Dwarves need a ranged non-physical attack

[Kamamura]

I am aware that this has been discussed several times and that the main objection was that dwarves are not magic users.

So what about giving them a ranged fire-attacking unit based on technology instead of magic? Something like Warhammer-style flamethrower/grenadier/steam tank and such?

[scott]

The idea is more that dwarves are not healers, but they could use some type of earth magic. As for ranged magic, I think it has been hard to write a unit of this type that fits in with the "feel" of dwarves and the game. We have been having the same problem with the dwarvish scout. Seriously - the proposals included a ram-rider, a magic carpet, and a wooden helicopter. Any of these could have been arbitrarily stuck in, but if it's stuck in there just to fill the need things start getting silly. You can dress a dwarf in a robe and give him a staff, but... I think you see what I mean. People agree, and it will be ready when it's ready. Technology is right out. Sorry.

[Monkey]

I'm against technology in this game, and I'm against the thunderstick.
But I like the runemaster.

[Sangel]

Perhaps the Thunderer should deal fire damage? It would make the faction more unique, and reduce some of the problems Dwarves have against Undead.

[Deathtenks]

You mean increase the problems Undead have with Dwarves....Just give Dwarves some hills and Mountains and aViola Dwarf's are running a muck!

[Monkey]

dwarves beat the crap out of undead.
Impact attack and berserker for liches and dark adepts.

[bpaultre]

I strongly disagree with the notion that dwarves are not healers.

Please see the thread I posted about Dwarven Clerics... The holy hammer
would help fill the void you are referring too. It would be a ranged holy
attack.

http://wesnoth.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4973

Dwarves have healers in other realms... Basic Dungeons and Dragons
even introduced Dwarven Clerics in the Gazeteer Series Book:
Dwarves of Rockhome. They are secretive about their healers but do
have them.

-Ben

[Gafgarion]

I strongly disagree with the notion that dwarves are not healers.

Please see the thread I posted about Dwarven Clerics... The holy hammer
would help fill the void you are referring too. It would be a ranged holy
attack.

http://wesnoth.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4973

Dwarves have healers in other realms... Basic Dungeons and Dragons
even introduced Dwarven Clerics in the Gazeteer Series Book:
Dwarves of Rockhome. They are secretive about their healers but do
have them.

-Ben

Wesnoth is Wesnoth, though, not another realm.

[romnajin]

WIN...

[bpaultre]

I strongly disagree with the notion that dwarves are not healers.

Please see the thread I posted about Dwarven Clerics... The holy hammer
would help fill the void you are referring too. It would be a ranged holy
attack.

http://wesnoth.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4973

Dwarves have healers in other realms... Basic Dungeons and Dragons
even introduced Dwarven Clerics in the Gazeteer Series Book:
Dwarves of Rockhome. They are secretive about their healers but do
have them.

-Ben

Wesnoth is Wesnoth, though, not another realm.

I am not debating that Wesnoth is Wesnoth, but let's take a step back and
look at where this mythology is coming from... elves do this and dwarves
do that... there are certain shared pieces that run through most fantasy
games. Dwarves are short, Elves live in the forest, well I'm suggesting
that Dwarves are miners and workers and a society, find me a society
that exists which has no religion and/or no healers and I will be astounded.
Even the most aboriginal societies have elders, witch-doctors or healers.
Why should dwarves be any different?

Thanks for your time and consideration,
-Ben (Hudson)

[Monkey]

Because dwarves, accordingly to nordic mythology, were born from the worms that were eating a dead giant's body. So they don't need to heal, because they are like amebas, they eat dirt and regenerate themselves. Did that make sense now?

[Dave]

IMHO in current CVS the Knalgans in the default era are pretty well-matched against any faction.

David

[Gafgarion]

Wesnoth is Wesnoth, though, not another realm.

I am not debating that Wesnoth is Wesnoth, but let's take a step back and
look at where this mythology is coming from... elves do this and dwarves
do that... there are certain shared pieces that run through most fantasy
games. Dwarves are short, Elves live in the forest, well I'm suggesting
that Dwarves are miners and workers and a society, find me a society
that exists which has no religion and/or no healers and I will be astounded.
Even the most aboriginal societies have elders, witch-doctors or healers.
Why should dwarves be any different?

Thanks for your time and consideration,
-Ben (Hudson)

Because they can be different, there's no reason why Wesnoth has to follow the lead of previous works... and as far as mythology goes Wesnoth is not accurate at all. In most mythology elves are a type of fairy (and according to the Irish lived in hillsides), or much similar to "Santa's elves" (more like the "modern" gnome).
You're confusing mythology for Tolkien.
Gameplay should come first, with theme being molded around it... and I can't see how healers would be beneficial right now for the Knalgans in CVS.

[bpaultre]

The point I am trying to make is that Dwarves are a society and
as such they would most likely have some sort of religion, and
in a fantasy setting such as wesnoth, I would have thought that
would translate into some sort of religious fighter or cleric.

I simply saw a unit that I thought would be useful and fit better
with my own view of dwarves as isolationists. In game terms
an impact fighter with ranged attack to replace the thug. I would
have also liked gnomish thieves but I suppose people don't
share my viewpoint so that's fine. I'm not trying to start a holy
war, just express my opinion in a way that others can read and
understand the point I'm trying to get across.

Thanks everyone for the replies,
-Ben

[turin]

Every society may have shamans, witch-doctors, or somesuch, but that does not make them all equally effective. The orcs do not have healers - why? Because they are too stupid to know how to heal people. The dwarves don't either, because their alchemists are not interested in healing people, but in creating new weapons, like the runestaves and the thundersticks.