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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tonguez" data-source="post: 7979247" data-attributes="member: 1125">One of the beliefs of 18th century Social Darwinisn that lead to Blumenbach et al to develop the idea of Human Races was that European Caucasoids were the epitomy of Human development and that other “races” were spiritually and physically devolved forms of that Ideal. I dont know if Tolkien was applying that beleif when he made the Orcs are devolved form of Elf, but it certainly doesnt help the argument either. Anyway because I dont like DnD alignment or humanoids being shoe horned I did sit to ponder on Orcs being both stronger than and equally as intelligent as humans yet seemingly unable to dominate human groups. Then I read a theory that the reason why Neanderthals were unable to compete with Homo Sapiens was due to having less developed social skills - Neanderthals used Charisma as their dump stat.Anyway that provided a solution - Orcs are naturally aggressive and lacking in the inclination to form social bonds that dont involve intimidation and fear. Thats why they remain chaotic and are so readily dominated by Dark Lords and Orc bosses. Aggression and intimidation is the only way Orcs can interact (their brains are wired that way) and even the raising of whelps tends to be brutal. Orcs can try to establish large tribes and even settlements, but they tend to quickly disolved amidst petty squabbles, feuds and infighting.The other trait I relied upon to differentiate Orcs from Humans was their hide - Orcs are tough, they have thick hides which is great for combat but also means that Orc fingers lack the tactile sensitivity of humans and other races and thus Orcs have reduced fine dexterity needed for crafting intricate mechanisms. In other words Orcs can hammer out crude blades, but cant do needlework or riveting to make good armour or other precision tools.</blockquote>

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