(troll) half-orcs and Intelligence

[S'mon]

I submit that the D&D Intelligence score rating does not adequately reflect the true Intelligence of half-orcs. Half-orcs have many other talents or "intelligences" that can and should be reflected in any discussion of their true Intelligence (such as 'kinesthetic' intelligence, 'intimidation' intelligence, 'breaking things' intelligence). Without fully allowing for the ways that half-orcs are differently intelligent, and acknowleding the racist bias of the D&D Intelligence scoring system against "humanoids" and towards elves, humans, dwarves and other "demi humans", no meaningful discussion of Intelligence can be made, and unwarranted racist claims that half-orcs are somehow "less intelligent" than the other PHB races will persist.



I feel better now...

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I submit half-orcs should not have a penalty to their Intelligence score, but should receive a bonus to their Stupidity score instead.

 

[Turjan]

Half-orcs have many other talents or "intelligences" that can and should be reflected in any discussion of their true Intelligence (such as 'kinesthetic' intelligence, 'intimidation' intelligence, 'breaking things' intelligence).

I agree that the orcs' 'breaking things' intelligence is woefully neglected in D&D. Then again, the true half-orc can 'fight the system' by following the sound advice from the Herobuilder's Guidebook and spend only 3 points on this highly unrepresentative "intelligence" attribute, which has no meaning for him/her, anyway. This way, the half-orc can fully ignore this unjust penalty .