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Old 11-12-2022, 04:10 AM   #1
madhopper50
 
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Default Orcs in Legacy

A question about Orcs. In Legacy Orcs are close to humans, in Middle Earth they started from evil Elves, Urak-Hai Orcs were Orc-Goblin breeds. So, should starting attributes be changed to reflect Middle Eart Orcs?
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Old 11-12-2022, 06:06 AM   #2
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Default Re: Orcs in Legacy

Our orcs are different and we love them for it. (Our elves, goblins, etc. are also different.)
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Old 11-12-2022, 06:11 AM   #3
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Default Re: Orcs in Legacy

Goblins and orcs are synonymous in Tolkein’s works.

I don’t use orcs in my games for the same reason that I don’t use halflings, elves, and dwarves: I want a game world more distinct from Middle Earth.

That said, if I were to play in Middle Earth, I’d model normal orcs on TFT goblins and Uruk-hai on TFT orcs, since my impression is that Uruk-hai were bred to be as large and as strong as a Men while normal orcs were most dangerous in numbers. This is a bit of an oversimplification—Tolkein’s orcs were far more capable than the Jackson films (especially The Hobbit) would have one believe.
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Old 11-12-2022, 07:52 AM   #4
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Default Re: Orcs in Legacy

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Originally Posted by Shostak View Post
Goblins and orcs are synonymous in Tolkein’s works.

I don’t use orcs in my games for the same reason that I don’t use halflings, elves, and dwarves: I want a game world more distinct from Middle Earth.

That said, if I were to play in Middle Earth, I’d model normal orcs on TFT goblins and Uruk-hai on TFT orcs, since my impression is that Uruk-hai were bred to be as large and as strong as a Men while normal orcs were most dangerous in numbers. This is a bit of an oversimplification—Tolkein’s orcs were far more capable than the Jackson films (especially The Hobbit) would have one believe.
Thanks! I like your take on Middle Earth. So, in your games, only humans and no fantasy characters?
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Old 11-12-2022, 09:33 AM   #5
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Default Re: Orcs in Legacy

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Originally Posted by madhopper50 View Post
Thanks! I like your take on Middle Earth. So, in your games, only humans and no fantasy characters?
Yes, in the game world I am currently using for TFT campaigns, only human PCs are allowed. There are, however, plenty of monsters and entities beyond the ken of humankind. It's a bit more like the world of Howard's Hyborean Age than it is Tolkein's Middle Earth, though magic is considerably less hidden than it is in either of those.
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Old 11-12-2022, 10:51 AM   #6
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Default Re: Orcs in Legacy

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Originally Posted by Shostak View Post
Yes, in the game world I am currently using for TFT campaigns, only human PCs are allowed. There are, however, plenty of monsters and entities beyond the ken of humankind. It's a bit more like the world of Howard's Hyborean Age than it is Tolkein's Middle Earth, though magic is considerably less hidden than it is in either of those.
I figured it was the Hyborean Age or something based on GURPS Ancient Rome/Greece/Egypt or similar.
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Old 11-12-2022, 09:40 PM   #7
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Default Re: Orcs in Legacy

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Originally Posted by Shostak View Post
Yes, in the game world I am currently using for TFT campaigns, only human PCs are allowed.
Er... not quite. I have a PC gargoyle in this Myriangia gameworld and we have had Dwarves.
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Old 11-12-2022, 10:13 PM   #8
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Default Re: Orcs in Legacy

Quote:
Originally Posted by madhopper50 View Post
A question about Orcs. In Legacy Orcs are close to humans, in Middle Earth they started from evil Elves, Urak-Hai Orcs were Orc-Goblin breeds. So, should starting attributes be changed to reflect Middle Eart Orcs?
I like the mythmaking of TFT Orcs.
ITL p 77: Orcs are closely related to men; their prehistoric ancestor, Orcanthropus, dominated many alternate worlds during Neanderthal days. (Here, on Earth, only their fossilized remains, known as Piltdown Man, survive.)

Crichton's Eaters of the Dead (set in Viking Lands) has vicious savages called Wendol who are suggested to be relict Neanderthals. The Wendol could be a variation of what Cidri Orcs are.

Wendol.....(Generic)..... 31 Attribute points
ST 13
DX 10 (9)
IQ 8
MA = 10....(9) Bearskin

BearSkin...(1).....Covering back, sides and head

BearClaw Mace =.....2d-1
Spear*=.................1d.....*thrown
Feathered Pilum*=... 1d-1
Spear Thrower=.......+2 damage & Missile Weapon
Torches =................1d-1 as club; 1d-2 as fire;


Language: Wendol (his own language)
  • Talents Weapons: Axe/mace; Pole-Weapon; Spear Thrower
  • Area Knowledge or Running, Horsemanship

Some of the smarter Wendols have
  • Acute Hearing, Alertness, Silent Movement,
  • Toughness, Tracking, Naturalist, Mundane Cook
The brightest might have
  • Architect/Builder and build bridges; Physicker
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Fantasy Chess: A chess game with combat.
Don't just take the square, Fight for it!
https://www.shadowhex.com
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Old 11-13-2022, 02:32 AM   #9
madhopper50
 
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Default Re: Orcs in Legacy

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnPaulB View Post
I like the mythmaking of TFT Orcs.
ITL p 77: Orcs are closely related to men; their prehistoric ancestor, Orcanthropus, dominated many alternate worlds during Neanderthal days. (Here, on Earth, only their fossilized remains, known as Piltdown Man, survive.)

Crichton's Eaters of the Dead (set in Viking Lands) has vicious savages called Wendol who are suggested to be relict Neanderthals. The Wendol could be a variation of what Cidri Orcs are.

Wendol.....(Generic)..... 31 Attribute points
ST 13
DX 10 (9)
IQ 8
MA = 10....(9) Bearskin

BearSkin...(1).....Covering back, sides and head

BearClaw Mace =.....2d-1
Spear*=.................1d.....*thrown
Feathered Pilum*=... 1d-1
Spear Thrower=.......+2 damage & Missile Weapon
Torches =................1d-1 as club; 1d-2 as fire;


Language: Wendol (his own language)
  • Talents Weapons: Axe/mace; Pole-Weapon; Spear Thrower
  • Area Knowledge or Running, Horsemanship

Some of the smarter Wendols have
  • Acute Hearing, Alertness, Silent Movement,
  • Toughness, Tracking, Naturalist, Mundane Cook
The brightest might have
  • Architect/Builder and build bridges; Physicker
Thanks! I love the movie "the 13th Warrior"!
Here's a link for 13th Warrior attributes: https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrF...XyjEfhj7Hpz7I-

Last edited by madhopper50; 11-13-2022 at 03:59 AM. Reason: Add Link
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Old 11-13-2022, 06:35 AM   #10
Shostak
 
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Default Re: Orcs in Legacy

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnPaulB View Post
Er... not quite. I have a PC gargoyle in this Myriangia gameworld and we have had Dwarves.
Granite the gargoyle is the one exception, made at the very start of the campaign before the world was more resolved. There have been no dwarves though—or at least they don’t show up in either my memory or the campaign notes.
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