless of the success of this Kickstarter......
forgive. They are as ne craftsmen as other dwarves but their craft tends to be weapons of war yesterday
including axes, urgroshes, spears, swords, and mauls as well as heavy armors. Their attitudes
are divided between the Hidden and the Wanderers; The Hidden believing an isolationism policy, Jesse
fortifying their mountain homes and continuing their ancient ways, whereas Wanderers have 22 Unusual Dwarf Types
b d t ki th i f t th f ld th
 been adventurous, seeking their fortunes on the surface world among other races. Thanks, I enjoyed sharing it here.
9. Urdunnir are a lost race, known only by legend as ‘stonefriends,’ who look much like mountain yesterday
dwarves with light gray skin, silver eyes and well-groomed light gray to dark gray beards,
wearing a tight- tting one-piece exible garment composed of stone and/or metal. These
dwarves are able to move through stone as easily as others move through air, and will often use
their ability to take their enemies into the stone, leaving them there; if the person is completely
encased in stone, they die. They also have a unique ability to shape metal with their bare hands;
weapons or armor struck by an Urdunnir or striking them can be rendered useless in this way. FEATURED REVIEWS
They have a clan-based society, with each clan specializing in nding and shaping a certain
substance; known clans include Marble, Gold, and Ruby.
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything

Volo’s Guide to Monsters

Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

Tomb of Annihilation

Tales from the Yawning Portal

Storm King’s Thunder

Curse of Strahd

10. Wild dwarves are nomadic, illiterate, communal forest dwellers who see the world in terms of
Rage of Demons: Out of the Abyss
hunter and prey, having an ever changing pack mentality, caring only about securing their next
meal and surviving the ever present dangers of the natural world. Material wealth and goods Elemental Evil: Princes of the
mean very little, with weapons being the only objects to which they evince any real attachment. Apocalypse
The only wild dwarves encountered outside their forests are usually loners who have either
been captured and enslaved or voluntarily chosen exile, many of which eventually nd their Tyranny of Dragons: The Rise of Tiama
niche alongside rangers, hunters, or druids, although a few join packs of lycanthropes and other
sentient beasts.
11. Duergar are a cruel and malevolent race who have the ability to see in the deepest darkness,
and are also immune to many of the mind powers have a general resistance to re and poisons, POPULAR STORIES
as well as being good at detecting hidden objects, and some even have powers to enlarge and
turn invisible – but these abilities come at a cost: they’re especially vulnerability to sunlight. They
D&D 5th Edition Resources
are also a merciless, sneaky, crafty people, who excel at setting up ambushes or moving out of
sight who take great pleasure in in icting pain on others. Unlike other dwarves, duergar have no GM Tools & Links
particular prejudices against arcane spellcasters and both smiths specializing in the smithy of
enchanted items and wizards are well respected Player Tools & Links
12. Umpa-Lumpa: These are the brightly colored (if highly vulnerable) dwarves of the movie
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” get eaten by Whangdoodles, Hornswogglers & D&D 5e – Magic Item Guide
Snozzwanglers
Updated: Upcoming D&D Products for
2018

Collection of D&D 5e Player Build

Guides

12 Famous People Who Play D&D

7 Legendary Items of the Real World

Avengers Assemble – Character Builds

for D&D 5e

13. Eastland Dwarves (Terry Brooks Shannara series) evolved from humans who hid Ultimate Adaptability: Variant Humans
underground to avoid the surface devastation after the great wars for 5th edition
14. Powrie (Bloody cap dwarves):
A. (Classic Mythology) amazingly fast, and deadly dwarves wielding iron pikes who murder
travelers who wander into their homes. They dye their caps with their victims’ blood, hence
their name. It’s said that they must nd a victim regularly, as if their cap dries out, they die.
Redcaps are very fast in spite of the heavy iron pikes they wield and the iron-shod boots
they wear. Outrunning a redcap is supposedly impossible.
 y g p pp y p
B. (R.A. Salvatore’s Demon Wars saga) incredibly aggressive proud warrior race living on an
archipelago that uses blood magic to maintain their physical prowess. They’re also a nasty
lot whose only interactions are raiding them, and are famous for their “barrelboats.” Most
other races hate and fear them – a reputation they’re more than happy to encourage.

