Glorious Alpha Two Testers!
Phase I of Alpha Two testing will occur on weekends. Each weekend is scheduled to start on Fridays at 10 AM PT and end on Sundays at 10 PM PT. Find out more here.
Check out Alpha Two Announcements here to see the latest Alpha Two news and update notes.
Our quickest Alpha Two updates are in Discord. Testers with Alpha Two access can chat in Alpha Two channels by connecting your Discord and Intrepid accounts here.
Phase I of Alpha Two testing will occur on weekends. Each weekend is scheduled to start on Fridays at 10 AM PT and end on Sundays at 10 PM PT. Find out more here.
Check out Alpha Two Announcements here to see the latest Alpha Two news and update notes.
Our quickest Alpha Two updates are in Discord. Testers with Alpha Two access can chat in Alpha Two channels by connecting your Discord and Intrepid accounts here.
Let's Talk About Dwarves!
ArchivedUser
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We may not know much about the lore so far, but I gotta say: I really like what AoC is doing with the dwarves, particularly the Dunir.
I'm very picky with my dwarves. Depending on the game-world, they can either be my favorite race, or my least favorite. In general, I prefer the "master crafters and brilliant engineers" type to the "drunken scotsmen" type.
Too often, dwarves are utilized as one-dimensional comic relief, and not enough thought is put into where they excel.
Personally, I think dwarves should be defined by their love of exploration, their stubborn, militant nature, and most importantly: by what they build.
I love the idea of a race that builds things so perfectly, to such mathematical and physical perfection that they become supernatural in some way. Gemstones that shine with their own light, impossibly strong forts, magic that comes from crafts instead of spells. These are the sorts of dwarves I love.
From what I've seen so far, AoC is on the right track. Just take a look at this concept art. This is leagues beyond your typical dwarven fortress:
I freaking love this. The pillars. The straight, imposing angles. You can immediately tell this wasn't made by some medieval human species. It almost gives off a sci-fi, "future-fantasy" vibe, with the glowing blue gemstones, and the "clean", perfectly cut stone.
So, it's clear that the folks at AoC know what they're doing. I'm getting a lot of strong themes from this artwork, and I'm dying to learn more about the Dwarves.
But architecture is only one aspect of a well-designed society. I want to know how these people live.
For comparison, Dragon Age has some pretty cool dwarves, and most of this comes down to the game's stellar worldbuilding. Actual attention is paid to how a people living underground would go about their daily lives. They heat their homes with geothermal energy, their beer is made of poisonous fungi. These dwarves are more than short humans, they're an entirely different species. Despite this, they remain personable and relatable.
But my favorite thing about The Dragon Age dwarves is how they use magic. Like AoC, Dragon Age doesn't really have steampunk elements, or anything resembling modern technology. But instead of leaving the dwarves as primitive barbarians, or forcing them to use magic like a weak-willed wizard, Dragon Age did something pretty cool: the dwarves are the only people in the world that can mine raw lyrium (solid magic), and they use it in their crafts. Dwarves in DA don't cast spells, they build them.
This results in a weird situation where dwarves are using magic in modern ways. They record data within lyrium, sort of like a magical storage device. They're masters of runecraft, "forging" spells onto their weapons, their armor, and their buildings. Their most skilled smiths can create golems, which are essentially magical robots with souls. You always get the sense that while the dwarves are brutish, they're undeniably advanced.
I want to feel that way about AoC's dwarves. Being drunk, stubborn and brutish is fine, but these traits alone don't make an interesting race. It looks like Intrepid gets this, and I'm glad.
Please guys, lean into this stuff. Let the dwarves be cool. Take their tropes to the next level. Embrace their love of architecture, jewelcrafting, and smithing. I can't wait to play AoC, and based on what I've seen so far, I think I'm going to main a dwarf.
So, what do we know about dwarves? What do you think they'll be like? What do YOU like in your dwarves? Let's discuss!
I'm very picky with my dwarves. Depending on the game-world, they can either be my favorite race, or my least favorite. In general, I prefer the "master crafters and brilliant engineers" type to the "drunken scotsmen" type.
