Dwarf

Dwarf Humanoid

Dwarves have a well-earned reputation as a stoic and stern people, ensconced within citadels and cities carved from solid rock. While some see them as dour and humorless crafters of stone and metal, dwarves and those who have spent time among them understand their unbridled zeal for their work, caring far more about quality than quantity. To a stranger, they can seem untrusting and clannish, but to their friends and family, they are warm and caring, their halls filled with the sounds of laughter and hammers hitting anvils.

Dwarves are slow to trust those outside their kin, but this wariness is not without reason. Dwarves have a long history of forced exile from ancestral holds and struggles against the depredations of savage foes, especially giants, goblinoids, orcs, and the horrors that dwell deep below the surface. While trust from a dwarf is hard-won, once gained it is as strong as iron.

If you want to play a character who is as hard as nails, a stubborn and unrelenting adventurer, with a mix of rugged toughness and deep wisdom—or at least dogged conviction—you should play a dwarf.

You might…

• Strive to uphold your personal honor, no matter the situation.
• Appreciate quality craftsmanship in all forms and insist upon it for all your gear.
• Don’t waver or back down once you’ve set your mind to something.

Others probably…

• See you as stubborn, though whether they see this as an asset or a detriment changes from one person to the next.
• Assume you are an expert in matters related to stonework, mining, Precious metals, and gems.
• Recognize the deep connection you have with your family, heritage, and friends.

Physical Description

Dwarves are short and stocky, standing about a foot shorter than most humans. They have wide, compact bodies and burly frames. Dwarves of all genders pride themselves on the length of their hair, which they often braid into intricate patterns, some of which represent specific clans. A long beard is a sign of masculinity and honor among the dwarves, and thus a clean-shaven male dwarf is considered weak, untrustworthy, or worse.

Dwarves typically reach physical adulthood around the age of 25, though their traditionalist culture places more value on completing coming of age ceremonies unique to each clan than reaching a certain age. A typical dwarf can live to around 350 years old.

Society

The ancient surface empire the dwarves once ruled fell long ago, overwhelmed by orc and goblinoid enemies.

Today’s dwarves today retain many of the qualities that propelled their people to greatness in ancient times: fierceness, gumption, and stubbornness in endeavors ranging from battle and craftsmanship to forging ties with family and friends.

While the distance between their mountain citadels can create vast cultural divides between various dwarf clans, most dwarven societies share a number of similarities. Nearly all dwarven peoples share a passion for stonework, metalwork, and gem-cutting. Most are highly skilled at architecture and mining, and many share a hatred of giants, orcs, and goblinoids.

Few dwarves are seen without their clan dagger strapped to their belt. This dagger is forged just before a dwarf’s birth and bears the gemstone of their clan. A parent uses this dagger to cut the infant’s umbilical cord, making it the first weapon to taste their blood.

Alignment and Religion

Dwarves tend to value honor and closely follow the traditions of their clans and kingdoms. They have a strong sense of friendship and justice, though they are often very particular about who they consider a friend. They work hard and play harder— especially when strong ale is involved.

The typical dwarf is lawful good or lawful neutral and prefers to worship deities of those alignments.

Names

Dwarves honor their children with names taken from ancestors or dwarven heroes, and it’s quite rare to invent a new name or to borrow a name from another culture for a child. When introducing themselves, dwarves tend to list their family and clan, plus any number of other familial connections and honorifics. Dwarven names usually contain hard consonants and are rarely more or fewer than two syllables.

Sample Names Agna, Bodill, Dolgrin, Edrukk, Grunyar, Ingra, Kazmuk, Kotri, Lupp, Morgrym, Rogar, Rusilka, Torra, Yangrit

Adventurers

Dwarven adventurers tend to work as treasure hunters or sellswords. They often leave their citadels and subterranean cities in search of wealth to enrich their homeland or to reclaim long-lost dwarven treasures or lands taken by the enemies of their kin.

Typical dwarven backgrounds include acolyte, artisan, merchant, miner, and warrior. Dwarves excel at many of the martial classes, such as barbarian, fighter, monk, and ranger, but they also make excellent clerics and druids.

Heritages

With their long family lines and hardy physiologies, dwarves take great pride in the resilience their bloodlines provide. Choose one of the following dwarven heritages at 1st level.

