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Your orcish party rounds a corner and comes face-to-face with a human (or elf, or whatever).
Your GM says "Roll initiative."
You win, and go first.
My guess is that 99% of the roleplaying groups out there would act on a preconceived generalization about the human (or elf) race and attack. However, is attacking the human unprovoked an evil act? Is it racist? After all, they haven't done anything (yet) to provoke the attack, and you have no proof that they will do anything.
If you think attacking a character because of their (fantasy) race is evil, how many Paladins (and GMs) just sweep that grey area under the rug and don't talk about it?
I mention this because having an human or elf PC is a possible choice in Pathfinder. I also like to introduce new players in an organic way, rather than "poof", player X appears out of thin air. Also, as a player, I've almost killed a new half-elf character joining the group in this same way (we had recently been fighting elves), not realizing that the half-elf I saw was supposed to be the new PC.
I'll admit that I think it is evil to attack anyone unprovoked, but my characters have done it (see the above example) and as a GM, I do nothing about it when my players make those choices.
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If your GM said "roll initiative", then it was obvious (to the characters) that combat was going to break out. If it wasn't, then the opponent would get a surprise round before initiative is rolled (or you'd make them roll a check of some kind to avoid being surprised). If you win initiative that just means that you were able to get your weapon out and swing a hair faster than they were, even though they reached for their weapon first.
I don't think you noticed the joke there, Stabbity. :D
They're filthy elves. It doesn't matter if they're Drow or Surface Elves, they would have done the same. Their policy when they see orcs is Kill on Sight. No evil there in taking them out before they take you out. :)
I feel a little bad about the half-elf, but it at least you set the mood of what to expect when you play a race of ambiguous morality.
EDIT: Same with the humans. Have you seen how destructive all those humanoids with their long lives are trying to dominate the will of other beings?! Don't sit around and twiddle your thumbs hoping that maybe this human won't kill when you stand with a dumb look on your face.
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GM is pretty much fixing the weights on your options by putting you in initiative.
Also, NEEDS CONTEXT. What is the human doing? What is the current situation going on? Where is this? Are you in a town? Are you in enemy territory?
Like you said, humans can be a player option. They're not always genocidal sociiopaths. Need more information.
Unless it's an elf, in which case it probably is a genocidal sociopath. But even then it's far from 100% certain. Even elves are capable of change. See /tg/'s Goldentusk.
when facing an orc, all elves and humans are clearly evil as they want to prevent them from practicing their religion and want to deny them of their cultur which largely consists of collecting skulls of sentient beings, that were alive and healthy a moment ago.
But really, initiative shouldn't be rolled before a fight is obvious.
If they are not sure, and don't draw swords and meet each other, then the initiative will be rolled once the person person says "I quickdraw my dagger and stab him in the eye".
I don't think you noticed the joke there, Stabbity. :DDid I? The lines between "joke" and legitimate inquiry blur on these forums.
Do orcs eat Irish babies?
We've been talking to this stupid human for 20 minutes. Do I get to kill something or what?
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TOZ, there is a problem with your OP, as it seems to imply that doing something evil is a bad thing for the average Orc who is an evil racist brute as we all know (and love).
I believe it should be reworded thus :
"Your orcish party rounds a corner and comes face-to-face with a human (or elf, or whatever).
Your GM says "Roll initiative."
You win, and go first.
My guess is that 0.001% of the roleplaying groups out there would act on no preconceived generalization about the human (or elf) race and hug it. However, is hugging the human unprovoked a good act? Is it non-racist? After all, they haven't done anything (yet) to provoke the hug, and you have no proof that they will do anything.
If you think hugging a character without regards for their (fantasy) race is good, how many Anti-Paladins (and GMs) just sweep that grey area under the rug and don't talk about it?
I mention this because having an human or elf PC is a possible choice in Pathfinder. I also like to introduce new players in an organic way, rather than "poof", player X appears out of thin air. Also, as a player, I've almost kissed a new half-elf character joining the group in this same way (we had recently been loving elves), not realizing that the half-elf I saw was supposed to be the new PC.
I'll admit that I think it is good to hug anyone unprovoked, but my characters have done it (see the above example) and as a GM, I do nothing about it when my players make those choices."
We do need a Hugged condition to add to the Grapple/Pin maneuver.
eh... this "joke" is 3 days late.
eh... this "joke" is 3 days late.
Better late than never