Orcs preview

[Incenjucar]

Orcs aren't much of a threat if you assume 90% of their forces are minions.

Even the level 9 minions die with a single shot.

Actually, considering they're so heavily melee-focused, they're perfectly designed for archers (cursed elves) to slaughter.

 

[Ten]

Dude, commoners are the scariest thing a bloodrager can face!! Being minions themselves, commoners can't be bloodied, and so the bloodrager doesn't get his power.

Power to the common man!!

The party begins to set camp as the sun dips below the horizon, casting an appropriately blood-tinged hue to the sky. Two of their members lay unconscious, the three remaining awake ones don't appear to have fared much better. Still jumpy, the rogue turns to the warlord and solemnly comments to the warlock "Those orcs...they are just too powerful for us! Those big ones seemed to grow stronger as we grew weaker. Damn the bounty, our hides are not worth it!".

The warlord scratches his chin before replying "No, I believe I have a plan that I believe can take them down. Tomorrow at dawn we need to return to town."

The rogue, shocked that he could have come up with something so quickly wonders out loud "What in the world are you thinking?! There is nothing there that could help us against those orcs!"

"Wrong! They have exactly what we need!"

"Which is...?"

"Commoners. Hundreds of them."

 

[Korgoth]

They certainly did a good job of allowing heroes to plow through 1,000 orcs at a time (minions) without making them pushovers.

I also do like the fact that they supply you with enough ready-made orcs to cover all the bases.

Also, I like the lore section. Cribbed from the WHFRP Bestiary? A good idea in any case.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I like the Orc's Warrior Surge alot. It really fits with my vision of HP, I can just imagine a Orc after being bloodied attacking a target and becoming more amped up and shrugging off more of its pain because of witnessing the carnage he has done onto the opponent.

 

[hong]

I'll probably allow orc bloodragers to heal on dropping a foe, in addition to on hitting a bloodied foe.

 

[Boarstorm]

I'll probably allow orc bloodragers to heal on dropping a foe, in addition to on hitting a bloodied foe.

OMG, you're playing D&D wrong!

I kid, I kid...

 

[MindWanderer]

I'm not too crazy about the fact that the skirmisher, which is supposedly a ranged specialist, is better in melee than at range (better attack bonus, damage, and can use Warrior's Surge).

 

[Kordeth]

I'm not too crazy about the fact that the skirmisher, which is supposedly a ranged specialist, is better in melee than at range (better attack bonus, damage, and can use Warrior's Surge).

Skirmishers aren't ranged specialists, artillery are ranged specialists. Skirmishers are a bit like the monster equivalent of strikers--they skulk around the edges of the fight and pick off targets of opportunity, and there's nothing about that role that requires the monster be a ranged fighter.

 

[Alkiera]

I'm not too crazy about the fact that the skirmisher, which is supposedly a ranged specialist, is better in melee than at range (better attack bonus, damage, and can use Warrior's Surge).

Yeah, but it's an orc. Big STR, lots of sound and fury, not so much on the tactical 'stand here and throw stuff'.

Also, note the 'Killer's Eye' power... if target is inside 25', cover and concealment are ignored by his ranged attacks. He has face-seeking hand-axes.

Player> I peek around the corner to see where the orc is.
GM> *rolls die* You catch axe with your face! Take 6 damage.
Player> But I was hiding around the corner?!
GM> Orc has Killer Eye, you cannot hide from the face-seeking handaxe!

 

[Dausuul]

"Ranged specialist" is relative.

Love the new orcs. The bloodrager especially is going to be a vicious combatant. Free attack on you any time you hit him... heh.