Ancient-Blooded Dwarf

Dwarven heroes of old could shrug off their enemies’ magic, and some of that resistance manifests in you. You gain the Call on Ancient Blood reaction.

Call On Ancient Blood [reaction]

Trigger You attempt a saving throw against a magical effect, but you haven’t rolled yet.

Your ancestors’ innate resistance to magic surges, before slowly ebbing down. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to the triggering saving throw and until the end of this turn.

Anvil Dwarf

Source PLOCG

You are a descendant of a famed crafter and have your own amazing talent.

Other dwarves might consider this a blessing from your ancestors or from the Forgefather himself, depending on where you grew up. You become trained in Crafting (or another skill if you were already trained in Crafting) and gain the Specialty Crafting skill feat, but you can pick two different specialties instead of one.

Death Warden Dwarf

Your ancestors have been tomb guardians for generations, and the power they cultivated to ward off necromancy has passed on to you. If you roll a success on a saving throw against a necromancy effect, you get a critical success instead.

Elemental Heart Dwarf

Source PLOCG

Whether through a connection to Torag’s forge, the azers of the Plane of Fire, or another source, you can exude a burst of energy. Mbe’ke and Taralu dwarves of the Mwangi Expanse believe this heritage is a gift from dragons or elemental spirits.

Choose one of the following damage types: acid, cold, electricity, or fire. Once chosen, this can’t be changed. You gain the Energy Emanation activity.

Energy Emanation [two-actions]

Evocation Primal

Frequency once per day

Energy bursts forth from your body. You deal 1d6 damage of your chosen type to all adjacent creatures (basic Reflex save using your class DC or spell DC, whichever is higher). At 3rd level, and every 2 levels thereafter, this damage increases by 1d6.

Forge Dwarf

You have a remarkable adaptation to hot environments from ancestors who inhabited blazing deserts or volcanic chambers beneath the earth. This grants you fire resistance equal to half your level (minimum 1), and you treat environmental heat effects as if they were one step less extreme (incredible heat becomes extreme, extreme heat becomes severe, and so on).

Oathkeeper Dwarf

Source PLOCG

Growing up, you never tried to lie to get what you wanted, and even when necessary, lying makes you uncomfortable. The especially faithful might even have thought that you were blessed by the dwarven god of duty, Kols. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Perception checks to Sense Motive and to Perception DCs against attempts to Lie to you. Furthermore, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy checks to convince others you speak the truth when you are telling the truth, and you take a –4 circumstance penalty to Lie and to your Deception DC against Sense Motive.

Rock Dwarf

Your ancestors lived and worked among the great ancient stones of the mountains or the depths of the earth. This makes you solid as a rock when you plant your feet. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to your Fortitude or Reflex DC against attempts to Shove or Trip you. This bonus also applies to saving throws against spells or effects that attempt to knock you prone.

In addition, if any effect would force you to move 10 feet or more, you are moved only half the distance.

Strong-Blooded Dwarf

Your blood runs hearty and strong, and you can shake off toxins. You gain poison resistance equal to half your level (minimum 1), and each of your successful saving throws against a poison affliction reduces its stage by 2, or by 1 for a virulent poison. Each critical success against an ongoing poison reduces its stage by 3, or by 2 for a virulent poison.

Ancestry Feats

At 1st level, you gain one ancestry feat, and you gain an additional ancestry feat every 4 levels thereafter (at 5th, 9th, 13th, and 17th levels). As a dwarf, you select from among the following ancestry feats.

1st Level

Avenge In Glory [reaction] Feat 1

Source PLOCG

Uncommon Dwarf

Access mountain dwarf ethnicity

Frequency once per day

Trigger An ally within 30 feet gains the dying condition.

You honor your ally’s life, gaining temporary Hit Points equal to your level for 1 minute. As long as you have these temporary Hit Points, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to attack and damage rolls.

Clan’s Edge [two-actions] Feat 1

Source PLOCG

Dwarf

Prerequisite(s): trained in clan daggers

By moving your clan dagger with rapid precision, you can protect yourself more effectively. Make two clan dagger Strikes against different targets. Your multiple attack penalty applies normally to these Strikes. You then use an Interact action to gain the +1 circumstance bonus to your AC from your clan dagger’s parrying trait.

