Dragonlance Dragonlance Creators Reveal Why There Are No Orcs On Krynn

Talking to the Dragonlance Nexus, Dragonlance creators Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman revealed why the world of Krynn features no orcs -- in short, because they didn't want to copy Tolkien, and orcs were very much a 'Middle Earth' thing.

Weis told Trampas Whiteman that "Orcs were also viewed as very Middle Earth. We wanted something different." Hickman added that it was draconians which made Krynn stand out. Read more at the link below!

Why are there no Orcs in Krynn? Weis and Hickman give us the answer! - Dragonlance Nexus

Dragonhelm gets the scoop from Weis and Hickman on why there are no orcs in Krynn. Read More

dragonlancenexus.com

 

[Micah Sweet]

And I hope they reimagine every setting

I hope they make  new settings, so people want something different can get it.

 

[Vaalingrade]

And I hope they reimagine every setting

At this point, I hope they never reimagine or even so much as rerelease any classic settings again if this is going to be the runup. I don't think I could handle if, twenty years ago my fellow Eberron fans started a six thread running battle over someone making a spider-worshipping drow or people of different species getting a species-specific dragonmark.

 

[Xamnam]

I think such importance is misplaced. Like if someone was trying to sell me on what made Krynn a cool setting and they led with "there's no orcs", I'd say they missed quite a bit.

I don't think anyone arguing for setting fidelity would do so. People brought up the idea of changing setting specifics in regards to the presence of Orcs, so that's what people have largely been discussing. If someone had brought up making minotaurs not-seafaring for whatever reason, that's what the 200 pages would be about. Granted, it'd probably be less long and contentious, as the argument about racial restrictions neatly slots into classic "Whose desires matter more at the table?" That's what seems to be the real point of contention (and likely why folks on both sides are so intent on being "right" rather than increasing their understanding).

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Generify my statement a step back on the bolded part. I'm applying the argument of "that role is already covered by something already present" to the 5E PHB description of a half-orc instead of saying we already have enough minions of the dark lord, I'm not saying we already have enough bad guys here. Does that make sense?

okay who covers the half orc then what race?

 

[Velderan]

the thing I heard in the video was you had a good alignment but were surprised to find you are in black... since I don't know of anything that would change your alignment, I assume you are a good black robe.

I can see how you'd take that from what he said and it certainly could be interesting. If you look at characters in some novels, their morality is certainly more complex than the color of their robe might indicate. Dalamar for instance despite being a CE black robed wizard on his stat block usually acts far more neutral imo

 

[GMforPowergamers]

The story didn't call it out because the author didn't know it was an issue.

If you have a one-of-a-kind oddity in the party, I would expect NPCs to notice and react to it.

again why does it need to be a one of a kind and not a rare known thing?
What changes if we make orcs as rare as dwarves and elves and as such no one that wouldn't notice ANY non human needs to pick out the half orc...

 

[Micah Sweet]

okay who covers the half orc then what race?

Half-orcs have no niche in D&D, so literally anyone. Maybe a different mixed heritage if that's the story you want to tell.

 

[Micah Sweet]

again why does it need to be a one of a kind and not a rare known thing?
What changes if we make orcs as rare as dwarves and elves and as such no one that wouldn't notice ANY non human needs to pick out the half orc...

I explained this above.

 

[Maxperson]

legolas the archer with keen senses and supirior dexderity can be any race
Drizzt the out cast from an evil cult/city for being good who is an expert swordsman and becomes as ranger can be any race.

This argument also argues that these two pictures are the same, because they share many of the same traits.

 

[Velderan]

okay who covers the half orc then what race?

Depending on what aspect you want to focus on, a plainsman could fit that role, some dwarves, minotaurs. I realize they don't get the same mechanics so if I had a player that was set on being able to stand back up after falling to 0 HP once per long rest, I'd probably steer them in the direction of playing a plainsman warrior from the Que-Kiri tribe and give them half-orc game stats.