15. Dwarrows (Tad Williams: Memory Sorrow & Thorn) dwarves in all but name, these creatures
are superb stonemasons and crafters, for the Sithi (elves), helping to build many of their great
cities, but had a falling out over their treatment as little more than slaves. They are most
de nitely not warlike, shrinking from any sort of combat and trying their best to stay out of the
grand con ict with the Storm King. However, when provoked, they are fearsome ghters due to
their strength and endurance from millennia of delving in the earth.
16. Mul (Athas/ Dark Sun Campaign Setting) are powerful warrior and laborer crossbreeds of a
human and dwarf stock. From their human they receives increased height and agility; from their
dwarven parent, they gets incredible strength and endurance.
17. Chainmail “Original Design” Dwarves (2000 D&D Miniatures game): These apostate dwarves TAGS
had a deposed king and become communist factory workers and miners, their costumes looking
like something out of a 30s era Soviet propaganda poster and built mecha golems.
 D&D 5e  D&D  rpg  dm
18. Warcraft Dwarves are short and stout creatures – shorter than humans but taller than gnomes,
taking advantage of their size when possible and relying on their robustness and strength when  dungeon-master  world-building
not. They are steady, observant and composed both during work and combat preferring to
planning to overcome challenges. Yet they if lose their temperament and self-restraint when  homebrew  path nder  dmg
exposed to conditions stirring their feelings and concern, they rage with erce zeal and
persistence.  D&D 4e  adventure-design

19. Dream Dwarves are an inquisitive lot, seeking to supplement the information and wisdom they
 unearthed-arcana  monsters
gain from the earth dream with personal experience who feel the hills slumber beneath them.
Wise, reserved, and cautious, they understand nature in a way at once similar to and wholly  character  D&D5E  combat
alien to the understanding of druids and shamans of other races, sharing a sort of collective
subconscious with the world around them, a powerful phenomenon they call the earth dream.
20. Seacli Dwarfs (Kalamar) are tough, resilient individuals who are only taken out of the action
by death not injury. Not surprisingly, due to their life near (and oftentimes on) the sea, all seacli
dwarves are excellent swimmers. In their mind there is no substitute or exception to an
honorable victory in hand-to-hand combat. and are referred to as ‘salt beards.’ They typically are
shipwrights or sailors or shermen, as well as expert armorers, weapon smiths, and engineer.
Due to these traits their services are highly sought after and paid for by many captains.
21. Badland Dwarves (Kalamar) are a hardy, but declining folk who are skilled at surviving in the
desert wastes, of which only a few now survive and this has made the survivors very cautious.
They inheritors of a long history of struggle and turmoil – they often need to keep self-
preserving options open in their daily discussion making which many think are cruel. Some of
them have gone insane, from watching their brethren wither right before their eyes. Originally
they came to the badlands to mine mithril and brightstones, they now use their mastery of stone
to locating water and digging wells which has granted them both great wealth and great political
power.
22. Chromatic Dwarves are o shoots of “regular” Dwarves who have changed into three very
di erent main sub-races. With eons of racial interaction and despoliation of norms and values,
they left the underground, abandoning their crafts, letting their forges grow cold, becoming
forgotten e gies of their lost skills as they continued on their way to nature bound existence.
Unlike other dwarves, they are less seriously inclined, and favor freedom over valor and chivalry;
they often have a very rm personal code, and tend to have less patience for matters that
require discretion and preparation.
A. Azurn(s) (Combat-oriented) are musclebound beardless aquatic dwarves with webbed
hands and feet who have black eyes, bluish gray sharklike skin and thick black tendrils of
hair. Personality wise they are known somewhat savage and unsophisticated, extremely
impulsive and mistrustful of most other humanoids which often manifests in open hostility,
especially when they nd themselves opposed. Among some of the more intriguing facets
of Azurn society is that they are ercely loyalty to their friends, and have tribe-wide large,
hedonistic feasts.
B. Rutilan(s) (Magic-oriented) are a charismatic, proud beautiful, well-groomed race of
dwarves recognized by their shiny crimson skin, often ornamented by black tattoos,
wearing re ned clothing, spending a large amount of their time to hone their appearance.
Due to the fact that their culture developed in volcanic and deserts areas, they make
excellent evokers, especially centered on re magic. Rutilans are a proud race who enjoy
 intelligent conversation perhaps almost as much as a good ght and are often seen as fair
and sometimes generous.
C. Veridin (Stealth-oriented) are a glib, dexterous and deceitful race of gaunt dwarves
having bark like hair, skin blue-green skin, unkempt, rugged facial features which help
them to blend in with the marshes, forests and jungles where they live and also assist them
with their swift and agile guerilla attacks. Due to their environment they have become
completely immune to poisons, their blood becoming quite poisonous, an e ect which
they quite expertly put to use.

As you see there are quite a few types of dwarves that you can use in your games. As always, feel free
to comment, like, and reshare!

 Previous Article Next Article 

Fangs for the Memories! Creatures of Vathis: Volume

Vampire NPC’s One Kickstarter

JESSE COHOON

If you want to read more articles like this, check out my blog at
http://fantasyroleplayingplanes.blogspot.com/. If you want to read my some
more of my articles not posted on my blog, they can be found on Johnn Four’s
roleplaying tips website at roleplayingtips.com. I also am published at
http://stu ershack.com/

RELATED POSTS

2015 Diana Jones Award

Winner
 MICHAEL LONG - July 30, 2015 How to run a circus in your
game part 3
 JESSE COHOON - July 31, 2017

6 Comments Tribality.com  Login

Sort by Newest
 Recommend ⤤ Share

Join the discussion…

LOG IN WITH
OR SIGN UP WITH DISQUS ?