Any reason outside of Roleplaying that someone would pick Half Orc over Human?
- Thread starter jarlaxlecq
- Start date
Elder-Basilisk
First Post
A few other reasons for half-orcs:
Rogues: The only core race with both a 30' move and darkvision. It's not too much good being able to sneak if you have to carry a light source. Favored class: Barbarian is also nice since barbarians' fast movement, uncanny dodge, and decent skillset (for a fighter type) have pretty good synergy with rogue abilities.
Monks: High strength really benefits a monk and int and charisma are dump stats for a monk anyway (int less than charisma since monks are somewhat skill dependent but it's still less important than strength, dex, con, or wisdom).
Rogues: The only core race with both a 30' move and darkvision. It's not too much good being able to sneak if you have to carry a light source. Favored class: Barbarian is also nice since barbarians' fast movement, uncanny dodge, and decent skillset (for a fighter type) have pretty good synergy with rogue abilities.
Monks: High strength really benefits a monk and int and charisma are dump stats for a monk anyway (int less than charisma since monks are somewhat skill dependent but it's still less important than strength, dex, con, or wisdom).
Terry Edwards
Registered User
I second the Half-orc monk with Improved Grapple option.
Korak
First Post
Half-Orcs are a strong choice. I have played a few half-orc melee characters as well as a few human ones, and a dwarf. Darkvision is indeed fantastic, however, there is usually at least one person in the party who needs a light source, so beign a human isn't that bad. I almost never play a straight classed character, so I really appreciate the value of favored class: any. The extra feat and skill points just seal the deal for me on humans. One caveat... if tribal protector is available in your game... go half-orc and don't look back; wildfighting is the big W.
jgsugden
Legend
People just misunderstand the half-orc. It is not underpowered in pratical effect. It is quite well balanced with human.
It is lousy for a bard, sorcerer, or paladin. It is ok for druid or cleric, but makes a fine monk, ranger, barbarian, fighter, or rogue.
In many games, people forget to account for lighting. They tend to assume that their PCs can see things even though the lack a light source or their light source doesn't allow them to see the targets for which they wish to aim. In those games, darkvision is useless, but in games where lighting is well controlled, darkvision is a very strong ability. It allows you to dispel magic light and gain the upper hand against many foes. It allows you to sneak around without carrying a light source. It is very useful - far more useful than 1 skill point per level for many PCs.
The strength bonus is also very useful. It gives you a +1 to hit and up to a +2 to damage. People don't think this is significant, but it adds up. When using a two handed weapon, this is the equivalent of weapon focus *and* weapon specialization. In other words, twice the benefit of the human's extra feat.
The attribute penalties of a half-orc are usually not important to the classes that tend to be half-orcs. The loss of skill points can be hard to handle if you wish to use a prestige class, but the loss of charisma is often an after thought.
The orc blood can be trouble in limited situations (versus certain rangers, etc ...), but in general it is a non-issue.
I play a melee half-orc barbarian 4 / rogue 18 in a newly epic game. The darkvision has allowed me to use darkness to incredible effect. The extra strength has results in a miss turning into a hit more times than I can count. The extra damage from strength has brought a foe down one attack earlier even more times. I've gotten far mroe bang out of being a half-orc than I would have gotten out of being human ...
It is lousy for a bard, sorcerer, or paladin. It is ok for druid or cleric, but makes a fine monk, ranger, barbarian, fighter, or rogue.
In many games, people forget to account for lighting. They tend to assume that their PCs can see things even though the lack a light source or their light source doesn't allow them to see the targets for which they wish to aim. In those games, darkvision is useless, but in games where lighting is well controlled, darkvision is a very strong ability. It allows you to dispel magic light and gain the upper hand against many foes. It allows you to sneak around without carrying a light source. It is very useful - far more useful than 1 skill point per level for many PCs.
The strength bonus is also very useful. It gives you a +1 to hit and up to a +2 to damage. People don't think this is significant, but it adds up. When using a two handed weapon, this is the equivalent of weapon focus *and* weapon specialization. In other words, twice the benefit of the human's extra feat.
The attribute penalties of a half-orc are usually not important to the classes that tend to be half-orcs. The loss of skill points can be hard to handle if you wish to use a prestige class, but the loss of charisma is often an after thought.
The orc blood can be trouble in limited situations (versus certain rangers, etc ...), but in general it is a non-issue.
I play a melee half-orc barbarian 4 / rogue 18 in a newly epic game. The darkvision has allowed me to use darkness to incredible effect. The extra strength has results in a miss turning into a hit more times than I can count. The extra damage from strength has brought a foe down one attack earlier even more times. I've gotten far mroe bang out of being a half-orc than I would have gotten out of being human ...
jarlaxlecq
First Post
^^ well said
Hypersmurf
Moderatarrrrh...
Eolin said:
Yeah, but with that Wisdom penalty, they're always failing the Listen check to hear the lamentations of the women...
-Hyp.
Hypersmurf
Moderatarrrrh...
Nightfall said:
Oh, for...
...!
-Hyp.
Similar Threads
