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Poll

Which is most dwarven?

Monarchy
- 47 (79.7%)
Theocracy
- 5 (8.5%)
Republic
- 5 (8.5%)
Democracy
- 2 (3.4%)

Total Members Voted: 59


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Author Topic: Dwarf Government  (Read 2201 times)

shadow_archmagi

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Dwarf Government
« on: August 30, 2010, 10:56:47 pm »

So, I've been kinda debating this in my mind.

Dwarves draw heavily from Roman/Greek culture (Devotion to stoicism, pillars and statues and angles and stone in their architecture). Traditionally, these cultures both included senates and whatnot.

Dragon Age has a dwarf council where big stubborn dwarves argue endlessly. Dwarves are fairly community-minded, so the urge to go and vote and argue about politics would come naturally to them.

On the other hand, the MOUNTAIN KING is a really dwarven thing too. So I dunno. What do you guys think?
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monk12

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Re: Dwarf Government
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2010, 11:49:19 pm »

The trope I see most often is that of a Monarchy advised by a Council of some sort, often the elders of various Dwarven Clans. Depending on setting, the Council may have more power than the King in the vein of ancient Sparta, making Oligarchy a valid choice. Playing D&D, I've seen quite a few dwarven Theocracies since Dwarves make good clerics.

What I have not ever seen, however, is a Dwarven Democracy or Democratic Republic. That tends to be the talk of humans and halflings when it shows up at all.

ungulateman

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Re: Dwarf Government
« Reply #2 on: August 31, 2010, 03:44:34 am »

In the case of Dwarf Fortress, socialism with a dash of anti-monarchist communism.

Dwarves in general are monarchists, from the stuff I read/play/watch.
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Flaede

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Re: Dwarf Government
« Reply #3 on: August 31, 2010, 04:03:20 am »

Deiocracy. They got the word of god. In actuality, all their 'rulers' are interim regents, and thus the Councils and High Priests all have varying degrees of autonomy/authority.
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Cheese

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Re: Dwarf Government
« Reply #4 on: August 31, 2010, 04:23:15 am »

Constitutional monarchy/partial monarchy of a sorts. The royals are like figureheads and symbols of inspiration advised and aided perhaps by nobles. For alot of stuff the community decides?
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calrogman

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Re: Dwarf Government
« Reply #5 on: August 31, 2010, 05:19:39 am »

The weird blend of monarchy and democracy we have over here in the UK, where the Dwarven court will argue endlessly over minute details and the mountain king is required to sign any new pieces of legislation and call for general elections.

e: what he said ^^^
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Rex_Nex

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Re: Dwarf Government
« Reply #6 on: August 31, 2010, 02:44:32 pm »

Such foolish forms of government. True dorfs are led by war and greed, and therefor the purist Dwarven form of government is none other then a Katocracy
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claer_runway

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Re: Dwarf Government
« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2010, 03:38:40 pm »

anarchy.
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Africa

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Re: Dwarf Government
« Reply #8 on: August 31, 2010, 04:11:51 pm »

Not voting in poll for lack of appropriate options. I visualize the dwarven king as more of a military leader, sort of simultaneously a champion and a leader, but not wielding sole political power by any means. Of course, this doesn't really fit into DF, where the king sits around doing dick all. He also doesn't really govern. The political system is probably sort of a communally-decided system of organization where dwarves generally agree to do what's best for the good of the fortress - I think that best reflects the way the game plays, with the "player" basically being the collective will of the dwarves.
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The Mad Engineer

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Re: Dwarf Government
« Reply #9 on: September 01, 2010, 12:22:50 am »

It's a meritocracy, except instead of the most skilled dwarves in power positions, its the ones with the largest beards.

A beardocracy, if you will.

rhinelander

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Re: Dwarf Government
« Reply #10 on: September 01, 2010, 12:48:50 am »

I call for magmarchy, with some distinctive elements of a catarchy.
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thijser

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Re: Dwarf Government
« Reply #11 on: September 01, 2010, 01:37:58 am »

The mayor is chosen by democrazy, however the king evidence of some kind of monarchy. So it's a mix.
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Urist McDepravity

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Re: Dwarf Government
« Reply #12 on: September 01, 2010, 03:31:56 am »

Didn't vote because I don't think it fits into these cliche forms. Esp. since there are separate 'democracy' and 'republic' in the poll.

I think closest thing would be anarcho-communism
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Cheese

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Re: Dwarf Government
« Reply #13 on: September 01, 2010, 04:57:35 am »

It's randomly generated every time? It's just always part-monarchy or something.
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Quatch

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Re: Dwarf Government
« Reply #14 on: September 01, 2010, 08:22:51 am »

I visualize the dwarven king as more of a military leader, sort of simultaneously a champion and a leader, but not wielding sole political power by any means.

Besides the part of him not fighting?

How about an early roman form, Consul? The senate runs things, but appoints consuls (sp, sorry.) for a year's term to oversee a campaign, over which they have autonomy, and are expected to fight and be brave.
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