Orcs used to be Lawful Evil

[dead]

Does anyone remember that orcs in 1E and 2E used to be "lawful evil". They used to march in regimented order, barking military drills, and wearing grim expressions under their cold iron helms.

Now they are "chaotic". They are a wild horde of rampaging barbarians. Now, I can understand from a game mechanics point-of-view why WotC made them CE -- they wanted the half-orc to have a "favoured" class (or vice versa).

There are a couple of other discrepancies in 3E that don't agree with previous editions. For example, halflings now look like kender. In the past they wore no shoes on their hairy little feet. They had one hand tucked into their vest while the other hand held a pipe of tabacco. Yes, yes, too close to the hobbit™ you say -- and I'm sure this is why they changed it.

So what's the point of this thread? Well, I'm just wondering if any old-school players have gotten a little irritated by small changes like this? Where is the line that you draw between respecting "tradition" and making changes that are "convienient" to the new rules/new "look".

I know, I know, you can change the rules to whatever you want them to be. But should WotC be more careful when it "updates" the basic content of D&D to a new edition?

 

[WayneLigon]

Nope; I liked the idea of change. I'd have gone even further, myself. There is no 'tradition' there to respect.

 

[the Jester]

I find the dismissive attitude towards continuity that 3e has to be very annoying.

However, I have a LE orcish subrace imc; I have the traditional halflings that are more hobbit-like as well as the more modern halflings. And so on. It's all about the customization.

 

[MerricB]

Keep on the Borderlands is generally regarded as one of the classic introductions to D&D. Guess what alignment orcs are in it?

Chaotic.

Cheers!

 

[LoneWolf23]

If you want to get away from the "Chaotic, Savage Barbaric Orc" concept, just make them Lawful Evil, change their Favored Class from Barbarian to Fighter, and make them more organized...

 

[Dogbrain]

Keep on the Borderlands is generally regarded as one of the classic introductions to D&D. Guess what alignment orcs are in it?

Chaotic.

It was written during the simpleminded era of "Chaos = evil" and "Law = good".

 

[MerricB]

It was written during the simpleminded era of "Chaos = evil" and "Law = good".

I know, but alignment is a state of mind, anyway.

I think orcs generally are regarded as "Evil" by most DMs, who don't even notice the "Chaotic/Lawful" part.

Cheers!

 

[Cerubus Dark]

If you want to get away from the "Chaotic, Savage Barbaric Orc" concept, just make them Lawful Evil, change their Favored Class from Barbarian to Fighter, and make them more organized...

Why not make them hob-goblins then?

 

[Morpheus]

Keep on the Borderlands is generally regarded as one of the classic introductions to D&D. Guess what alignment orcs are in it?

Chaotic.

Cheers!

That's because there were only three alignments-Lawful, Neutral and Chaotic. Lawful was good; Neutral was, well, neutral; and Chaotic was evil. This is no help. I think it all comes down to a matter of taste-do you want your orcs regimented or horde-like?

 

[ph0rk]

they seem relatively minor issues to me, especially considering how the rulebooks are more or less setting-free. (and the dmg has rules for making new ones.)

I'd imagine anyone who cared enough to be upset over the slight flavor changes from edition to edition could just make changes for their particular game; it ain't like the core books are the gospel or anything.