Dwarves average four feet in height, with stout, broad bodies. 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. 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)." 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, in the
Forgotten Realms they can grow full beards but also usually shave, 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.
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." 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. 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. 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. Several gods including Hanseath were introduced in
Races of Stone. with whom they only ally in their many battles against orcs,
goblins, evil
giants and
trolls.
Dethek script 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. 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. ==Subraces==