Comparisons wanted: orc sourcebooks

[Desdichado]

I'm always on the lookout for a campaign setting that's a little different, and using orcs as a "regular" rather than a monster race is one good alternative.

So, I know there are at least three recent d20 orc/half-orc books out there, the Kalamar book, the Green Ronin book and the Heroes of High Favor book. Anyone want to do a compare/contrast exercise for my benefit?

 

[kengar]

Haven't read the above, but Mongoose's "Slayer's" Guides are nice racial resources. I swear by my copies for gnolls & hobgoblins.

 

[Voadam]

I don't have those three but there is also the Basic D&D gazetteer the Orcs of Thar with a lot of good material. Probably available for $5 from svgames.com

Also there is the d20/Harn dual short dual statted orc sourcebook as well.

 

[Desdichado]

Yeah, I just picked the three newest I knew of. Was there a slayers guide to orcs as well? Wasn't there at least a city of orcs or something like that from Mongoose?

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

Hi Joshua-

I have both the GR book, and the BadAx book, and I'd have to say they are complimentary ( in that they don't cover much of the same thing ), and I like them both.

The GR book is much more extensive, and I'm using it to help flesh out a "civilized" orc society IMC, including their religion, perception of and by other races, etc...

I think that Skraag ( Mongoose's city of orcs ) might be useful too. Mongoose does also have a slayers guide ot Orc's, but neither of these have been reviewed on ENWorld. I'd definitely be interested in seeing reviews before buying either.

The BadAx book focuses heavily on Barbarian+Another class multiclass options for PC's & NPC's & is very light on other material.

 

[Desdichado]

Yeah, for my purposes, I don't think the Bad Axe game offers what I want -- I want some stuff that is a little bit "fluffy" and I'm also on the lookout for a more civilized orc for this idea to work rather than concentrating on the barbarian-ness of the classic orc. Maybe the Skraag book, the Green Ronin Book or the new Kalamar book is more along those lines?

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

IMC, I was looking for just type of fuff too, and W&R seems to be fitting the bill. One neat thing from the book, are the alternative racial concepts detailing possible Orc community archetypes including:

The Savage horde
The created race
The betrayed race
The Cancerous race
The Conquerors

You should definitely read the reviews on Wrath & Rage. I really like most of the stuff I have gotten from GR. Here is an excerpt from Psion's review:

"... the book has some good concepts for villains and orcs as a villainous race, and add some depth to them beyond the stereotypical barbaric orc. Much as with Hammer & Helm, Wrath & Rage adds some new and interesting twists to the topic race. The Patrons in particular really took me by surprise in providing campaign ideas instead of just spewing a new gaggle of stereotypical deities. What's better is that this is all OGC"

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/reviews/index.php?sub=yes&where=currentprod&which=WrRa

 

[shadowlight]

Definitely check out the Palladium RPG. It's got.... wait, you said d20... Nevermind

 

[kenjib]

You're looking for a more civilized race? I think that hobgoblins have traits that make them more suitable for this than orcs. If you can wait until March, Strength and Honor: The Mighty Hobgoblins of Tellene should be pretty much exactly what you are looking for as hobgoblins are a playable race in Kalamar and have two kingdoms.

Regarding the Kenzer orc book, it does have a chapter on playing orcs as PCs. Have you read all the reviews already?

 

[Desdichado]

Exactly what are those traits? Yes, I've read the reviews, but I've really enjoyed the "compare and contrast" threads we've had in the past on things like "which shaman book" for instance, or "which sea-faring book."