D&D (2024) Goblins and Orcs Not Being Green

[Clint_L]

Goblins and orcs are mostly green in my setting, though if a player wants one to be a different colour, sure. I'm not fussed about stuff like that. And I freely admit that years of Warhammer and World of Warcraft have cemented my aesthetic.

However, I have an objective reason why I specifically hate grey as a skin colour for orcs: I'm a miniatures guy, and it makes them look very, very similar to goliaths. Both species play similar roles as well, being overwhelmingly chosen for big, buff warrior types. And that's not even mentioning Drow, who have also migrated in a very grey direction. Meanwhile, goblins have migrated towards a tannish colour that is not super distinct from the typical range of other small species like halflings and gnomes. So you wind up with a lot of same-same on the tabletop. Making orcs and goblins green adds more visual diversity among core species.

Green is also more fun to paint.

 

[MGibster]

1) Games.
Warcraft, sure. But also Warhammer miniatures and stuff. But with an even wider impact, Legend of Zelda type stuff. Original.

The first Warcraft game was intended to be an adaptation of Warhammer Fantasy but Blizzard was unable to secure the license.

I've always pictured the D&D orc as I would a Gammorean from Return of the Jedi. For whatever reason, that's the image that was implanted in my little brain as a youth and it's stuck with me ever since. While I played some 1st edition AD&D, I really cut my teeth on 2nd edition as that was when I had enough money to start buying my own books. Orcs were pretty much always green from what I could remember. And it's not just me, supposedly FASA had a hard time with artist who insisted on depicting the orcs in Shadowrun as green when they weren't supposed to be.

However, I have an objective reason why I specifically hate grey as a skin colour for orcs: I'm a miniatures guy, and it makes them look very, very similar to goliaths.

And Clint_L hit the nail on the head before I could. I also enjoy painting miniatures and grey skin just isn't as fun as green. I'd rather have an army of greenskins than grey. It's just a more interesting color.

I don't have any moral objections to grey orcs or anything. They're going to continue being green for the most part in my games. I might throw in the occasional orc with a different shade and I wouldn't have a problem with a PC deciding for themself what color their orc is.

 

[Aldarc]

Orcs in Warcraft: Orcs & Humans (1994) were my first orcs, so orcs (and later goblins) were generally green, though I did enjoy the varied shaped goblins of Jim Henson's Labyrinth.

 

[Seramus]

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I know it's such a minor thing, but I love that Pool of Radiance used the 1E goblin art in-game!

 

[Micah Sweet]

Orcs in Warcraft: Orcs & Humans (1994) were my first orcs, so orcs (and later goblins) were generally green, though I did enjoy the varied shaped goblins of Jim Henson's Labyrinth.

If any goblins are going to be fey, it's the ones from Labyrinth. Otherwise, green is probably my preference, but not especially strongly.

 

[Charlaquin]

I like my orcs piggy like in Dungeon Meshi and my goblinoids to include the whole spectrum from Renkin and Bass’ Hobbit to Jim Henson’s Labyrinth, to Paizo’s adorable little green firebugs and anything in-between. If it’s weird, mischievous, and chaotic, it can be a goblin in my book.

 

[aco175]

The 80s cartoon orcs

 

[Bedrockgames]

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Almost have a poll now.

Comparing this with the muppets, I am beginning to believe Kermit was really a Goblin

 

[Tonguez]

Goblins are Sallow, which in humans tends to give a pale yellowish beige tinge to the skin, goblins get to be a bit more extreme in their yellowness sometimes going full jaundice including yellowing of the eyes.

Of course I also have goblins as amphibians and they can be green, or sometimes bright blues and vermilions as well as the more dun beiges.

Orcs are the colour of wild boars

 

[Tonguez]

Comparing this with the muppets, I am beginning to believe Kermit was really a Goblin

dont forget