Dwarf

a dwarven cleric of Moradin

Dwarf Upbringing

A Dwarf not raised by or among their people may have different traits than those described below. If you wish to have a different upbringing for your character—a Dwarf raised by Gnomes, for example—consult with the DM.

  • Dwarven Armor Training – Dwarves have Proficiency with light and medium armor.
  • Dwarven Combat Training – Dwarves have Proficiency with battleaxes, greataxes, handaxes, light hammers, mauls, and warhammers.
  • Stonecunning – Whenever a Dwarf makes an Intelligence (History) check related to the origin of stonework, they are considered Proficient in the History skill and add double their Proficiency Bonus to the check instead of their normal Proficiency Bonus.
  • Tool Proficiency – Dwarves have Proficiency with the artisan’s tools of their choice: smith’s tools, brewer’s supplies, or mason’s tools.

A Dwarf raised among their own kin will speak, read, and write Common and Dwarvish. Dwarvish is full of hard consonants and guttural sounds, and those characteristics spill over into whatever other language a dwarf might speak. The written form of Dwarvish uses a runic script called Dethek.

Dwarven Names

A Dwarf’s name is granted by a clan elder, in accordance with tradition. Every proper Dwarven name has been used and reused down through the generations, though it has become a recent practice to “split” an ancestor’s name so that a pair of Thunder Twins can share it. A Dwarf’s name belongs to the clan, not to the individual. A Dwarf who misuses or brings shame to a clan name is stripped of the name and forbidden by law to use any Dwarven name in its place.

Shield Dwarves in particular are also exceptionally fond of alliteration—noted Kings Bruenor Battlehammer and and nicknames, flattering or otherwise. A Dwarf who loses a hand in battle might earn the nickname “Stumpy”, while another might be called “Chopper” for their noted prowess with axe.

Male Names: Adrik, Alberich, Baern, Barendd, Brottor, Bruenor, Dain, Darrak, Delg, Eberk, Einkil, Fargrim, Flint, Gardain, Harbek, Kildrak, Morgran, Orsik, Oskar, Rangrim, Rurik, Taklinn, Thoradin, Thorin, Tordek, Traubon, Travok, Ulfgar, Veit, Vondal

Female Names: Amber, Artin, Audhild, Bardryn, Dagnal, Diesa, Eldeth, Falkrunn, Finellen, Gunnloda, Gurdis, Helja, Hlin, Kathra, Kristryd, Ilde, Liftrasa, Mardred, Riswynn, Sannl, Torbera, Torgga, Vistra

Clan Names: Balderk, Battleforge, Boldhammer, Dankil, Fireanvil, Frostbeard, Gorunn, Holderhek, Ironfist, Loderr, Lutgehr, Rumnaheim, Strakeln, Torunn, Ungart

Bold and hardy, Dwarves are known as skilled warriors, miners, and workers of stone and metal. Though they typically stand under 5 feet tall, Dwarves are so broad and compact that they can weigh as much as a Human standing nearly two feet taller. Their courage and endurance are also easily a match for any of the larger folk.

Concerned with the decline in numbers of his chosen people, the Dwarven god Moradin gifted his people with the Thunder Blessing which dramatically boosted their reproductive rate: approximately 1 in 5 Dwarven pregnancies results in twins. Thunder Twins are believed to be two halves of the same reincarnated Dwarven soul.

Dwarves of the Sword Coast

Throughout most of Faerûn, the most-common type of Dwarf is called a Shield Dwarf or Mountain Dwarf—though Delzoun is the proper Dwarven name—but in the lands far to the south, Gold Dwarves (also called Hill Dwarves) are prevalent.

Shield Dwarves’ skin ranges from light brown to a paler hue tinged with red. Their hair, worn long but in simple styles, is usually black, gray, brown, blond, or red. Male Shield Dwarves value their beards highly and groom them carefully, often taking time to weave braids into them. Female Shield Dwarves who choose to grow beards usually keep them braided and/or trimmed short. Shield Dwarves are the tallest of the Dwarves, topping out at just over 5 feet tall, though they’re usually in the range of 4½ to 5 feet tall.

Gold Dwarves’ skin ranges from dark brown to a warm golden brown hue, though it may occasionally be a lighter brown. Shorter hairstyles are more common for Gold Dwarves due to the warmer climates of their homelands, as are close-trimmed beards, and it isn’t uncommon for male and female Gold Dwarves alike to be clean-shaven, especially when living among human populations. Gold Dwarves can be as short as 3½ feet tall, though most are in the usual range of 4 to 4½ feet tall.

Gray Dwarves, also called Duergar, and Deep Dwarves, also called Derro, are rarely found on the surface of Faerûn. Given the negative perception Duergar have among surface-dwellers, they are not available as a playable character without prior discussion with the DM. Given the extreme rarity of Derro outside of the Lowerdark, they are unavailable as playable characters.

It’s also rumored that there are rare subtypes of “wild dwarves” on the distant continent of Maztica and diminutive “arctic dwarves” in the far north…

Dwarf Traits

A dwarf has an assortment of inborn abilities, part and parcel of dwarven nature. Regardless of subtype, dwarves tend to have a neutral or lawful alignment due to their strong clan ties.

Age

Dwarves mature at the same rate as humans, but they’re considered young until they reach the age of 50. On average, they live about 350 years.

Size

Dwarves stand between 4 and 5 feet tall and average about 180 pounds. Their size is Medium.

Speed

A Dwarf’s base walking speed is 25 feet. Their speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor.

Darkvision

A Dwarf has Darkvision to 60 feet.

Dwarven Resilience

A Dwarf has Advantage on saving throws against Poison and Resistance against Poison damage.

Dwarven Toughness

A Dwarf is hardier than most, and gains two extra Hit Points at every level.