Racial Templates: Orcs

Racial Templates: Orcs

Orcs are commonly used barbaric bad guys. Big, strong, brutal, numerous, fecund, they plague the lands, and sometimes even gather armies big enough to conquer kingdoms. In some worlds they are more or less civilized honourable warriors.

ORC [-30] (Monster Manual, page 203)

Attributes: ST+2 [20]; IQ-1 [-20].

Advantages: DR 2 (Partial, Skull, -70%; Tough Skin, -40%) [2]; Infravision [10]; Rapid Healing [5]; Reduced Consumption 1 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [1]; Striking ST 1 [5].

Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8]; Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings) [-15]; Short Lifespan 1 [-10]; Social Stigma (Savage) [-10].

Features: Night Vision 4.

Knowing Your Own Strength [-34] Replace Striking ST 1 [5] with Striking ST 1 [1]

The common orc is strong, not very bright, and is sensitive to light.

FROSTBLOOD ORC [-19] (Dragon Magic, page 10)

Attributes: ST+2 [20]; IQ-1 [-20].

Secondary Characteristics: FP +2 [6].

Advantages: DR 2 (Partial, Skull, -70%; Tough Skin, -40%) [2]; Infravision [10]; Rapid Healing [5]; Reduced Consumption 1 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [1]; Striking ST 1 [5].

    Cold Resistance [35]: DR 10 (Includes Eyes, +10%; Includes Internal, +20%; Limited, Cold, -40%; Tough Skin, -40%) [25] + Immunity to Noxious Cold Effects [10].

Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8]; Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings) [-15]; Short Lifespan 1 [-10]; Social Stigma (Savage) [-10]; Vulnerability (Fire, x2) [-30].

Knowing Your Own Strength [-23] Replace Striking ST 1 [5] with Striking ST 1 [1]

The frostblood orcs possess some white dragon blood in their bodies. They are resistant to cold, but vulnerable to fire.

AQUATIC ORC [-8] (Unearthed Arcana, page 8)

Attributes: ST+2 [20]; IQ-1 [-20].

Advantages: Amphibious [10]; DR 2 (Partial, Skull, -70%; Tough Skin, -40%) [2]; Infravision [10]; Rapid Healing [5]; Reduced Consumption 1 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [1]; Pressure Support 2 [10]; Speak Underwater [5]; Striking ST 1 [5]; Temperature Tolerance 2 (Cold) [2].

Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8]; Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings) [-15]; Short Lifespan 1 [-10]; Social Stigma (Savage) [-10]; Weakness (Immersion in fresh water, 1d per 30 minutes) [-5].

Features: Doesn’t Breathe (Gills).

Knowing Your Own Strength [-12] Replace Striking ST 1 [5] with Striking ST 1 [1]

Orcs, just like the other common races, got their share of environmental subraces in Unearthed Arcana, and again, they are not very interesting.

ARCTIC ORC [-29] (Unearthed Arcana, page 10)

Attributes: ST+2 [20]; IQ-1 [-20].

Advantages: DR 2 (Partial, Skull, -70%; Tough Skin, -40%) [2]; Infravision [10]; Rapid Healing [5]; Reduced Consumption 1 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [1]; Striking ST 1 [5]; Temperature Tolerance 1 (Cold) [1].

Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8]; Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings) [-15]; Short Lifespan 1 [-10]; Social Stigma (Savage) [-10].

Knowing Your Own Strength [-33] Replace Striking ST 1 [5] with Striking ST 1 [1]

DESERT ORC [-27] (Unearthed Arcana, page 13)

Attributes: ST+2 [20]; IQ-1 [-20].

Secondary Characteristics: FP +2 [6].

Advantages: DR 2 (Partial, Skull, -70%; Tough Skin, -40%) [2]; Night Vision 5 [5]; Rapid Healing [5]; Reduced Consumption 1 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [1]; Striking ST 1 [5]; Temperature Tolerance 2 (Hot) [2].

Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8]; Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings) [-15]; Short Lifespan 1 [-10]; Social Stigma (Savage) [-10].

Knowing Your Own Strength [-31] Replace Striking ST 1 [5] with Striking ST 1 [1]

JUNGLE ORC [-30] (Unearthed Arcana, page 15)

Attributes: ST+2 [20]; IQ-1 [-20].

Advantages: DR 2 (Partial, Skull, -70%; Tough Skin, -40%) [2]; Night Vision 5 [5]; Rapid Healing [5]; Reduced Consumption 1 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [1]; Striking ST 1 [5]; Survivor 1 [5].

Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8]; Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings) [-15]; Short Lifespan 1 [-10]; Social Stigma (Savage) [-10].

Knowing Your Own Strength [-34] Replace Striking ST 1 [5] with Striking ST 1 [1]

WATER ORC [-18] (Unearthed Arcana, page 18)

Attributes: ST+2 [20]; IQ-1 [-20]; HT+1 [10].

