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

 

[GMforPowergamers]

and who decides what reason is a good reason ? They can do whatever they feel is right and if you disagree, you can change it at your table

if it is a home game the players, if it is a printed setting meant to make profit that would be the customer base.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

If I remember correctly, he was a half-orc assassin sent to kill Tasselhoff. Nobody made a big deal out of his heritage, I suspect because the author wasn't aware half-orcs (and orcs) weren't a thing in Dragonlance.

Johnathan

weather it was a new author or not that is canon then.

as a comic reader I don't get to argue run's that I don't like didn't happen, even if I dislike what the writer did... UNLESS a future writer retcons it.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Kender don't steal from party members and are not jerks. The players who play them that way certainly are jerks.

the default flavor of the kender is that they steal from party members and are jerks... of course you can choose not to.

 

[Remathilis]

Yep, because as common and uninteresting as orcs have become, if a game needs them to "make it more fun", then it must be a very bland game to start with, and there a lot of other niche and underused creatures that can replace them. Note: this is from the point of view of someone in the hobby for 40+ years now, so to someone only gaming for a few years, or a decade or so, orcs may still be fresh and exciting, so my comment is not targeting anyone specifically.

Agreed. They should add something more interesting like warforged to Krynn.

/S

 

[GMforPowergamers]

What are orcs now? Without the ASIs and any cultural aspects, what makes orcs a distinct heritage? Just aesthetics?

man 1st if we discount aesthetics why again?? have you never had a friend pick a character cause they just bought/painted a cool looking mini?
2nd ASI isn't the only mechanic for races... Menacing, Relentless endurance and savage attack may all or in some combo some appeal to them
3rd why are we removing ALL cultural aspects the PHB is pretty generic but it still gives some cool ideas:

When alliances between humans and orcs are sealed by marriages, half-orcs are born. Some half-orcs rise to become proud chiefs of orc tribes, their human blood giving them an edge over their full-blooded orc rivals. Some venture into the world to prove their worth among humans and other more civilized races. Many of these become adventurers, achieving greatness for their mighty deeds and notoriety for their barbaric customs and savage fury.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Good enough by whose standard?

if it is just a home game by the standards of the players
if it is a sold setting by the standards of the people buying and useing the setting

 

[GMforPowergamers]

That plan worked out swell for Dan Weiss and David Benioff.

man I hope we all have 'failures' that make us rich house hold names...

edit: I much prefer the books but lets not pretend they didnt make more money for the worst season of the show then most of us will make in 10 years...
this is the problem with every argument like this, if we know about it, it most likely made the person rich.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

if it is just a home game by the standards of the players
if it is a sold setting by the standards of the people buying and useing the setting

The reason given in the OP is more than good enough for me. Maybe a poll is in order.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I mean you're not wrong, but for a race you're saying is not the one dimensional villain it was in 1984, do you really think WotC is going to write a history or provide any flavor to a Krynnish orc in a 224 page adventure book? The best they're likely to do is say you can Spelljam (is that a term?) one in and guess what, you probably already knew that and didn't need WotC to tell you that.

The BEST thing would be not to mention orcs or half orcs and let it be... the 2nd best is mention it ia side bar "Once apon a time these races were not here but it doesn't matter today if DMs do or don't allow them it wont break anything"

 

[AnotherGuy]

man I hope we all have 'failures' that make us rich house hold names...

edit: I much prefer the books but lets not pretend they didnt make more money for the worst season of the show then most of us will make in 10 years...
this is the problem with every argument like this, if we know about it, it most likely made the person rich.

I remember they were avoiding all cons and interviews, then, after laying low for a while, they suddenly are seen taking up seats at Manganiello's table.