How do you play as Dwarf?

[The Wizard Gandy]

I ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ hate playing as him. Please explain how to make it less painful.

[untitled-oct19]

two-handed hammer
handgun
constantly charge attack
snipe stormvermin
congrats you now play dwarf

[Leviathan (AFK)]

The dwarf is essentially one of your two potential tanks. He's slow, but takes and deals better damage, and is good at pushing back the Skaven horde.
If there is a specific grievance with his build, change the inventory item in question, that is about all you can do.
Hahaha If a character doesn't suit your playstyle, then don't play with them.
You have 5 characters to pick from. Each with their own pros, cons, and playstyles. There are four in a party. That means at any given time, 3 of your 4 primary character options will be taken. (Unless you're host, or playing solo - in which case, you'll have your preferred character selected by default).
I'd say get yourself au fait, or at the very least on par, with the the other 4, and just forget about him.

[Brother Frank]

He doesn't take any additional damage though...All players take the exact same amount of damage.

[Medicles]

Axe + Shield with Regrowth
Handgun
Kill lonely Clanrats with axe
Kill specials with handgun
Block on ambushes
Block on waves
Push back Stormvermin in ambushes/waves so your mates can kill it

Or just run in any rat group, hold block and let the team kill them, easy game.

[Jakal, Lady kisser]

show some pride in yer work, manling.

[KHAN]

love the dwarf

[10-shekel Pepe]

I've been playing to the dwarf's cc strengths with an axe/shield traited with bloodlust and a grudgeraker that's got the extended mag, restoration, and distraction traits. The grudgeraker can thin out hordes very well, and can take out a splinter of closely grouped ambush rats in two shots. The main strategies that I've been employing with the shield/axe is to use the axe for singular or armored rats (it doesn't take very many hits with the axe to kill a stormvermin on nm), and alternating between charged attacks and shield bashes during hordes. Being ok with fulfilling a role as a sort of riot police to keep things clear for your more specialized dps (WH, BW, WW) to take out specials is an important mindset to playing this particular build. I still put up 3-4k damage consistently even though I don't get the rush of seeing a whole lot of special kills being attributed to me (although the grudgeraker can destroy the unarmored specials in about 2-3 shots). Being able to keep rat fodder from hurting your team and being able to keep your health up so that the characters equipped for more specialized dps can have access to more heals can make a big difference in a run.

Only thing that frustrates me sometimes is when I'm trying to pick off some loners in the team's path to proc my bloodlust trait and my teammates still feel the need to "help" me with my kill

Watching rats fly after I break their skulls with a charged shield attack feels good.

Sometimes it isn't even necessary to block if you've got a really good chokepoint and some decent footwork. An occasional block with a lot of charged attacks will keep the rats stunlocked and open to all sorts of damage. Just try not to get burned by your wizard when you're in front ;)

[Leviathan (AFK)]

Originally posted by Brother Frank:

He doesn't take any additional damage though...All players take the exact same amount of damage.

You are correct in that all players have the same amount of hp, but the dwarf and soldier have higher stamina, allowing them to take more block hits than other characters.

I may be wrong, but I think dwarf and soldier's standard stamina is around 6, opposed to waywatcher and witch hunter at around 3. Base stamina is increased by shield equipment.

[Celere]

I made a video just to answer this question!

2H Hammer and Handgun Combo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYKk65qLnx0

Here's an earlier video I made if you want to checkout gameplay with the shield... I should make a new one now that I'm into harder difficulties and I'm better at the game. Should be able to get you started though.

Axe + Shield and Handgun Combo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFcS8dXpuCo&list=PLNr3bE3PcBTRUFnV-q_PLgzzuMBIm473g&index=13

Cheers, and I hope this helps you improve your game on Bardin, the whirlwind of rat killing.

[Banzai Sniper]

i love using my orange hammer and shield i understand tehres btter versions of it though

[Szarekh the Silent King]

Originally posted by KHAN:

love the dwarf

Number 5 from 4 to me.

[Space Wolf Hudson]

I prefer the two handed axe over all other weapons, even for cataclysm. Along with the grudge raker.

[darth.crevette]

I almost always take drake pistols nowadays, leaving the sniping to Markus.

[Zealous]

Originally posted by Leviathan LotL:

Originally posted by Brother Frank:

He doesn't take any additional damage though...All players take the exact same amount of damage.

You are correct in that all players have the same amount of hp, but the dwarf and soldier have higher stamina, allowing them to take more block hits than other characters.

I may be wrong, but I think dwarf and soldier's standard stamina is around 6, opposed to waywatcher and witch hunter at around 3. Base stamina is increased by shield equipment.

Stamina is based on weapons not characters. Most normal weapons have 3 points, light weapons like daggers and rapiers have 2.5 and all shields get 5. Not sure about 2-handed weapons as i dont use em much but i believe they are probably 3 maybe 4. You can roll a trait on any weapon that gives an extra stamina for a grand total of 6 on shields which is nice.

[b0rf]

1 shield means 2 stamina, so shields have 10, 2 handers have 6 (except axe) , and the Rapier has 6 too.
Using a shield doesn't make you a tank, there is no such a thing in this game. The only unique mechanic that the shield has is that it can defend you against rattling gunner fire.

And the dwarf plays just like the soldier, they have almost the same weapons.