Dwarven Doughtiness Feat 1

Source PRG2:APG

Dwarf

You are either naturally calm and collected in the face of imminent danger, or you are very good at faking it. At the end of your turn, reduce your frightened condition by 2 instead of 1.

Dwarven Lore Feat 1

Dwarf

You eagerly absorbed the old stories and traditions of your ancestors, your gods, and your people, studying in subjects and techniques passed down for generation upon generation.

You gain the trained proficiency rank in Crafting and Religion. If you would automatically become trained in one of those skills (from your background or class, for example), you instead become trained in a skill of your choice. You also become trained in Dwarven Lore.

Dwarven Weapon Familiarity Feat 1

Dwarf

Your kin have instilled in you an affinity for hard-hitting weapons, and you prefer these to more elegant arms.

You are trained with the battle axe, pick, and warhammer.

You also gain access to all uncommon dwarf weapons. For the purpose of determining your proficiency, martial dwarf weapons are simple weapons and advanced dwarf weapons are martial weapons.

Eye for Treasure Feat 1

Source PRG2:APG

Dwarf

You know good artisanship when you see it and can wax poetic about crafting techniques and forms.

You become trained in Crafting and gain a +1 circumstance bonus on all Crafting checks made to Recall Knowledge.

If you would automatically become trained in Crafting (from your background or class, for example), you instead become trained in a skill of your choice. In addition, you gain the Crafter’s Appraisal skill feat, enabling you to identify magic items using the Crafting skill.

Forge-Day’s Rest Feat 1

Source PLOCG

Uncommon Dwarf

Access underground dwarf ethnicity

Your unusual rest cycle allows you to recover faster.

As long as you rest for 12 hours, you gain the effects of the Fast Recovery general feat and you can go 20 hours without resting before becoming fatigued.

Rock Runner Feat 1

Dwarf

Your innate connection to stone makes you adept at moving across uneven surfaces. You can ignore difficult terrain caused by rubble and uneven ground made of stone and earth.

In addition, when you use the Acrobatics skill to Balance on narrow surfaces or uneven ground made of stone or earth, you aren’t flat-footed, and when you roll a success at one of these Acrobatics checks, you get a critical success instead.

Stonecunning Feat 1

Dwarf

You have a knack for noticing even small inconsistencies and craftsmanship techniques in the stonework around you. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Perception checks to notice unusual stonework. This bonus applies to checks to discover mechanical traps made of stone or hidden within stone.

If you aren’t using the Seek action or searching, the GM automatically rolls a secret check for you to notice unusual stonework anyway. This check doesn’t gain the circumstance bonus, and it takes a –2 circumstance penalty.

Surface Culture Feat 1

Source PLOCG

Uncommon Dwarf

Access any surface dwarf ethnicity

Your interactions with other cultures on the surface have not only taught you about many other ancestries, but have also helped you realize the value of your own. You gain the trained proficiency rank in the Society skill (or another skill of your choice if you were already trained in Society), and you gain the Additional Lore skill feat for the Lore corresponding to your culture (for instance, Ouat Lore or Pahmet Lore).

Unburdened Iron Feat 1

Dwarf

You’ve learned techniques first devised by your ancestors during their ancient wars, allowing you to comfortably wear massive suits of armor. Ignore the reduction to your Speed from any armor you wear.

In addition, any time you’re taking a penalty to your Speed from some other reason (such as from the encumbered condition or from a spell), deduct 5 feet from the penalty.

For example, the encumbered condition normally gives a –10-foot penalty to Speed, but it gives you only a –5-foot penalty. If your Speed is taking multiple penalties, pick only one penalty to reduce.

Vengeful Hatred Feat 1

Dwarf

You heart aches for vengeance against those who have wronged your people. Choose one of the following dwarven ancestral foes when you gain Vengeful Hatred: drow, duergar, giant, or orc. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to damage with weapons and unarmed attacks against creatures with that trait. If your attack would deal more than one weapon die of damage (as is common at higher levels than 1st), the bonus is equal to the number of weapon dice or unarmed attack dice.

