Removing The Stat Penaly on Volo's Guide Orcs

[Ketser]

I tend to use in my games more Warcraft and Elder Scrolls based Orcs than the standard D&D ones (i know that in both franchises the orcs started off as closer to classic ones, but i prefer the more known and evolved versions) and was actually pretty disappointed when i read about them having a -2 penalty to int. Since i also feel that stat penalties are a step backwards, i started thinking what would happen if i would just decide to remove the penalty.

It will be a bit time until i get a copy of Volo's Guide to monster so i'm not having a full knowledge of their racials. I remember mentions of the aggressive trait and powerful build, also +2 str. So they are already losing a stat point even without the penalty. Also combat wise they aren't gaining much from int (unless they are wizards, arcane tricksters or eldritch knights). Having possibly better int checks is not a problem for me

So would it be a reasoinable step or am i better off either using the half-orc stats for full orcs or homebrewinga better fitting version for me?

 

[MonsterEnvy]

They have +1 con as well. I don't think anyone will complain if you want to take the -2 int off them. They are still pretty good however.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

I really urge you to reconsider before doing this. The universe is not yet ready for such intelligent orcs.

 

[Gonat]

Or cap the Int at 18 (20-2) but do not give an actual stat malus.
Those stats and modifiers are for player's characters, they are exceptional individuals of the chosen race. You have simply to take into consideration the malus when you create orc npc

 

[flametitan]

It's there literally for flavour/encouraging you to play to type (even if I think those could be handled in ways that don't use penalties)

Aggressive and Powerful build are not going to break the game if you have smart orcs, while kobolds are just built weirdly. I'd rebuild the kobold entirely, if I had the patience.

 

[Jester David]

If you're worried about balance, just use half-orcs.

Or replace the penalty with a cap. No orc character can have an Int higher than, oh, say 13.

 

[pukunui]

FWIW: Someone asked Mearls about this on Twitter, and his response was that the penalty "captures their flavor vs. other races, distinguishes from half-orcs ..." (source).

Personally, I am not bothered by the -2 penalty to Intelligence. What does bother me, albeit only a little bit, is the fact that orcs don't have the "orcish" traits that half-orcs have, namely Savage Attacker and Relentless Endurance. The latter, at least, stems from an ability that orcs had during the playtest.

 

[jaelis]

Ditch the penalty, and give all the other races an extra +2 Int stat bump.

 

[dropbear8mybaby]

If anything, I think it needs to have the penalty removed for it to come up to par with other races. Powerful Build really isn't that special unless you're using the Variant Encumbrance rules and even then, it's virtually irrelevant. Free Intimidation is mostly pointless. +2 to Strength, +1 to Constitution is nice, as is Darkvision, but even then the entirety of the racial balance hinges on the power of the Aggressive ability which given the limitation of having to move towards an enemy, isn't as powerful as you might think. For a monster, it's great, because they're meant to charge in and die, but for a PC it's only good as long as you're winning.

So while taken as a whole it's an OK race, it is by no means overpowered. You could easily get rid of the Intelligence penalty and still add something on top of it, and it'd still remain within the bounds of reasonability.

 

[bedir than]

If anything, I think it needs to have the penalty removed for it to come up to par with other races. Powerful Build really isn't that special unless you're using the Variant Encumbrance rules and even then, it's virtually irrelevant. Free Intimidation is mostly pointless. +2 to Strength, +1 to Constitution is nice, as is Darkvision, but even then the entirety of the racial balance hinges on the power of the Aggressive ability which given the limitation of having to move towards an enemy, isn't as powerful as you might think. For a monster, it's great, because they're meant to charge in and die, but for a PC it's only good as long as you're winning.

So while taken as a whole it's an OK race, it is by no means overpowered. You could easily get rid of the Intelligence penalty and still add something on top of it, and it'd still remain within the bounds of reasonability.

I'm disappointed it didn't have one of Relentless Endurance or Savage Attack.