Advantages: DR 2 (Partial, Skull, -70%; Tough Skin, -40%) [2]; Doesn’t Eat or Drink (Water Only, -50%) [5]; Infravision [10]; Rapid Healing [5]; Reduced Consumption 1 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [1]; Striking ST 1 [5].

Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8]; Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings) [-15]; Short Lifespan 1 [-10]; Social Stigma (Savage) [-10]; Susceptible to Fire Spells (-3) [-3].

Knowing Your Own Strength [-22] Replace Striking ST 1 [5] with Striking ST 1 [1]

The water orcs were one of the most favorite subraces for minmaxers in D&D. They were strong, tough, and powerful in general.

GRAY ORC [-10] (Races of Faerun, page 65)

Attributes: ST+2 [20]; IQ-1 [-20].

Secondary Characteristics: Will +1 [5].

Advantages: DR 2 (Partial, Skull, -70%; Tough Skin, -40%) [2]; Discriminatory Smell [15]; Infravision [10]; Rapid Healing [5]; Reduced Consumption 1 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [1]; Striking ST 1 [5].

Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8]; Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings) [-15]; Short Lifespan 1 [-10]; Social Stigma (Savage) [-10].

Features: Night Vision 4.

Knowing Your Own Strength [-14] Replace Striking ST 1 [5] with Striking ST 1 [1]

The gray orcs of Faerun are more civilized than the rest, but still quite savage.

MOUNTAIN ORC [-24] (Races of Faerun, page 68)

Attributes: ST+3 [30]; IQ-1 [-20].

Secondary Characteristics: Will-1 [-5].

Advantages: DR 2 (Partial, Skull, -70%; Tough Skin, -40%) [2]; Infravision [10]; Rapid Healing [5]; Reduced Consumption 1 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [1]; Striking ST 1 [5].

Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8]; Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings) [-15]; Short Lifespan 1 [-10]; Social Stigma (Savage) [-10].

Perks: Sure-Footed (Uneven) [1].

Features: Night Vision 4.

Knowing Your Own Strength [-28] Replace Striking ST 1 [5] with Striking ST 1 [1]

The mountain orcs, on the other hand, are even more brutal and savage than the common orcs.

OROG (DEEP ORC) [-21] (Races of Faerun, page 71)

Attributes: ST+3 [30]; DX-1 [-20]; IQ-1 [-20].

Advantages: DR 1 (Tough Skin, -40%) [3]; DR 2 (Partial, Skull, -70%; Tough Skin, -40%) [2]; Infravision [10]; Rapid Healing [5]; Reduced Consumption 1 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [1]; Striking ST 1 [5]; Temperature Tolerance 2 [2].

    Elemental Resistance (C,F): DR 5 (Includes Eyes, +10%; Includes Internal, +20%; Limited, Cold, Fire, -35%; Tough Skin, -40%) [14].

Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8]; Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings) [-15]; Short Lifespan 1 [-10]; Social Stigma (Savage) [-10].

Features: Night Vision 7.

Knowing Your Own Strength [-25] Replace Striking ST 1 [5] with Striking ST 1 [1]

The orogs that live underground are resistant to cold and fire, and are even stronger than the mountain orcs.

SCRO [35] (Dragon Magazine #339, page 30)

Attributes: ST+2 [20].

Advantages: DR 2 (Partial, Skull, -70%; Tough Skin, -40%) [2]; Infravision [10]; Rapid Healing [5]; Reduced Consumption 1 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [1]; Striking ST 1 [5].

Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8].

Knowing Your Own Strength [31] Replace Striking ST 1 [5] with Striking ST 1 [1]

The scro (read it backwards) are an advanced race from a distant world. Originally, they have appeared in Spelljammer.

JOR [-21] (Dragon Magazine #141)

Attributes: ST+2 [20]; IQ-1 [-20].

Secondary Characteristics: HP +2 [4].

Advantages: DR 2 (Partial, Skull, -70%; Tough Skin, -40%) [2]; Infravision [10]; Rapid Healing [5]; Reduced Consumption 1 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [1]; Striking ST 2 [10].

Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8]; Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Odious Racial Habit (Eats sapient beings) [-15]; Short Lifespan 1 [-10]; Social Stigma (Savage) [-10].

Features: Night Vision 5.

Knowing Your Own Strength [-29] Replace Striking ST 2 [10] with Striking ST 2 [2]

The jor are sneaky orcs that live in swamplands. They are fond of assassinations and poisons.

ONDONTI [25] (Monstrous Compendium Annual Three)

Attributes: ST+2 [20]; IQ-1 [-20].

Secondary Characteristics: Will+1 [5].

Advantages: DR 2 (Partial, Skull, -70%; Tough Skin, -40%) [2]; Night Vision 5 [5]; Rapid Healing [5]; Reduced Consumption 1 (Cast-Iron Stomach, -50%) [1]; Resistant to Metabolic Hazards (+3) [10]; Striking ST 1 [5].

Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8].

Knowing Your Own Strength [21] Replace Striking ST 1 [5] with Striking ST 1 [1]

The ondonti are the opposites of the common orcs. They are peaceful farmers who contemplate religion, family life, and other virtues.