In addition, if a creature critically succeeds at an attack against you and deals damage to you, you gain your bonus to damage against that creature for 1 minute regardless of whether it has the chosen trait.

Special Your GM can add appropriate creature traits to the ancestral foes list if your character is from a community that commonly fights other types of enemies.

5th Level

Boulder Roll [two-actions] Feat 5

Dwarf

Prerequisite(s) Rock Runner

Your dwarven build allows you to push foes around, just like a mighty boulder tumbles through a subterranean cavern. Take a Step into the square of a foe that is your size or smaller, and the foe must move into the empty space directly behind it. The foe must move even if doing so places it in harm’s way. The foe can attempt a Fortitude saving throw against your Athletics DC to block your Step. If the foe attempts this saving throw, unless it critically succeeds, it takes bludgeoning damage equal to your level plus your Strength modifier.

If the foe can’t move into an empty space (if it is surrounded by solid objects or other creatures, for example), your Boulder Roll has no effect.

Clan Protector Feat 5

Source PLOCG

Dwarf

Your clan dagger can protect your allies as easily as yourself. When you use an Interact action to gain a circumstance bonus to AC from your clan dagger’s parry trait, you can grant the circumstance bonus to an adjacent ally instead of gaining it yourself. You can use multiple Interact actions to protect multiple allies, or to protect yourself and an ally. The ally benefits from the bonus to AC only when they are adjacent to you.

Defy the Darkness Feat 5

Source PRG2:APG

Dwarf

Prerequisite(s) darkvision

Using ancient dwarven methods developed to fight enemies wielding magical darkness, you’ve honed your darkvision and sworn not to use such magic yourself. You gain greater darkvision, enabling you to see through magical darkness even if it normally hampers darkvision (such as the darkness created by a 4th-level darkness spell). You can’t cast spells with the darkness trait, use item activations with the darkness trait, or use any other ability with the darkness trait.

Dwarven Reinforcement Feat 5

Source PRG2:APG

Dwarf

Prerequisite(s) expert in Crafting

You can use your knowledge of engineering and metalwork to temporarily strengthen thick objects and structures. By spending 1 hour working on an item, you can give it a +1 circumstance bonus to its Hardness for 24 hours. If you’re a master in Crafting, the bonus is +2, and if you’re legendary, the bonus is +3. You can reinforce a portion of a structure, though 1 hour usually reinforces only a door, a few windows, or another section that fits within a 10-foot cube.

Dwarven Weapon Cunning Feat 5

Dwarf

Prerequisite(s) Dwarven Weapon Familiarity

You’ve learned cunning techniques to get the best effects out of your dwarven weapons.

Whenever you critically hit using a battle axe, pick, warhammer, or a dwarf weapon, you apply the weapon’s critical specialization effect.

Protective Sheath Feat 5

Source PLOCG

Dwarf

Prerequisite(s): Clan’s Edge

When you lash out with your clan dagger, you keep its sheath close at hand. When you use Clan’s Edge, if the hand you’re not holding the dagger with is empty, you can use your clan dagger’s sheath to block attacks as well. The circumstance bonus to your AC from parrying increases to a +2 against any target you hit with a Strike this turn.

Sheltering Slab Feat 5

Source PRG2:APG

Dwarf

The stone around you is your ally, and you have learned to use it to shore up your weaknesses. As long as you remain on the ground and are adjacent to a vertical stone wall that rises to your height or taller, you aren’t flat-footed against attacks as a result of being flanked. This works even if you are at the outside corner of the wall.

Tomb-Watcher’s Glare Feat 5

Source PLOCG

Divine Dwarf

Prerequisite(s): death warden dwarf heritage

When you critically hit an undead creature, or an undead creature critically fails a saving throw against one of your abilities, you drive your divine wrath home in your enemy’s heart. The undead is enfeebled 1 for 1 round.

9th Level

Battleforger Feat 9

Source PLOCG

Dwarf

Prerequisite(s): master in Crafting You can sharpen weapons, polish armor, and apply special techniques to temporarily gain better effects from your armaments. By spending 1 hour working on a weapon or armor, you can grant it the effects of a +1 potency rune until your next daily preparations, gaining a +1 item bonus to attack rolls for a weapon or increasing armor’s item bonus to AC by 1. This has no effect if the weapon or armor already had a potency rune.

