Why no Half-elf/Half-orcs?

[Dannyalcatraz]

As I've stated in other similar threads, if as implied by the existence of half-elves and half-orcs, D&D genetics roughly follows the same rules as RW genetics, you would expect an orc-elf hybrid 25% of the time if half-elves and half-orcs can interbreed with each other.

Of course, there is also RW precedent for such a cross to be sterile or even non-viable & stillborn.

More seriously, I'm not sure why everybody assumes half-orcs are the result of rape. Orcs in Eberron are a perfect example of socially acceptable orcs.

As I recall, that dates back to the dawn of D&D, when almost all Orcs were evil destructive barbarians by definition, making a positive, "normal" background for a Half-Orc nearly impossible.

Civilized Orcs are relatively new to D&D.

 

[Zurai]

Basically because Tolkien never wrote about one existing.

Orcs ARE elves in Middle-Earth. Morgoth, the Great Enemy, turned a few hundred elves from the Valar and slowly tortured and mutilated them until they went crazy. The resulting degenerates are the Orcs of Tolkein, as written explicitly in the Silmarillion.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Bastards & Bloodlines has a Half-Elf template.

 

[Drowbane]

Green Ronin's Advanced Bestiary has a "Half-Drow" template... toss that on an Orc and there you go.

~~edit~~

Dorc, 1st level Warrior
Medium Humanoid (Drow, Elf, Orc)
HD 1d8 (4hp) Initiative +1 Speed 30ft
AC 14 (+3 studded leather, +1 dex)
BAB / Grapple +1 / +4
Attack: Falchion +4 melee (2d4+4/18-20) or javelin +1 ranged (1d6+3)
Special Attacks: Spell-like Abilities - 1/day; dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire (CL 1)
Special Qualities: Darkvision 80ft, drow blood, immunity to sleep, light sensitivity, spell resistance 10, Will save bonus (+1 vs spells & sla)
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +1, Will -2
Abilities: Str 17, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 7, Cha 6
Skills: listen +2, search +1, spot +2
Feats: alertness
LA: +2

 

[Pale Master]

Several things about D&D crossbreeding bother me. For instance, humans can apparently breed with elves, orcs, giants, ogres, trolls, demons, angels, fire elemental creatures, dragons, farspawned, and fey...

...but not dwarves, gnomes, or halflings. That would just be silly.

Plus, I've always thought that half-elves and half-orcs should be sterile. That solves your Punnett square problems when half-breeds breed with other half-breeeds. However, this would have game world implications, because the half-elves (and, heck, maybe the half-orcs too - to each his own) would be highly valued as courtesans and concubines because of their infertility.

 

[BabbageCliologic]

If Elves can breed with Humans, and Orcs can breed with Humans then why not Elves and Orcs? Why no Elveorcs or Orcelves? I should think an Orc/Drow combination quite potent.

I made a PC who's grandparents on one side were half-orcs and on the other were half-elves. That made him 1/8th orc, 1/8th elf and 3/4 human.

I'm sure that it's possible to do a parent half-orc/half-elf mix, where you get 1/4 orc, 1/4 elf, 1/2 human mix.

Using AnimeD20, it's possible to build whatever orc-elf combo you want.

/BC

 

[Kahuna Burger]

As I recall, that dates back to the dawn of D&D, when almost all Orcs were evil destructive barbarians by definition, making a positive, "normal" background for a Half-Orc nearly impossible.

Civilized Orcs are relatively new to D&D.

Who said anything about normal or (socially) positive? I'm not suggesting that any significant portion of half orcs are born of loving marriages. But if orcs have a society, and if they interact with humans in any way except killing each other (and evil humans using orcish warbands to help them attack other humans is, one could say, supported in "the literature") then there is oppertunity for half-orcs of varied backstories.

 

[Umbran]

As I've stated in other similar threads, if as implied by the existence of half-elves and half-orcs, D&D genetics roughly follows the same rules as RW genetics, you would expect an orc-elf hybrid 25% of the time if half-elves and half-orcs can interbreed with each other.

Only if "elf", "orc" and "human" are each a single gene. The Half-elf would be EH, the Half-orc would be OH, and you have four possible interbreedings - EH, HH, OH, and EO, with equal probability.

But really, "efishness" and "orcitude" would each be a whole collection of genes, and a cross-breed would have, on average, 50% of the genes from the human grandparents, 25% from the orc grandparent, and 25% from the elf grandparent.

 

[Klaus]

If Elves can breed with Humans, and Orcs can breed with Humans then why not Elves and Orcs? Why no Elveorcs or Orcelves? I should think an Orc/Drow combination quite potent.

Because you're not using Dog Soul's excelent product "Races of Consequence".

Half-elf/Half-Orc, Human/Dwarf, Half-orc/Halfling... Every core race combo is represented.

 

[BabbageCliologic]

Because you're not using Dog Soul's excelent product "Races of Consequence".

Half-elf/Half-Orc, Human/Dwarf, Half-orc/Halfling... Every core race combo is represented.

I may have to check out Races of Consequence. At $6.95, that's not too bad.

/BC