So I recently returned to WoW with a bit of a goal in mind. But in doing so I started to think about how under-everything(representation, use, rated, etc…) Dwarves are in fantasy. Not just WoW but really all of fantasy.
When is the last time you read a book, played a game, watched a tv show, movie, anything, where the main character was a dwarf? Now compare that to humans, elves, orcs, etc… Sure they exist but they are beyond rare. In my searching I can only find 2 book series in all of fantasy where Dwarves weren’t relegated to side characters, but were actually the main characters.
Why do you think that is? I think Dwarves deserve a lot more credit than they get and I would love to see them get more focus in fantasy settings. Give me book series all about Dwarves! Give me an entire expansion all about Dwarves where 75% of the zones are all underground beneath the mountains! Give us more Dwarves!
Also; back to my goal. Since I love dwarves so much, and find them to be so under-represented; I came back with a goal of creating a new Dwarf of every single class allowed. And quest leveling them all to max level in preparation for the new expansion. So I thought I’d share some pictures and chronicle this journey. I’ve already got almost all of them to level 10 and two past level 20, but here is a picture of each of my dwarves at level 1 to get us started. I tried to give them all unique and differing looks.
Bhodan the Warrior : imgur .com/2KsGMnR
Rorahm the Paladin : imgur .com/sjz8UiU
Ehdric the Hunter : imgur .com/AsX3UWm
Branforth the Rogue : imgur .com/mYicFoR
Thurgian the Priest : imgur .com/4KKI5JD
Bravorn the Shaman : imgur .com/JCEWE0V
Orduhm the Mage : imgur .com/ZCKJ18s
Jirdhun the Warlock : imgur .com/AAC8MZx
Holfur the Monk : imgur .com/75pqYNL
Khulden the Death Knight : imgur .com/PfsA2hy
*Sorry I cannot post links *
Final Note: I’d love Dwarf Druids! Stone Shapers! Give it to us Blizzard!
I wholeheartedly disagree. Dwarves have always played a huge role in WoW. Ironforge was basically the alliance capital in vanilla. They’re the most common link between us and the titans. Magni has been a popular main character since the start and promoted to legendary status the last few years.
Does a single dwarf mean that all dwarves get focus though? I get he exists but like nothing he has done since turning into a diamond has actually been related to dwarves or dwarven lore. It’s all been Legion and Titan stuff.
The last time Dwarven lore really got any expansion was Cata, and that was only the zone revamps. For significant lore you’re going all the way back to Wrath of the Lich King
That more so comes down to how Blizzard does stories. Most races only get representation through a small handful of characters primarily.
Hell even for Humans so much of it is focused on Anduin with a little bit of Mathias. Granted there are other characters that show up in questlines like Flynn or Wyrmbane but the same can be said of Dwarves too.
All the Bronzebeards show up from time to time and you’ve got characters like Thaelin who was there a decent amount in the war questline in BfA.
Also it’s not a ton, but there is a questline to unlock the Dark Iron Dwarves that expands a bit on them.
I agree we’ve had some dwarven characters who get some use, but when their use is little more than support character for a human story it’s not really a dwarven focus.
BFA gave us 0 new dwarven lore. A dwarf character existed but never once expanded on anything dwarven, he was a supporting character.
Legion gave us 0 new dwarven lore. A dwarf character existed but never once expanded on anything dwarven, he was a supporting character.
WoD gave us 0 new dwarven lore. And 0 dwarven characters of consequence.
MoP gave us 0 new dwarven lore. And 0 dwarven characters of consequence.
Cata was actually well balanced in lore due to the revamp
Wrath had good dwarven lore.
BC gave us 0 new dwarven lore. And 0 dwarven characters of consequence.
Vanilla obviously gave everyone some focus, as it was the start of WoW.
Looking at this Dwarves haven’t had development since Cata, and haven’t had significant development since Wrath.
Also keep in mind I am talking about more than just WoW. Dwarves seem to be under-represented in all of Fantasy. Name major dwarven figures in fantasy that aren’t from the Hobbit. Name just one.
I was happy to read the parts with Moira in Before the Storm. She should be getting more spotlight. Lots of interesting potential there, especially as the only non-AR leader with a living child.
Well part of my point is that Blizzard’s stories tend to focus on only a handful of characters and even the Humans that Blizzard loves heaping attention on don’t get to do much if it’s not related to Anduin, Jaina, and friends.
If we’re going to make a distinction between lore being expanded and a character of that race getting to play a role in the story, most races don’t get a lot of time on the lore expansion table. It’s largely limited to whatever the new zones are.
Other than Vanilla/Cata where everybody got stuff because of the creation/revamp of the 1-60 zones, BfA is the only time Humans really got expanded upon that wasn’t just our primary characters getting a spotlight(which yeah, that happens a lot).
Also while it’s not a ton, there was questlines in BfA for Dwarven heritage armour and unlocking Dark Iron Dwarves which are both naturally very Dwarf heavy on the lore.
The fantasy series I’m most well versed with that isn’t Warcraft is Dragon Age, and Varric is a pretty major character there.
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