Originally Posted by Totoro
Not true re Face. Knowledge Cleric with 12 (or 14 if you can spare it) CHA who chooses all CHA-based proficiencies is a good face, and they also have Knowledge Expertise if you need it and good Insight. Make it a Githyanki and you can have proficiency with all WIS- and CHA-based skills, most INT-based (including Expertise in two) and a couple DEX-based ones, too, if you choose the right background. That makes a better face than almost any other class because it isn't always just a Persuade check. I made a GIth Knowledge Cleric with balanced stats who rarely failed any face tests.

Also, mechanically, dwarves suck, especially Shield Dwarves. In EA there was an interesting option for a Shield Dwarf Wizard or Sorcerer with Medium Armor, but now that Humans and Half-Elves can use Shields, they are better (even humans!) than Shield Dwarves. Half-Elves (wood) laugh at silly dwarves (mechanically). It shouldn't be that way, but it is.
Face really isn't what Clerics are made for...you really have to try to force it. Clerics don't swim in a million proficiencies and expertise like Rogues and Bards to really wing it efficiently. And no, proper face classes aren't just about persuasion but about ALL speech aspects...including deception and intimidation. Even if you force them in a kind of functional face Clerics are still only the 5th best face class at best. Not good at it.

As for dwarves...like I already said, no matter how bad you think they are, they're not as bad as Humans and Dragonborns...both vastly more popular classes. If people wanted to play dwarves, they would have. End of story.