Dwarves

Dwarves are a stocky race, roughly a foot shorter than humans, with broad, heavy frames. Dwarves trace their heritage to the furnaces of subterranean passages, and many dwarves born long after the planet’s disappearance still feel the sting of its loss, kept alive in dwarven song and legend. Dwarven history also claims that they once had a different racial god.

Dwarves are most commonly found where their guilds and clans wield significant power, or on city-sized starships. Significant dwarven communities on other worlds are rare, though small groups can be found throughout extrasolar colonies. Many dwarves are attracted to asteroid mining, with Star Citadels common in the Diaspora.

Larger dwarven communities often Focus on tradition and fight to keep ancient crafts, laws, and enmities alive. This traditionalism sometimes causes other races to see dwarves as old fashioned, or even backward. Dwarves are certainly cautious in adopting new technologies and slow to change their way of life, but once a new technology has proven safe and effective, it’s quickly adapted to dwarven needs. Dwarves are often mechanics, mystics, and soldiers. They tend to get along best with gnomes, halflings, humans, and other races, though they have a sometimes impolite appreciation for androids’ elegant construction and find much in common with kasathas and korasha lashuntas.

Most dwarves stand 4 to 4-1/2 feet tall and weigh 150–200 pounds. They’re considered adults at 40 and live up to 450 years.

Racial Traits

Ability Adjustments +2 Con, +2 Wis, –2 Cha

Alternate Ability Adjustments

Source SCOM

Some dwarves initiated a new Quest for Sky and gathered on a generation starship, seeking the ultimate sky in an alien place or remote galactic region. These dwarves adapted to zero-g but lack the hardiness of kin they left behind. Such dwarves have ability score adjustments of +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, and -2 Strength.

Hit Points 6

Size and Type

Dwarves are Medium humanoids with the dwarf subtype.

Darkvision

Dwarves can see up to 60 feet in the dark.

Slow but Steady

Dwarves have a land speed of 20 feet, which is never modified when they are encumbered or wearing heavy armor. They also gain a +2 racial bonus to saving throws against poisons, spells, and spell-like abilities, and when standing on the ground they gain a +4 racial bonus to their KAC against bull rush and trip combat maneuvers.

Stonecunning

Dwarves gain a +2 bonus to Perception checks to notice unusual stonework, such as traps and hidden doors located in stone walls or floors. They receive a check to notice such features whenever they pass within 10 feet of them, whether or not they are actively looking.

Traditional Enemies

Dwarves still train to fight their ancient enemies. A dwarf gains a +1 racial bonus to attack rolls against a creature with the goblinoid or orc subtype and a +4 racial bonus to AC against an attack from a creature with the giant subtype.

Weapon Familiarity

Dwarves are proficient with basic and advanced melee weapons and gain specialization with those weapons at 3rd level.

Alternate Racial Traits

Adamant Mage

Source SCOM

Dwarves with this trait gain a +2 racial bonus to AC against attacks of opportunity provoked by casting a spell and against readied actions triggered by spellcasting.

This replaces weapon familiarity.

Mining Expert

Source SCOM

Dwarves can be skilled at delving for riches, gaining a +2 racial bonus to Physical Science and Profession (miner) checks.

This replaces stonecunning.

Opposite Reaction

Source SCOM

Rather than train with ancient weapons and focus on traditional enemies, some dwarves turn to combat techniques suited to dwarf physiology. These dwarves gain a +4 racial bonus to KAC against reposition combat maneuvers. Also, when an opponent fails a bull rush, reposition, or trip combat maneuver against such a dwarf by 5 or more, the dwarf can attempt a trip combat maneuver against that opponent as a reaction.

This replaces traditional enemies and weapon familiarity.

Ship Dwarf

Source SCOM

Some dwarves have adapted to life in homes where interaction with other cultures is a constant, and where light can be summoned with the flick of a switch. Ship dwarves gain a +2 racial bonus to Sense Motive and Culture checks.

This replaces darkvision.

Tradition Mender

Source SCOM

There is a movement among dwarves to heal past prejudices, and make friends with beings once deemed foes. These dwarves gain a +2 racial bonus to Diplomacy and Sense Motive checks.

This replaces traditional enemies.

Zero-G Dwarf

Source SCOM

Unlike most of their kin, dwarves living in space feel more at ease when weightless than when grounded. These dwarves have a land speed of 25 feet. They gain a +4 racial bonus on Acrobatics and Athletics checks to avoid becoming off-kilter and can always take 10 on such checks. They also have a climb speed of 25 feet, but only for moving along a wall with handholds at full speed in zero-g.

This replaces slow and steady.