Half-orcs and why people think they are/aren't powerful

[Ogre Mage]

Half Orcs are very strong in their niche -- the role of the front-line fighter, usually the greatsword/axe, power attacking uber killer. But the race weak if you try to use it in some other role. Human, dwarves and elves, in contrast, excel in many different roles.

 

[Brother MacLaren]

The strength yes. The 2x or 4x damage, no. And the 2x or 4x hitpoints, also no. ^_^ And thank god for that!

Mind you, an Ogre with no other class levels is a SIXTH level character (4HD, +2 LA ... ECL 6), so it should be compared to a sixth level human, not a first level human.

But your *average* ogre is far, far stronger and tougher than your *average* human, which is what HeavyG said. Your typical Ogre with no class levels is roughly comparable in power to an elite human hero. I think the point stands - the game system does make large creatures much tougher than medium-sized ones.

 

[Particle_Man]

In 3.0, I think the DM had the option of giving half-orcs and gnomes access to the Scent ability as a feat. I played a half-orc like that, and it added a little colour.

I think half-orcs are the "training wheels" race. You are designed to be strong, which pushes you to use 2-handed weapons. Not having a hand free to use a lantern, you have darkvision to compensate. And then you are good to go. You don't have long lists of things you have to remember to use or apply. Half-orc fighter with power attack and cleave is not hard to remember at 1st level for a newbie (just ignore the PA and remember that if you down a baddie, you get another swing).

Mind you, if you like half-orcs, then full orcs should be even better, because they are "even more stronger" , and their penalty in light makes them still better for damage and equal for to hit to half-orcs. Depends if the dm allows it, but they are ECL = 0.

 

[reanjr]

There should be at least a -4 to -6 penalty to Str and hit points should probably be halved or even quartered. Damage should likewise be halved or quartered, not just reduced by 1 or 2 points.

I disagree. A 5-point adjustment in an ability score is teh same as doubling/halfing the effect. Giving them a -4 to -6 would be making them half as strong as a human. Most of the penalty for size comes in on lifting/carrying as it should. A Halfling would probably be able to, on average, do more than half of what a human could due to economy of scale. The little thing's body is alot smaller, but most likely more muscular for its size. For most things that Strength affects (for instace Climb or Jump) they are going to be just almost as good as humans (they have shorter legs for jumping but would make up for it by their small size). Other things like attacking and damage are so abstract that you cannot apply strength in any real sense to them. In addition, the little guys are already using smaller weapons with less damage potential.

Id' say -2 is appropriate.

 

[Pax]

Halforcs also make decent rangers. And they CAN select Humans as a favored enemy, w/o beign evil (who says they even KNEW their human sperm-/ovum-donor? heh!).

And as battle Clerics ... well. No Wis penalty, but a STR boost? Just don't ask 'em to turn many undead, is all.

 

[Ssressen]

Half-Orcs

About a year and a half ago I played with some friends in a campaign where they all played half-orcs. (I gave the half-orcs a reduced Scent ability and a +2 bonus to intimidate).
One played a fighter, another played a ranger, and the third played a druid.
Mind you, It was their desicion to play half-orcs, and I have to say it was the most fun and interesting campaign I have have ever had. It gave a new meaning to ROLE-playing.

Before this camapaign my players did not even look at half-orcs as an option, but after this camapign they have become a viable race.
That's all I have to say.

 

[Coredump]

Well, I disagree with the initial analysis... and here is why

However, if you create characters with dice rolling, scores of 18 are not uncommon. Let's face it: if you're rolling dice to generate ability scores, it's highly likely that you're not just going to roll 4d6 six times. You're probably going to do that several times until you get a "decent" character -- and you're probably not cheating, either. Your DM is highly likely to be going along with you. For dice-rolled characters, scores of 18 are not all that uncommon. It's kind of expected, really. So getting an 18 Str score is really not all that special. And, while it's kind of nice to have a 20 Str, it doesn't mean as much under this system. It's not nearly as hard to get or as special.

Sorry, but your bias is showing. This fallacy is held by many of the "point buy is the best" proponents. Just because you prefer rolling, does *not* mean you want overly powerful characters. Rolling 4d6k3 is still *very* unlikely to produce an 18. Granted, probably more likely than a 25 point buy. But the same DM taht would use 25 pt, would only allow 3d6. Likewise, any DM that believes it is "kinda expectected" to have 'common 18's' would have allowed 36pt buy. (or more, who knows)

You can have high stat or low stat games, regardless of rolling/PB.

Now, I agree, the +2 Str is more important if you are playing a low stat game.

.

 

[Liquidsabre]

Halforcs also make decent rangers. And they CAN select Humans as a favored enemy, w/o beign evil (who says they even KNEW their human sperm-/ovum-donor? heh!).

3.0 though, 3.5 no longer has this restriction, so now Robin Hood CAN take human as favored enemy to help him rob the rich and feed the poor.

 

[bulletmeat]

I a recent game we used the stats for orcs/half-orcs from the PHB, and then replaced the traits w/ those found in the Warcraft RPG. +1 to att humans put fear back into the eyes of fellow players who P'd me off.

 

[Thanee]

Flipside: Large races would then have to get the opposite adjustments - +4 to +6 strength, double or quadruple hitpoints, double or quadruple damage.

Yes, of course. That would be highly reasonable, too.

Why would a greatsword do more than a little scratch (regardless of how strong the wielder is) to a colossal creature, for example?

They should have literally thousands of hit points, realistically!

But that wouldn't work, of course.

Anyways, it's not like I would want this change or anything, I just think it feels a bit wrong as it is.

Bye
Thanee