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I'm with him they have good flavor and nice stats love em. nice change.
I just wished half-orcs would not get +2 to WIS just because they're supposed to be "perceptive" and "alert". It would be mechanically more consistent (e.g. when compared to, say, elven abilities) if they just got +2 to Perception. I fear that my campaigns will soon run amok with whole parties of half-orc *clerics* if they will get +2 STR and +2 WIS...
Otherwise I like them (that 'Orc Ferocity' is a very fitting and flavourful ability).
I can see a wisdom bonus, but I can also see it being explained more along the lines of "half-orcs that survive to adulthood in either the brutal society of orcs or in the uncaring world of their human parents have to develop a cunning and natural sense the the world and the people around them, resulting in an increased wisdom for those that survive long enough to adventure."
While Jason and Crew have taken a solid step to corretcing the underpowered half-orc compared to other races. I agree that they need a bit more to be even to other races. The only really significant advanatge they get is a parting shot before they go down and start dying.
-Weylin
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Am I the only one here who has ever thought about a half orc getting a bonus to charisma? If anything a half orc should get a minus to int, or maybe wisdom...
...So does anyone else here think they should get a bonus to charisma instead of wisdom?
hard call...probably best to keep it low what ever it is.
The Half Orc isnt realy a fit into Orc Culture as anything other than a "proof mrs orc had her way with human males during that last village-pillage" halfbreed, not that they keep count..but a half orc probably represents a tolerable slave underclass for orcs.
"They still weak and lazy slaves but not as ugly and pale as their fathers!"
What we need is the other half of that half orc to be half elf/half orc (justifying the pointy ears) which makes it an intelligence bonus over charisma and wisdom.
The only thing I would like to see being kept from old fella Tolkien is his idea of the Half-orc (Uruk-hai).
I would like to have the Half-Orc be a smarter more cunning version of the Orc, so Orc leader had a reason to set them into the world.
(This does not mean an INT or WIS bonus but instead no penalty.)
Since humans get a +2 on any one stat (without -2 anywhere) I would just give the Orc +2 STR and that's it.
Or you might give them: +2 STR and +2/-2 on any other stat(s) other then STR (chosing +2/-2 on them same stat is allowed - leaving the character with +2 ST).
The only thing I would like to see being kept from old fella Tolkien is his idea of the Half-orc (Uruk-hai).
[nitpick]
Uruk-hai were advanced/improved orcs bred by Sauron. Sauraman had a band of them, but didn't create them. Half-orcs (as D&D uses the term) were bred by Sauraman (usually uruk-hai/Dunlending mix) as spies/agents and additional troops.
[/nitpick]
Your idea for +2 Str and +2/-2 on any two other abilities is a workable option. I think they should get a +2 on Intimidate checks (which I usually house-rule as a DM in 3.x), also.
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I fear that my campaigns will soon run amok with whole parties of half-orc *clerics* if they will get +2 STR and +2 WIS...
That's my only issue with half-orcs getting the bonus to wisdom. Almost every argument in favour of Half-Orc wisdom bonus avoids the how that bonus affects them as divine casters. Yes it makes sense that orcs have better perception and survival skills than other races. It even makes sense that they are harder to cast fear effects and charms on. But it really doesn't make sense that they are superior to any race as clerics. Even dwarves, who have a Wis bonus in PRPG, have a Charisma penalty and therefore are inferior Undead Turners.
Well besides the more animalistic nature the wisdom bonus implies.
The fact that orc shaman's are staples of a orc tribe, and that commonly religion is a large part of orcish culture on top of the barbaric nature.
That's my only issue with half-orcs getting the bonus to wisdom. Almost every argument in favour of Half-Orc wisdom bonus avoids the how that bonus affects them as divine casters. Yes it makes sense that orcs have better perception and survival skills than other races. It even makes sense that they are harder to cast fear effects and charms on. But it really doesn't make sense that they are superior to any race as clerics. Even dwarves, who have a Wis bonus in PRPG, have a Charisma penalty and therefore are inferior Undead Turners.I fear that my campaigns will soon run amok with whole parties of half-orc *clerics* if they will get +2 STR and +2 WIS...
Agreed, all divine casting classes will be Half-Orcs. If adding the +2 to CON is not a viable solution, then remove the WIS bonus and give them better racial abilites, like another poster who mentioned additional Feats.
I just had another idea, what about leaving the +2 to WIS, but give them a penalty to Divine casting to negate the +2? That way they can still be cunning, but no more proficient at divine casting that the other races.