I don't think I've ever properly appreciated elves and dwarves

Like a lot of pretentious fantasy gamers I've snootily dismissed elves and dwarves as trite in my time (not recently, calm down). But if I really think about it, I don't believe I've ever really used them to their full potential in the first place! Oh sure, they were there as a player option, and I would dutifully throw a few into the unfolding events with a shrug, the way I'd put the salt and pepper shakers out when setting the table, but I wouldn't really explore what they could bring to the table beyond a few cliches.



Recently my reading of the Birthright setting and the video game Dragon Age have spurred my desire to do elves and dwarves "right", or at least give them the opportunities for complexity I give to humans.



I could use some advice, insights and personal experiences to help me get past my preconceptions.



For reference, my earliest and most significant experience with these races was Warhammer Fantasy (especially as presented in the army books of the mid 90s)

I don't think I've ever properly appreciated elves and dwarves