Elves and Dwarves
Elves and dwarves are probably the two most iconic protagonist races in modern fantasy, from Tolkien to D&D and everywhere in between. In fact, that pair is so iconic that elves and dwarves go beyond actual elves and actual dwarves, showing up (by different names) in entirely different genres.
For example, elves and dwarves exist in Star Trek in the form of vulcans and klingons, respectively. The vulcans are portrayed as high-brow, robe-wearing intellectuals with old traditions and an affinity for the finer things in life. Elves. Meanwhile, klingons are loud, drink ale that's too strong for other folk, have a warrior culture, and are generally regarded as brash and unrefined. Dwarves.
Elves and dwarves even make an all-human appearance in Avatar: the Last Airbender. There's an episode early in the series where the main group needs to cross a canyon, and find themselves babysitting two tribes of displaced refugees who can't get along with each other. The Gan Jin tribe is full of refined, lean, snooty people in white robes who take their time to do things in the proper way. Their enemies, the Zhang tribe, are gruff and heavyset, wear hides and furs, and are messy and practical. Again, elves and dwarves.
This duo is iconic, and even more so in gaming where D&D rules the roost and includes both among the player races (and most other games follow suit). So if I'm creating a setting for use in D&D and other fantasy games, then obviously I need to include elves and dwarves. But more importantly, not only do I need to include them, but I have to be careful to maintain their core identities and interpersonal roles. That is, I can give elves a fresh twist, but I'd better think twice about removing their vulcan/Gan Jin/nobility image. I can do something new with dwarves, but I'd better be very sure before I nix their identity as klingons/Zhangs/vikings.
Or so I say, but maybe I'm wrong.
Although the pairings described above do have an "elves versus dwarves" vibe to them, it's simultaneously true that, within a fantasy game, elves and dwarves have other iconic elements to their identities as well.
Elves are often associated with both magic and nature. The current edition of D&D even gives elves a magic-themed subrace and a forest-themed subrace: the high elves and wood elves, respectively. (There are also dark elves, but that's a topic for another time.) Meanwhile, dwarves are strongly associated with both mining and crafting (especially metal- and stoneworking). The natural and mystical versus the industrial and practical. This duality is also iconic to this racial pair.
It's probably true that my elves or dwarves could still feel familiar enough to be enjoyable if I nixed one element of their identity, as long as I keep the other. For example, if I made my dwarves refined and noble but kept their affinity for mining and industry, they could still feel like "dwarves with a fresh twist," but if I ditched both axes of their traditional identity, then I probably sacrifice all of a player's existing affection for the race and might as well not try to call them dwarves.
So are my elves tree-huggers with a twist, or vulcans with a twist? Are my dwarves industrialists with a twist, or klingons with a twist? This is the decision I find myself facing. There's probably not a "right" answer; there are fun possibilities regardless. For example, if I decided to keep the dwarves' gruffness, I could ditch the mining in favor of Ghengis Khan-style warlords, which could be a fun new role for dwarves in the setting. Alternatively, I could keep the industrialism and add a bit of western nobility flavor, making them self-important "civilized people" who think any less industry-inclined people are "savages" and make the dwarves into colonizing antagonists.
The elves... okay, the elves are a little harder due to having both elements built into the race in the most popular game in the genre. Still, there's gotta be a way to freshen them up, right? Perhaps I'll have more ideas later. In the meantime, thanks for reading, and feel free to share your thoughts.
Take care of each other, okay?
For example, elves and dwarves exist in Star Trek in the form of vulcans and klingons, respectively. The vulcans are portrayed as high-brow, robe-wearing intellectuals with old traditions and an affinity for the finer things in life. Elves. Meanwhile, klingons are loud, drink ale that's too strong for other folk, have a warrior culture, and are generally regarded as brash and unrefined. Dwarves.
Elves and dwarves even make an all-human appearance in Avatar: the Last Airbender. There's an episode early in the series where the main group needs to cross a canyon, and find themselves babysitting two tribes of displaced refugees who can't get along with each other. The Gan Jin tribe is full of refined, lean, snooty people in white robes who take their time to do things in the proper way. Their enemies, the Zhang tribe, are gruff and heavyset, wear hides and furs, and are messy and practical. Again, elves and dwarves.
This duo is iconic, and even more so in gaming where D&D rules the roost and includes both among the player races (and most other games follow suit). So if I'm creating a setting for use in D&D and other fantasy games, then obviously I need to include elves and dwarves. But more importantly, not only do I need to include them, but I have to be careful to maintain their core identities and interpersonal roles. That is, I can give elves a fresh twist, but I'd better think twice about removing their vulcan/Gan Jin/nobility image. I can do something new with dwarves, but I'd better be very sure before I nix their identity as klingons/Zhangs/vikings.
Or so I say, but maybe I'm wrong.
Although the pairings described above do have an "elves versus dwarves" vibe to them, it's simultaneously true that, within a fantasy game, elves and dwarves have other iconic elements to their identities as well.
Elves are often associated with both magic and nature. The current edition of D&D even gives elves a magic-themed subrace and a forest-themed subrace: the high elves and wood elves, respectively. (There are also dark elves, but that's a topic for another time.) Meanwhile, dwarves are strongly associated with both mining and crafting (especially metal- and stoneworking). The natural and mystical versus the industrial and practical. This duality is also iconic to this racial pair.
It's probably true that my elves or dwarves could still feel familiar enough to be enjoyable if I nixed one element of their identity, as long as I keep the other. For example, if I made my dwarves refined and noble but kept their affinity for mining and industry, they could still feel like "dwarves with a fresh twist," but if I ditched both axes of their traditional identity, then I probably sacrifice all of a player's existing affection for the race and might as well not try to call them dwarves.
So are my elves tree-huggers with a twist, or vulcans with a twist? Are my dwarves industrialists with a twist, or klingons with a twist? This is the decision I find myself facing. There's probably not a "right" answer; there are fun possibilities regardless. For example, if I decided to keep the dwarves' gruffness, I could ditch the mining in favor of Ghengis Khan-style warlords, which could be a fun new role for dwarves in the setting. Alternatively, I could keep the industrialism and add a bit of western nobility flavor, making them self-important "civilized people" who think any less industry-inclined people are "savages" and make the dwarves into colonizing antagonists.
The elves... okay, the elves are a little harder due to having both elements built into the race in the most popular game in the genre. Still, there's gotta be a way to freshen them up, right? Perhaps I'll have more ideas later. In the meantime, thanks for reading, and feel free to share your thoughts.
Take care of each other, okay?
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