Dwarven Warfare

Dwarves fight heavy. It is not a preference — it is a doctrine, bred into them by thousands of years of underground combat where tunnels are narrow and formation fighting is everything.

The Shield Wall

A dwarven shield wall — heavy plate armor, tower shields, polearms or war axes — is one of the most feared formations in the known world. There are songs about it. Ballads, in fact, where every verse ends with something getting crushed and the chorus is just the sound of metal hitting metal.

Heavy Weapons

Behind the shield wall come the war hammers and battle axes. These weapons are designed to crack armor, break stone, and end arguments with geological finality. A standard dwarven war axe weighs more than most humans can comfortably lift with both hands.

Crossbow Corps

For dwarves who lack the physique for the front line, there is the crossbow. Dwarven crossbows are mechanical marvels: heavy draw weight, precision windlass mechanisms, and a range that makes them devastating at distances where human archers are still fumbling with their second arrow. The crossbow corps is considered the dignified option for dwarves too small for the hammer and too clever to waste.

Non-Traditional Weapons

Spears are considered deeply un-dwarven — the weapon of farmers and militia, of keeping something at arm's length and hoping it doesn't close the gap. Swords fare little better; dwarves consider them long knives for people who can't commit to a real weapon.

Despite this cultural prejudice, Borin chose a spear as his personal weapon — Rensting — reasoning that reach, a piercing point, and no requirement for heavy strength or good aim made it the practical choice against fast predators. The least dwarven weapon in existence, and the smartest one for the situation.

Military Ranks

Dwarven military ranks reflect their martial culture:

• Hammerhand — an arms instructor rank, responsible for training young dwarves in combat