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Dammann · 10-19-2015, 10:29 PM

Have them shave and speak with a French accent and your players will know that any assumption is unsafe. A smooth shaven dwarf is terra incognita.

But really, maybe the way to do it is to ask your players, outside any session, what the principle stereotypical characteristic of dwarfness is, beyond being short and subterranean (and whatever other qualities you want to retain). Make sure that if the players say "bearded," "greedy," "drunk," and "gruff," you introduce them to a short subterranean race that is smooth faced, spiritually inclined or at least charitable, sober and/or childlike, and refined. But at some point, if they diverge enough from dwarves, there is no reason to make them dwarves at all.

10-19-2015, 10:29 PM	#14
Dammann Join Date: May 2011	Re: A dwarf by any other name... Have them shave and speak with a French accent and your players will know that any assumption is unsafe. A smooth shaven dwarf is terra incognita. But really, maybe the way to do it is to ask your players, outside any session, what the principle stereotypical characteristic of dwarfness is, beyond being short and subterranean (and whatever other qualities you want to retain). Make sure that if the players say "bearded," "greedy," "drunk," and "gruff," you introduce them to a short subterranean race that is smooth faced, spiritually inclined or at least charitable, sober and/or childlike, and refined. But at some point, if they diverge enough from dwarves, there is no reason to make them dwarves at all.