Half-Elf Half-Orc

[chbgraphicarts]

The default assumption for Half-Elves and Half-Orcs is that the other half is Human. However, it's stated that the other half can be anything, really; the downside being, of course, that you lose all the fun bits that come with having Human blood (which is a very long list of awesome stuff).

But, now here's a fun rules snarl - if you are 1/2 Elf and 1/2 Orc, are you a Half-Elf, a Half-Orc, or both? Can you also, therefore, choose the Favored Class Bonuses of a Half-Elf, Half-Orc, Elf, or Orc for classes?

This seems like some serious rulemongering gnarliness (and potentially really nasty, as a primarily-Half-Elf could have TWO Favored Classes and choose from up to 4 different FCAs per class).

Has anybody seen/tried this?

[Eltacolibre]

Not really rules mongering...more like suggestion/homebrew but anyway, if this hybrid does exist, I would give them the benefits of elf-blood and orc-blood. This doesn't mean that they qualify for half-orc or half-elf stuffs.

[NikolaiJuno]

To do this you would need to make a custom race with the race builder rules.

[Frederick Savage]

Chief Grukgruk half orc too! Other half, also orc!

Ohhh... Half Elf. That imply very ugly character backstory. Chief Grukgruk frankly not want dwell on that.

[Aaron Miller 335]

Just use that mish mash of rule (that make 90's 2nd ed look good) they call race builder.

Fair touched Orc an half elf/ half orc race
+2 Str +2 Dex -2 Chr

medium: Fair touched Orc are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.

Normal Speed:Fair touched Orcs have a base speed of 30 feet.

Darkvision: Fair touched Orcs can see in the dark up to 60 feet.

Elf Blood: Fair touched Orcs count as elves for any effect related to race.

Orc Blood: Fair touched Orcs count as orcs for any effect related to race.

Keen Senses: Fair touched Orcs receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks. or Orc ferocity depending on if you want them mean or keen?

Sprinter: Fair touched Orcs gain a +10 foot racial bonus to their speed when using the charge, run, or withdraw actions.

Fleet-Footed: Fair touched Orcs receive Run as a bonus feat and a +2 racial bonus on initiative checks.

[christos gurd]

this had an interesting take on that

[Zhayne]

Pick one, use those stats, modify appearance slightly.

[Kazaan]

Your fundamental premise is flawed. Half-Elf, as a core race, does indeed mean that you are a Humanoid(Human, Elf). Regardless of whether your parents were Elf/Human, Elf/Half-Elf, Human/Half-Elf, or Half-Elfx2, Half-Elf the race is different from 1/2 Elf as a description of your racial heritage. The offspring of an Elf and Orc would be neither a Half-Elf nor a Half-Orc but a custom race that needs to be built from the ground up. It would be of the type Humanoid(Elf, Orc) and, as such, it would qualify for prerequisites requiring either Elf or Orc.

[Imbicatus]

Another option is to be a Half-elf with the Orc sorcerer bloodline. You will be Human, Elf, and Orc.

[LazarX]

chbgraphicarts wrote:

The default assumption for Half-Elves and Half-Orcs is that the other half is Human. However, it's stated that the other half can be anything, really; the downside being, of course, that you lose all the fun bits that come with having Human blood (which is a very long list of awesome stuff).

But, now here's a fun rules snarl - if you are 1/2 Elf and 1/2 Orc, are you a Half-Elf, a Half-Orc, or both? Can you also, therefore, choose the Favored Class Bonuses of a Half-Elf, Half-Orc, Elf, or Orc for classes?

This seems like some serious rulemongering gnarliness (and potentially really nasty, as a primarily-Half-Elf could have TWO Favored Classes and choose from up to 4 different FCAs per class).

Has anybody seen/tried this?

In Eldest Sons, published by Paradigm Press, there actually was such a Half-Elf template to be applied that way.

[RumpinRufus]

I asked James Jacobs whether a half-elf half-orc is possible, and he said no.

Which is probably the right call, IMO. Because with orcs and their... tendencies... if they could impregnate elves you would imagine there would be a WHOLE lot more elf-orcs running around.

[Weirdo]

You can also be a half-elf with racial heritage (orc) or a half-orc with racial heritage (elf) - though that would still indicate some human ancestry.

RumpinRufus wrote:

I asked James Jacobs whether a half-elf half-orc is possible, and he said no.

Which is probably the right call, IMO. Because with orcs and their... tendencies... if they could impregnate elves you would imagine there would be a WHOLE lot more elf-orcs running around.

Lots of options to explain that. Orc-elf could be a much less viable cross than orc-human or elf-human, but still occasionally possible (and the resulting orc-elves would be sterile, preventing continuation of a line). Alternatively, orcs may value half-human offspring but consider orc-elves to be polluted, leading them to avoid any possibility of such a cross. Both orcs and elves might kill any orc-elf children.

