The Dwarven Defender: Trained extensively in the art of Dwarven warfare

Ayeotiee

I love Dwarven fighters, but I find it hard to justify rolling one as a Dwarven Defender, how exactly did a baby Dwarf raised among humans in Candlekeep get enough training to become a Dwarven Defender which is a prestige class closely linked to Dwarven culture and is considered the elite among Dwarven warriors.

There is one other Dwarf in Candlekeep, but I'm not sure if killing rats for Reevor is what I'd call extensive training in Dwarven warfare

Maybe I could head canon that he is not actually of the Dwarven Defender prestige class, but rather just a fighter trying to emulatede the fighting style and traditions of his race. Like with my barbarian half-orc who is not really a tribal barbarian, but rather a fighter who channels this primal fighting style.

EnialusMeliamne

There are two other dwarves in Baldur’s Gate. I head canon that both of them bestowed dwarven culture and mentorship in the defender arts via instruction within the grounds. My CHARNAME dwarf characters always have a head canon brother/mentor-like relationship with Arkanis and Reevor.

EnialusMeliamne

@Ayeotiee, you may find this thread by a devoted dwarf player, @Grum to be a resource. https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/39213/grums-magnificent-trainwreck-rp-no-reload-attempts/p1

If there is a dwarf discussion on the forums you can probably find Grum's fingerprints in it somewhere.

Chronicler

The shaman and barbarian biographies both suppose that one of Candlekeeps visitors tutored you a bit.

Despite the phrase "extensive training" you have to remember you're just level 1. You've only really learned the basics of Dwarven Warfare. You'll refine your skills in actual combat later.

Contemplative_Hamster

Chronicler said:

The shaman and barbarian biographies both suppose that one of Candlekeeps visitors tutored you a bit.

Despite the phrase "extensive training" you have to remember you're just level 1. You've only really learned the basics of Dwarven Warfare. You'll refine your skills in actual combat later.

This, and training wheels. You're in one of the biggest libraries in the Forgotten Realms. There's bound to be a section on proper dwarfing, not to mention proper defending.

Chronicler

The real question is why only dwarves can be dwarven defenders, when these same resources are available to anybody at Candlekeep.

Feel like a lot of the racial restrictions get a bit weird when you have a player character mostly removed from any race-specific culture.

tbone1

Chronicler said:

The real question is why only dwarves can be dwarven defenders, when these same resources are available to anybody at Candlekeep.

Feel like a lot of the racial restrictions get a bit weird when you have a player character mostly removed from any race-specific culture.

Not as strange as an elven dwarven defender, though. It kinda makes sense that some can’t be mages or bards — they lack that magic ‘gene’, or whatever — and maybe some (paladin) have powers bestowed by particular gods. In PnP my groups tended to stick with the restrictions, unless you could make a reeeeealy good case for, say, a halfling druid and everyone agreed on it from a roleplay and powerplay perspective. But you can’t program an analysis of the argument and vote, so for a computer game, ...

Chronicler

I could buy that some of the Dwarven Arts are specifically tied to their size, ruling out taller races.

That still leaves halflings and gnomes though.

SomeSort

Chronicler said:

I could buy that some of the Dwarven Arts are specifically tied to their size, ruling out taller races.

That still leaves halflings and gnomes though.

It's not tied to their size, it's tied to their beards.

Edit: why do you think their damage resistance increases as they level / "age"? Their beard becomes thicker / more luxurious / harder to stab through.