What's the deal with half-orcs?

[LazerPointer]

So what's the deal with half orcs? I don't much care for the idea, myself. Seems like it's something they built into the system primarily to let players build better barbarians.

How many use them in your campaigns?

 

[Zappo]

I use them. They can fit the niche of the "big dumb brute" character, which is fairly handy, or provide another "outsider"-style character for the deep roleplayer, which can be handy too.

 

[Tonguez]

IMC I use Half-Orcs (name changed) but not Orcs. Half-Orcs are considered 'human' but are through backs to a primitive form (IC tainted by the god of ugly creatures) and most are killed at birth.

IMHO Half-Orcs are the core rules allowance for players who want to play 'monster races', alien to mainstream society

 

[Dark Jezter]

I don't see any problem with half-orcs, and don't place any restrictions on them in my campaign.

 

[Chronosome]

No prob with 'em. Not my usual choice, but it's good they're there.

 

[Storminator]

Can't beat a half-orc and half-elf half brothers!

PS

 

[francisca]

So what's the deal with half orcs? I don't much care for the idea, myself. Seems like it's something they built into the system primarily to let players build better barbarians.

How many use them in your campaigns?

Half-Orcs were part of D&D before Barbarians were, so at least initially, they didn't exist to pump the barbie (so to speak).

I would hazard to guess they were inspired by Tolkien's Half-Orcs, which were humans cross bred with Orcs and/or Uruk-Hai by Saruman (source: A Tolkien Bestiary, by David Day).

And yes, I use them.

 

[Drakmar]

The main use of the Half races becomes apparent when your game includes racial bigotry. Frequently this can allow for some interesting roleplaying sessions. In a campaign I am playing in, 100 years ago a massive orcish invasion was barely pushed back. As such, many people don't trust half-orcs. In the game, half-orcs are charged more for stuff, room, food, and generally distrusted. In the same game though, Half-elves have absolutely no bias. This is because the Elves are a declining race and consider any child of elven descent a blessing. Plus.. they are pretty.

*note, I am not condoning racial bigotry.

 

[Torm]

In my new campaign world of Roena, which I will be introducing to a new group of 1st level characters in just about 12 hours , I decided that some Orcs had somewhat integrated into society, although they and those who consort with them and their offspring are treated by many as undesirables.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Personally I thought it was the other way around - they introduced the Barbarian to give the half-orc something more suitable for them. Before the Barbarian class, nobody I knew played a half-orc.