Hill Dwarf

Hill dwarves are extremely robust but poor at using magic. They are excellent at melee combat, especially with axes or bludgeoning weapons, and are good at using armour and shields, but are poor at missile combat or at using polearms (which are usually too big for them to wield comfortably). The only forms of magic which they can use with even a minimal degree of aptitude are earth, fire, and conjurations. They advance in levels at a similar rate to common elves.

Available Classes

Hill dwarves can be Fighters, Priests, Thieves, Gladiators, Berserkers, Hunters, Conjurers, Enchanters, Fire Elementalists, Earth Elementalists and Healers.

Level Bonuses

• +1 HP every 2 out of 3 levels.
• -1 MP every 2 levels.
• +1 strength every 4th level.

History

• Hill dwarves were removed in 0.3, due to their similarity to mountain dwarves. Their aptitudes were nearly identical, never more than ±20 in the old aptitude system (equivalent to ±1 aptitude today). MD were slightly better at magic, and HD slightly better at melee. When HD were removed, some of MD's aptitudes (notably Axes and M&F) were changed to compensate.

One notable difference between the species was that, back when "non-recommended" race/class combos were actually forbidden, HD could be berserkers while MD could not.