[Dustyboy]

I have some potent npc races for a home campaign... Backstory is that of forced political interbreeding to cease hostilities, the royal family of the elves were drow whereas the or cosh royals were orc-goblins who used torches and alchemist fire loaded crossbows

Generally speaking they use torches as weapons, fighting in

Elf-Orc
Type Humanoid (orc,elf ) 0 RP
Size Medium 0 RP
Base Speed Normal 0 RP
Ability Score Specialized (+2 str, +2 dex, -2Cha) 1RP
Advanced Strength (+2 str) 4rp
Languages Standard 0 RP
Racial Traits
Defense Racial Traits
Elven immunities 2 RP
Offense Racial Traits
Ferocity 4 RP
Skill Bonus Survival 2rp
Weapon familiarity 2 RP (elven, Orc, Bows, GreatAxe)
Senses Racial Traits
Darkvision 60 ft. 2 RP
Weakness Racial Traits
Light Blindness –2 RP
Total 15 RP

Norfarian

YNorfarians are those of the primary Orcish bloodline mixed with those of the primary Elven Bloodline of Conneria. In order to cement the unity of the clans of the north with the
Type Humanoid (orc,elf(Drow), Goblin ) 0 RP
Size Medium 0 RP
Base Speed Normal 0 RP
Ability Score (+2 str, +2 Cha, -2wis) 0RP Norfarians are brutish and Cunning but lack strong wills
Advanced Strength (+2 str) 4rp
Languages Standard 0 RP
Racial Traits
Defense Racial Traits
Elven immunities 2 RP
Torch fighter bonus feat 2rp
Offense Racial Traits
Ferocity 4 RP
Magical Racial Traits
Spell-Like Abilities (Su): Norfarians can cast dancing lights, darkness, and faerie fire, once each per day, using their total character level as caster level. (4rp)
Senses Racial Traits
Darkvision 60 ft. 2 RP
Weakness Racial Traits
Light Blindness –2 RP
Cavern Sniper (Fighter; Drow)
Fire Bomber (Alchemist; Goblin)
Dirty Fighter (Fighter; Orc)

0,0,0,0,4,0,2,4,4,2,-2
16rp

Norfarian, High

YNorfarians are those of the primary Orcish bloodline mixed with those of the primary Elven Bloodline of Conneria. In order to cement the unity of the clans of the north with the
Type Humanoid (orc,elf(Drow), Goblin ) 0 RP
Size Medium 0 RP
Base Speed Normal 0 RP
Ability Score (+2 str, +2 Cha, -2wis) 0RP Norfarians are brutish and Cunning but lack strong wills
Advanced Strength (+2 str) 4rp
Languages Standard 0 RP
Racial Traits
Defense Racial Traits
Elven immunities 2 RP
Torch fighter bonus feat 2rp
Offense Racial Traits
Ferocity 4 RP
Magical Racial Traits
Spell-Like Abilities: Norfarians can cast dancing lights, deeper darkness, faerie fire, feather fall, and levitate each at will, and have detect magic as a constant spell-like ability. A Norfarian can also cast divine favor, dispel magic, and suggestion once per day each. In some cases, a Norfarian’spell-like abilities might vary, although the level of a particular spell-like ability does not.A Norfarian’s caster level for her spell-like abilities is equal to her character level. 26 rp
Senses Racial Traits
See in darkness 4rp
Weakness Racial Traits
Light Blindness –2 RP
Cavern Sniper (Fighter; Drow)
Fire Bomber (Alchemist; Goblin)
Dirty Fighter (Fighter; Orc)

0,0,0,0,4,0,2,4,4,4,-2
40rp

[Dustyboy]

Whoops sorry for pasting twice phone does that,

The deeper part of the story reveals that the king was attempting to make super soldiers by doing this

[graystone]

You could do something close and by the rules if you use the distant heritage rules from the bastards book. You just have to be a little human to tape orc and elf together.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

RumpinRufus wrote:

I asked James Jacobs whether a half-elf half-orc is possible, and he said no.

[realism tangent]

There's actually a precedent for species that can breed with another species but not species that can breed with that second species. It's called ring species.
[/realism tangent]

[Aaron Miller 335]

SilvercatMoonpaw wrote:

RumpinRufus wrote:

I asked James Jacobs whether a half-elf half-orc is possible, and he said no.

[realism tangent]

There's actually a precedent for species that can breed with another species but not species that can breed with that second species. It's called ring species.
[/realism tangent]

Ring species are apparently mostly birds, not sure how that helps.

On a other note, Fungi have dozen or more genders, each to reproduce with other types of fungi.