Ten years ago I wouldn't have given a flying flip about dwarves. Then when we started playing D&D 3rd edition, I played a dwarven monk. When World of Warcraft came out, I played a dwarven hunter who hated gnomes. And for the past couple of years, I've been (off and on) addicted to Dwarf Fortress. Sadly, dwarves will probably never achieve the mainstream recognition or respect that pirates and ninjas now possess. But they will forever hold a place in my heart.