Half Orcs

[kayn99]

So I was scouring my material I have at home for additional stuff on Half Orcs. I have a player looking to play one and wanted to see what they have out there for it. I know there is some sub levels in the "Races of Destiny" and some basics in the "Unearthed Arcana." Other than those two sources does anyone know of any other places for more information on them?

In addition does anyone have any suggestions to make them a little kinder for players to play. They seem a little lack luster as a race?

Did this race make it to the 4th edition? They have been with the game since the advance game.

Kayn

 

[Darklone]

Look for crystalkeep, it should be there.

Frankdm and others posted some real funny and interesting houserules for half-orcs here some years ago. Someone with search?

 

[Gloombunny]

Half-orcs and half-elves are both kinda anemic. One GM I know gives them both the bonus skill point that humans get, so they're only giving up a feat in exchange for the racial stuff. It's not a perfect fix, but it has the advantage of being very quick and easy to apply.

 

[Thurbane]

It's a common houserule to drop either the INT or CHA penalty for 1/2 Orcs.

 

[frankthedm]

Frankdm and others posted some real funny and interesting houserules for half-orcs here some years ago. Someone with search?

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=183823

So to me, its not that the stat bonuses of the half-orc hurt non fighter classes, its just that they have no more bonuses. Dwarves get +2 to poison saves and the BIG one in my mind, +2 to all spells and SLA. That's about as good as a +2 to will saves right there, which is a fighter's achilles heel...and of course the bonus to reflex saves, which are also weak for a fighter. A half-orc only gets the +2 str, that's it. Its just not enough in my mind.

How about:

Empty headed: Half orcs have a +2 bonus against mind affecting spells and effects.

Abused: Can Take Die Hard feat without meeting prerequisite.

Kinslayer: +1 to hit orcs in melee

-These are human raised traits-

Labourer +50% carring capacity

Thrown down the well and came right back: +2 to swim and climb checks.

-These are orc raised traits-

Orcish leader: +2 to Leadership score if cohort and at least 50% of followers have orc blood.

Beast rider +2 to ride checks and handle animal on dire wolves [or other campaign specific orcish mount].

Nobody's bitch: +4 to on checks to escape grapple and break pins.

The pretty face: +3 on diplomacy checks with orcs, gnolls, gobliniods, minotaurs and non-good giants.

 

[Whimsical]

My house rule:
Half-Orcs gain a +2 racial bonus on Intimidate, and the Toughness feat as a bonus feat.

 

[Twowolves]

Look for Heroes of High Favor: Half-Orcs. It's a small, digest sized book packed full of both fluff and crunchy ideas.