How have you made ogres more interesting?

[Land Outcast]

Then in their hubris they made war on the heavens and were cursed by the gods; their children, while still mighty in form, slowly lost their minds more and more over quick generations, becoming the dull brutes we know today.

Ohooo like the titans against Mt. Olympus?

 

[phindar]

As sacrilegious as it sounds (or for that matter, "sacrilicious"), I've always liked the Warhammer ogres. They're more human-looking, but to me, this makes them scarier. The D&D ogres, and particularly one of the earlier D&D Mini ogres, are just too cartoony looking. Though, now that I think about it, those huge muppets that used to sing in the background of the muppet show were pretty terrifying.

Anyway, here's couple of links to the GM artwork.

http://uk.games-workshop.com/ogrekingdoms/artwork/1/

http://uk.games-workshop.com/download/popup.htm?/ogrekingdoms/artwork/images/02.jpg

I also prefer GW orcs and LOTR orcs-- D&D orcs look too much like gorillas in the new plastic minis, which is fine as those along with some Gorilla Grodd heroclix are the basis of my Planet of the Apes game I someday hope to run. I'm playing a half-orc now and I'm using Lurtz from a LOTR hex-based clickey game, I hacked him off and stuck him on a 1" circular base, which looks good. He's about half a head taller than the D&D minis, but that works for the character.

 

[shilsen]

Gave them levels and Awesome Blow.

Once an ogre has smacked a PC ten feet across a room, it doesn't need to get more interesting.

 

[WhimsyTheFae]

yep, that's a nice way to use 'em. Also having them blinded (blindfolded or eyeless) by goblins and used as vicious warmounts.

BTW: I hate the -D&D- troll's description.

Yeah, I call them trolls in my worlds and give them a bit more credit on the intelligence side. My wife absolutely hates the "drippy nose trolls" of D&D.

 

[Rothe]

Don't spice them up much, more of a take on their origins. Ogres IMC are mutant orcs, about 1 in 100 orcs grow to be an ogre. They start off as normal orcs but quickly their strength and dim-wittedness flag them as potential ogres. Around orc puberty (9) they really start to grow to full ogre height. There are a lot of politics (or what passes for such) in orc tribes around getting the ogres to be your friend and thus help you become leader of the tribe (by killing rivals). Ogres IMC are also rather dim and feel most comfortable when being given orders, especially those orders that involve killing and destruction.

Ogres are thus an orc tribes precious strategic resource, and helps them hold there own against other tribes and humanoids.

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

What have you done to make ogres more interesting (and perhaps more mythic) in your campaign?

Ogres are the degenerate descendants of the giants who remained in the decrepit heart of their ancient empire even as it slowly crumbled and collapsed. Becoming steadily more depraved and more divided from their proud giant heritage. True Giants (who are mostly isolationists now and don't like to be bothered) hate them with a fervor to match the most vicious zealot and kill them on sight.

 

[Black_Kaioshin]

Actually, the Ogres in my campaign are very much different than the standard. My campaign is based on a war between the Light and the Dark. There is a Light World and a Dark World. In the Light World, we have the standard races. In the Dark World, we have the Ogres. The standard Ogre is simply one who has been stranded in the Light World for too long. The light twisted and mutated them. In the Dark World, the Ogres are smaller, much more physically attractive, and have blue skin. In addition, an Ogres power is directly related to its rank. You see, the Ogre have a complex ranking and nobility system. The deformed, standard Ogre is called a Drone; they have the least power and intellegence. The whole of the Dark World is ruled by the Ogre Court. At the top are 9 Ogre Princes, who are based loosely off of the 9 Lords of Hell. These Ogres are practically demigods when it comes to power and influence.

 

[Sejs]

Ohooo like the titans against Mt. Olympus?

Heh, no, the Ogreomachy would be the other way around then, with the ... ogres winning, and then cursing the gods. Or locking them away.. or something.

The two basic tenets of greek theogony are:
1) If you're a dick, you will be usurped by your kids. The younger generation always wins.
2) Don't screw with the Hecatronchires because it'll come back to bite you in the ass.

 

[Tonguez]

The two basic tenets of greek theogony are:
1) If you're a dick, you will be usurped by your kids.

or 1) If you've a dick, you're going to lose it

 

[Sejs]

or 1) If you've a dick, you're going to lose it

Oh yeah, and

3) It's perfectly okay to boff your sister.