What's the draw of half-orcs?

[Dragonhelm]

I've gamed since 2nd edition, and throughout all the years, I never understood the appeal of half-orcs. Granted, they weren't a playable race back in those days and the artwork from 1e generally sucked, in my opinion. So it's possible that my introduction to them is clouding my judgment.

The 4th edition orc has some of the best art I've seen for them, yet I cannot see why a person would want to roleplay one.

Is it the idea of an ugly monstrous/bestial humanoid? There are plenty of those to go around, such as half-ogres.

Is it nostalgia? I can definitely understand this, but what would be the draw for those who have never played one before? Does this somehow relate to Tolkien in some way?

So help a guy out here. From the standpoint of roleplaying the fluff side of half-orcs, what is the draw? Why should I choose to play a half-orc over other races?

 

[blargney the second]

The only half-orc I've played so far is in 3.5, for the Pathfinder Society. I've played him about 7-8 times so far, and it's been a hoot. Here are some of the things I've enjoyed:

1) High strength. (Honestly, this was the initial draw - I felt like smacking stuff hard.)
2) Low intelligence and charisma can be fun to play. Mine's kind of a buffoon.
3) I got to paint a green mini. He's like a mini-Hulk with a big-ass axe.
-blarg

 

[Wormwood]

Some folks like playing ugly. Or outsiders. Or savages. Or big.

Personally, I gravitate towards races that are unconventional and that appear 'unattractive' by conventional cosmetic standards. Tieflings, half-orcs, githanki, etc.

And yes, I roll Horde.

 

[Bumbles]

Half-Orcs represent the outcast, the brute...who may be that through and through, or may have a heart of gold. Sure, this can also apply to Half-elves, it can even be done within a race, but perhaps you just want to do it with a Half-Orc.

However, I think one problem with the question you asked is the implication that you're choosing one race over the others, as if there was something exclusive to be found in one.

This may be so, in some cases, but it doesn't have to be the basis of your choice.

 

[lutecius]

That's an easy one. They're big and strong. Same draw as the barbarian, just one step further.

Is it the idea of an ugly monstrous/bestial humanoid? There are plenty of those to go around, such as half-ogres.

Had another brutish but not too ugly race been introduced in 1e I'm sure it would have been more popular than half-orc.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Ever since I saw this box

And made a half-orc fighter-assassin (looking like that, IIRC you are not allowed to wear chain but the 1E PHB is so poorly laid out we didn't figure that to much latter) I am drawn to half-orcs.

 

[Leatherhead]

Probably similar to the reason people want to play half-elves. They wish to be not quite human. The half-orc represent the monstrous/evil side and the half-elf represents the fantastic/good side.

There is also some kind of savage joy from simply going forth and smashing things.

Oh, and the other "half-" races aren't available in any PHB that I know of.

 

[Starbuck_II]

Is it the idea of an ugly monstrous/bestial humanoid? There are plenty of those to go around, such as half-ogres.

Because Playing a 1/2 Ogre is either
1) unbalanced (too little or too much LA in 3.5),
2) bad stat total adjustment (in 2nd),
3) DMs made playing it too hard (people are more likely to scalp/chase out of town a 1/2 ogre than a 1/2 orc).

1/2 Orc can have the same prejudice, but harder to justify as they aren't monstrous.

 

[Animus]

Why play a half-orc? Cause they're fun! Seriously though, two of my favorite characters that I have played are half-orcs. Both were in 3.5, one a cleric/barbarian of Kord and the other a paladin of Heironeous. The concept of playing the slightly monstrous outcast with morals appeals to me. I love the roleplay opportunities playing a half-orc presents. That's just me, though. And like the others said, playing a half-orc can be a good excuse to play a crass, stupid buffon with muscles .

 

[rgard]

Is it nostalgia? I can definitely understand this, but what would be the draw for those who have never played one before? Does this somehow relate to Tolkien in some way?

Yep, some Tolkien nostalgia:

"'Finally, there is a cogent point, though horrible to relate. It became clear in time that undoubted men could under the domination of Morgoth or his agents in a few generations be reduced almost to the Orc-level of mind and habits; and then they would or could be made to mate with Orcs producing new breeds, often larger and more cunning. There is no doubt that long afterwards, in the Third Age, Saruman rediscovered this, or learned of it in lore, and in his lust for mastery committed this, his wickedest deed: the interbreeding of Orcs and Men, producing both Man-orcs large and cunning, and Orc-men treacherous and vile.'

From: A relevant passage in Morgoth's Ring (also part of Tolkien's hitherto unpublished writings) states that some Orcs at least were derived from Mannish stock."

I recalled something about man-orcs and I got the above from:

Uruk-hai - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks,
Rich