Why are half-orcs so boring? (A little rantsy)

[MatthewJHanon]

So, I know this has probably been talked about before, but I’m wondering why half-orcs are so boring. I’m not talking about in terms of style or attitude or anything like that, I’m talking about racial traits. This is not about the stat imbalance (though for the record I dislike that also), I’m talking about all the other racial stuff they got.

Okay darkvision is nice, but orc blood? Is there a single magic item in the DMG that only works for orc? Bane against orcs I guess if you count that. There’s one in DoF, but you have to be missing an eye. And that’s really it. The other stuff in the traits is the stats, the base speed, medium size, auto language, and favored class, all of which I pretty much consider a push. (Yeah base 30 is better than 20, and barbarian is worse than any).

Compare that to say, halflings, who have +2 to four skills, +1 thrown weapons, and/ +1 to saving throws. Or dwarves Darkvision (about the only things half-orcs have got) bonuses on poison and magic saves, +1 attack orcs (and half-orcs thanks to orc blood) and goblinoids, +4 ac v. Giants, +2 to stone & metal skill checks. Plus, if I remember the 3.5 updates right, they get a bull rush/trip bonus, and weapon familiarity.

The point is that all these other races have stats that are interesting, while the half-orc, even if it were balanced (which I don’t think it is) does not have the range or variety of stats that the other races have.

I bring this up now, mainly because of 3.5. They’ve helped out half-elves (the other race I think need a little help in the boring respect), but from what I’ve heard (I don’t have it, so correct me if I’m wrong) they haven’t changed half-orcs at all. I’ve heard they haven’t even given the weapon familiarity for the double axe. If this is true, I think it’s completely ridiculous, they count as orcs, for everything, except the one thing beneficial thing that is actually in the core books. Also BESM released it’s SRD recently, and according to it’s point system the half-orc race is worth 1 point. Humans are 6 points, and every other race is 6 or more.

So I think I’ve finished the ranting part of this post. So here’s the questioning part. Can anybody defend the half-orc’s traits? Does anybody else think it’s a problem? Has anybody come up with ways to deal with it?

Personally I’ve given them a +2 to intimidate, and allowed them to take scent as a feet, but I’m not sure that’s quite enough (I’ve also changed favored class to fighter, but that is more of a campaign world thing).

What do you think?

 

[Gellion]

Because Andy Collins thinks Half-Orcs are only good at bashing stuff, and that is all they should be good at.

 

[astralpwka]

I wanted very badly for the half-orc to be able to use the orc double axe proficiently as a martial weapon... I must go on arguing with my group that its a great house rule, and no orc would be caught without it...

 

[Zweischneid]

Because Andy Collins thinks Half-Orcs are only good at bashing stuff, and that is all they should be good at

This is soooooo not true!

Half-Orcs are also great at slashing stuff!

 

[Zerth]

Half-orcs never get nothing because they are dumb and ugly.

But they are great at piercing stuff, too!

 

[Marimmar]

<i> Gravock no need for intimidate - Gravock <b>SMASH</b> all who not afraid of orc fighting prowess! </i>

To be honest, who needs 'intimidate' if all they do is to threaten to kill you if you don't help them. Maybe it's just me but I'd help any 1/2Orc Brb along, no matter how low his charisma might be.

BTW they are also good at cleaving stuff.

~Marimmar

 

[I'm A Banana]

Compare that to say, halflings, who have +2 to four skills, +1 thrown weapons, and/ +1 to saving throws.

It's probably more useful if you take all the features together rather than itemizing them.

The +1 to thrown weapons merely negates the penalty given to them by a -1 to hit with....pretty much anything they don't shoot a bow at. (the Strength penalty)

Compare that with a half-orc's effective +1 vs. everything they don't shoot a bow at.
(the Strength bonus)

I pretty much agree that half-orcs could use some jazzing up. But so could half-elves. Which is why I've just banned them both and have allowed PC's to play full orcs. Suckas.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Halflings do also gain a +1 size bonus to attack und armor class. The bonus to attacks already offsets the strength penalty (except the penalty on damage rollls), so the +1 to thrown weapons is still an extra bonus.

Mustrum Ridcully

 

[I'm A Banana]

I excluded the size bonus because they cancel each other out. A halfling doesn't get that +1 vs. all enemies, just against ones that are bigger than it, and it turns into negatives against smaller things. If you're playing a campaign where small things are rare, then the +1 comes in handy. Otherwise, it doesn't.

The size bonus is circumstantial with regards to the DM. The bonus to hit with thrown weapons really isn't.

 

[nsruf]

I excluded the size bonus because they cancel each other out. A halfling doesn't get that +1 vs. all enemies, just against ones that are bigger than it, and it turns into negatives against smaller things.

I don't follow your logic. Compared to his human comrades, a halfling always has a +1 to hit against any creature because of size.

And I agree that half-orcs could use some minor abilities to make them more interesting. I don't think they are too weak, but all the other races get a +1 here and a +2 there for enhanced flavor.