Too often, dwarves are utilized as one-dimensional comic relief, and not enough thought is put into where they excel.
Personally, I think dwarves should be defined by their love of exploration, their stubborn, militant nature, and most importantly: by what they build.
I love the idea of a race that builds things so perfectly, to such mathematical and physical perfection that they become supernatural in some way. Gemstones that shine with their own light, impossibly strong forts, magic that comes from crafts instead of spells. These are the sorts of dwarves I love.
From what I've seen so far, AoC is on the right track. Just take a look at this concept art. This is leagues beyond your typical dwarven fortress:
I freaking love this. The pillars. The straight, imposing angles. You can immediately tell this wasn't made by some medieval human species. It almost gives off a sci-fi, "future-fantasy" vibe, with the glowing blue gemstones, and the "clean", perfectly cut stone.
So, it's clear that the folks at AoC know what they're doing. I'm getting a lot of strong themes from this artwork, and I'm dying to learn more about the Dwarves.
But architecture is only one aspect of a well-designed society. I want to know how these people live.
For comparison, Dragon Age has some pretty cool dwarves, and most of this comes down to the game's stellar worldbuilding. Actual attention is paid to how a people living underground would go about their daily lives. They heat their homes with geothermal energy, their beer is made of poisonous fungi. These dwarves are more than short humans, they're an entirely different species. Despite this, they remain personable and relatable.
But my favorite thing about The Dragon Age dwarves is how they use magic. Like AoC, Dragon Age doesn't really have steampunk elements, or anything resembling modern technology. But instead of leaving the dwarves as primitive barbarians, or forcing them to use magic like a weak-willed wizard, Dragon Age did something pretty cool: the dwarves are the only people in the world that can mine raw lyrium (solid magic), and they use it in their crafts. Dwarves in DA don't cast spells, they build them.
This results in a weird situation where dwarves are using magic in modern ways. They record data within lyrium, sort of like a magical storage device. They're masters of runecraft, "forging" spells onto their weapons, their armor, and their buildings. Their most skilled smiths can create golems, which are essentially magical robots with souls. You always get the sense that while the dwarves are brutish, they're undeniably advanced.
I want to feel that way about AoC's dwarves. Being drunk, stubborn and brutish is fine, but these traits alone don't make an interesting race. It looks like Intrepid gets this, and I'm glad.
Please guys, lean into this stuff. Let the dwarves be cool. Take their tropes to the next level. Embrace their love of architecture, jewelcrafting, and smithing. I can't wait to play AoC, and based on what I've seen so far, I think I'm going to main a dwarf.
So, what do we know about dwarves? What do you think they'll be like? What do YOU like in your dwarves? Let's discuss!
0
Comments
Just look at this dungeon. If you like tolkien dwarves you for sure will like Dunir dwarves. Not even a dungeon but in Dillia's diary you can get clue they are so similar for each other
There is also things like TES lore where the Dwarves are a race of Elves living underground though I doubt anything similar will be done in AoC
I know AoC won't be going the steampunk route, and that's fine, but in its place I'd love to see some indication of dwarven advacement like what I described in the first post. I just love the idea of a race that builds things so perfectly that they become magical in some way.
https://www.ashesofcreation.com/dillias-diary/ latest blog concerning dwarves
btw you pesky dwarves you better add me to your book of grudges as the mighty elves will reign supreme :P
I'm planning on playing a Dünir @Boromis. Love the Tolkien-style dwarves, although the split between the factions is also really cool.
Thanks @Shunex. That story is really cool!
I am also very interested in more Lore drops in general, but I like my dwarfs with big red beards, so I am very curious what Intrepid has in store for us.
It seems like they are doing a great job so far by having very thematically different art for the various races, including changing the look of Nodes, which is a nice touch.
I love how passionate you are about this. I agree with your ideas on Dwarven culture, and am very glad to see that Intrepid's vision aligns with your wishes. It sounds like you have found a home within the Dünir! It will be interesting to see the contrast between the two types of Dwarves.
- Sikuba
I love all this talk about Dwarves. And I am very excited for the Nikua Dwarves to add a new lore to this races vast history of culture.