Echoes in Stone [one-action] Feat 9

Source PRG2:APG

Concentrate Dwarf

Requirements You are standing on a stone or earthen surface.

You pause a moment to attune your senses to the stone around you. Until the start of your next turn, you gain a new sense: imprecise tremorsense with a range of 20 feet.

Energy Blessed Feat 9

Source PLOCG

Dwarf

Prerequisite(s): elemental heart dwarf heritage

Energy runs through your blood more powerfully.

When you use Energy Emanation, you can create an emanation of 5 feet, 10 feet, or 15 feet. The damage increases to 6d6 plus an additional 1d6 for every level you have above 9th, instead of 1d6 plus an additional 1d6 for every 2 levels above 1st.

Heroes’ Call Feat 9

Source PLOCG

Dwarf

The songs of ancient heroes echo through your mind and quicken your pulse, especially in dire straits. You gain heroism as a 3rd-level innate occult spell that you can cast once per day. If you Cast the Spell when you have half or fewer Hit Points, you also gain temporary Hit Points equal to twice your level.

Kneel For No God Feat 9

Source PLOCG

Dwarf

Prerequisite(s): ancient-blooded dwarf heritage

Access Regional ethnicity (see official campaign setting for details)

Your ancestors’ defiance of magic and your people’s strictly egalitarian mindset mean that certain forms of magic have little effect on you. When you use your Call on Ancient Blood reaction against a divine spell and roll a critical failure on the saving throw against that spell, you get a failure instead.

Mountain’s Stoutness Feat 9

Dwarf

Your hardiness lets you withstand more punishment than most before going down.

Increase your maximum Hit Points by your level.

When you have the dying condition, the DC of your recovery checks is equal to 9 + your dying value (instead of 10 + your dying value).

If you also have the Toughness feat, the Hit Points gained from it and this feat are cumulative, and the DC of your recovery checks is equal to 6 + your dying value.

Returning Throw [two-actions] Feat 9

Source PRG2:APG

Dwarf

You have mastered the technique of arcing a projectile so that it returns to your hand after being thrown, though this requires a moment to precisely calculate the trajectory and possible ricochets. Make a ranged Strike with a thrown weapon. Once the Strike is complete, the weapon arcs or ricochets back to your hand. If your hands are full when the weapon returns, it falls to the ground in your space.

Stone Bones [reaction] Feat 9

Source PRG2:APG

Dwarf

Trigger You are struck by a critical hit that deals physical damage.

Your intractable nature can help you shrug off even the most grievous injuries. Attempt a DC 17 flat check. If you are successful, the attack becomes a normal hit.

Stonewalker Feat 9

Dwarf

You have a deep reverence for and connection to stone. You gain meld into stone as a 3rd-level divine innate spell that you can cast once per day.

If you have the Stonecunning dwarf ancestry feat, you can attempt to find unusual stonework and stonework traps that require legendary proficiency in Perception. If you have both Stonecunning and legendary proficiency in Perception, when you’re not Seeking and the GM rolls a secret check for you to notice unusual stonework, you keep the bonus from Stonecunning and don’t take the –2 circumstance penalty.

13th Level

Dwarven Weapon Expertise Feat 13

Dwarf

Prerequisite(s) Dwarven Weapon Familiarity

Your dwarven affinity blends with your training, granting you great skill with dwarven weapons.

Whenever you gain a class feature that grants you expert or greater proficiency in certain weapons, you also gain that proficiency for battle axes, picks, warhammers, and all dwarven weapons in which you are trained.

Telluric Power Feat 13

Source PRG2:APG

Dwarf

You channel strength from the earth beneath your feet to pummel your enemies. When making a melee Strike against a target who is standing on the same earth or stone surface as you are, you gain a circumstance bonus to the damage roll equal to the number of weapon damage dice.

17th Level

Stonegate Feat 17

Source PRG2:APG

Dwarf

Prerequisite(s) Stonewalker

Earthen barriers no longer impede your progress. You gain passwall as a 7th-level divine innate spell that you can cast once per day. Unlike the spell, however, this ability can be used only to open passages through barriers of earth or stone.