The Dwarves were known to themselves as Khazad, and Naugrim by the Elves. This list covers all the seven tribes of the Dwarves from 1A until the end of 3A. Durin's tribe was the largest, and most westerly. In the first age, the realms of Nogrod and Belegost were closest to the princedoms of the Elves. At the end of 1A, most of their inhabitants moved to Moria (Khazad-dum), the first and greatest of the Dwarven realms. Moria was abandoned after being attacked from within@by the Balrog unleashed within its mines, and then it's peoples variously lived in Dunland to the southwest, the Ered Luin (Blue mountains) to the far west, Erebor to the north and the Iron Hills to the northeast.

Since the Dwarves lived in mountainous areas to the north of Middle-Earth, they are given a climate rating of Cold. Aggression is rated as 2 since while the Dwarves were quite warlike, even against their own kind of other tribes (Sil, p111), they tended not to fight expansionist wars, since they expanded their numbers only slowly.

I have decided against allowing Dwarves a WW, despite the lake (Mirrormere) in front of the eastern gate of Moria, since this lake was quite small, and totally inaccessible to any sort of shipping. (One might allow them to dice for one when defending, but not allow an invader to choose one). Dwarves disliked water, and never lived by the sea. They are allowed a Rv - Erebor had a small one issuing from it that flowed on into Dale, and the Celebrant issued from Mirrormere. Steep hills are naturally compulsory, as befit mountain dwellers, and Wd are allowed - there were trees near the Mirrormere that provided fuel for the mass cremation after the battle of Azanulbizar (RotK, p445). Dwarves were great road builders - a road ran east from Moria, and another ran from Nogrod and Belegost westwards across Beleriand.

Only one sub-general is allowed, as large armies had to be an amalgamation of several tribes (RotK, p444).

Dwarves, being almost entirely axe-armed (Sil, p113; Sil, p232, etc), are classified as Bd; those armed with mattocks such as Dain's contingent at the Battle of the Five Armies (Hob, 261) might be reclassified as Bd (X), as mattocks are a longer weapon needing a looser formation to use, serves to make Dwarves more mobile on the battlefield, and increases their odds against charging horse (but see below). A few could use bows (Hob, p250), though these could not be longbows for obvious reasons, and are therefore graded as Bw (O) like Viking archers are.

Dwarves could be prone to impetuous behaviour at times (Hob, p267); and the excellent armour worn by some, including face-masks (Sil, p232), is justification for upgrading some warriors to Bd (S) - I assume that these would mostly be the nobility; those of the Iron Hills (Hob, p261) however were all equipped with full mail hauberks including chausses (mailed hose).

Some eastern tribes had friendly relations with various men dwelling in their regions, hence the provision for Easterling or Woodsmen allies (Sil, p188); these may not be used with regulars, as regulars simulate the better organisation and resources of the later House of Durin, most westerly of the tribes, and most influenced by the Elves; some other tribes even allied with Orcs (Hob, 69). The Dwarves of Erebor frequently sided with the men of Dale (RotK, p464, 471). The Dwarves of Belegost were aided by Maedhros' Noldor in the first age, being rescued from an Orc ambush (UT, p75). Note that I have not allowed Lorinand allies in 2A1697 (UT, p238), since this narrative was later discarded (UT, p234, 240). See the introductory page for my reasoning behind this.

After men had mastered the art of horse-riding, some dwarves acquired the skills neccesary to use ponies, hence the provision for mounted scouts after 1A (Hob, p39).

The symbol of the house of Durin was an anvil, with a hammer above, surmounted by a crowned helmet with seven stars overhead (FotR, p388).

This page last modified May 1, 2000