The terms dvergr and dwarf derive from Proto-Germanic dwergaz. Unfortunately, the etymology of dwergaz remains obscure.
If dwergazs relates Sanskrit dvaras ("demon") or alternatively to Proto-Germanic dwerganą ("squeeze", "press") it probably relates to the dvergar being personfications of a bad fate.
In a Norse context, a bad fate means a life that accomplishes little and that future descendants wont remember. But the life itself can be pleasant enough, it just has less impact. A bad fate can also relate to painful things, such as losing a battle, but the emphasis is on the loss resulting in having less influence on other people.
The idea that dwarves are short, is a German one. It also shows up in Saxon contexts in Britain.
In Scandinavia, the Viking Era drawings (carved into rock 1000 and wood 1200) show the dvergr to be the same height as the human.
Seriously. If it's from an officially-recognized source - which absolutely any non-fanfic Drizz't source by definition is - then it's not "add-on", it's D&D's official take on the race.
You sure you want to be throwing that language about?
Official recognized source (All of them) say that Halflings are Halflings and Dwarves are Dwarves and none of them are insulted by their name.
Citation needed.
Fire away. Show me in official rules content where they are insulted by the names Halfling and Dwarf.
That goes both ways — show me in official rules content where they aren't insulted by the names Halfling and Dwarf.
Seriously. If it's from an officially-recognized source - which absolutely any non-fanfic Drizz't source by definition is - then it's not "add-on", it's D&D's official take on the race.
You sure you want to be throwing that language about?
Official recognized source (All of them) say that Halflings are Halflings and Dwarves are Dwarves and none of them are insulted by their name.
Citation needed.
Fire away. Show me in official rules content where they are insulted by the names Halfling and Dwarf.
That goes both ways — show me in official rules content where they aren't insulted by the names Halfling and Dwarf.
I don't have to. You're the one saying they're insulted. Find it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
That goes both ways — show me in official rules content where they aren't insulted by the names Halfling and Dwarf.
Okay, that's now how it works. If YOU want Halflings and Dwarves to be mad about being called those terms, that's your right as Campaign Sovereignty applies. But unless and until someone publishes something so ridiculous as saying Halflings and Dwarves are OFFICIALLY OFFENDED, then they're not. And even then, plenty of people like me will say "Yea? I don't care" and will continue to call them Halflings and Dwarves. Or Hobniz and Dwur for those that speak Flan.
That goes both ways — show me in official rules content where they aren't insulted by the names Halfling and Dwarf.
Okay, that's now how it works. If YOU want Halflings and Dwarves to be mad about being called those terms, that's your right as Campaign Sovereignty applies. But unless and until someone publishes something so ridiculous as saying Halflings and Dwarves are OFFICIALLY OFFENDED, then they're not. And even then, plenty of people like me will say "Yea? I don't care" and will continue to call them Halflings and Dwarves. Or Hobniz and Dwur for those that speak Flan.
No. With the official sources silent on the matter either way, it is officially up for grabs—there is no default, just a blank canvas (just like there's nothing in the official books that discuss whether or not elven cusine features lots of pasta dishes). You assume these races don't take offence, others assume they would. Neither is more right than the other. If it's something you don't want to explore in your games, more power to you. I just don't get why you and others seem to take offence that a fantasy race might be offended by what another fantasy race calls them in the context of the fiction of the game or that these fantasy races have endonyms that aren't the names listed in the PHB.
show me in official rules content where they aren't insulted by the names Halfling and Dwarf.
We've officially reached Proving the Negative point. At this point you either concede defeat or move further to attacking the character of your opponent.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
The terms dvergr and dwarf derive from Proto-Germanic dwergaz. Unfortunately, the etymology of dwergaz remains obscure.
If dwergazs relates Sanskrit dvaras ("demon") or alternatively to Proto-Germanic dwerganą ("squeeze", "press") it probably relates to the dvergar being personfications of a bad fate.
In a Norse context, a bad fate means a life that accomplishes little and that future descendants wont remember. But the life itself can be pleasant enough, it just has less impact. A bad fate can also relate to painful things, such as losing a battle, but the emphasis is on the loss resulting in having less influence on other people.
The idea that dwarves are short, is a German one. It also shows up in Saxon contexts in Britain.
In Scandinavia, the Viking Era drawings (carved into rock 1000 and wood 1200) show the dvergr to be the same height as the human.
he / him
That goes both ways — show me in official rules content where they aren't insulted by the names Halfling and Dwarf.
I don't have to. You're the one saying they're insulted. Find it.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Okay, that's now how it works. If YOU want Halflings and Dwarves to be mad about being called those terms, that's your right as Campaign Sovereignty applies. But unless and until someone publishes something so ridiculous as saying Halflings and Dwarves are OFFICIALLY OFFENDED, then they're not. And even then, plenty of people like me will say "Yea? I don't care" and will continue to call them Halflings and Dwarves. Or Hobniz and Dwur for those that speak Flan.
No. With the official sources silent on the matter either way, it is officially up for grabs—there is no default, just a blank canvas (just like there's nothing in the official books that discuss whether or not elven cusine features lots of pasta dishes). You assume these races don't take offence, others assume they would. Neither is more right than the other. If it's something you don't want to explore in your games, more power to you. I just don't get why you and others seem to take offence that a fantasy race might be offended by what another fantasy race calls them in the context of the fiction of the game or that these fantasy races have endonyms that aren't the names listed in the PHB.
We've officially reached Proving the Negative point. At this point you either concede defeat or move further to attacking the character of your opponent.