Orcs as player characters

[Rick_Smith]

Originally Posted by Steve Jackson

... Here is a related question not yet answered in my own mind. Elves get a running bonus. Should I (a) simply give all Elves the Runner talent, so of course they can't get it again, or (b) allow for Elf Runners with MA 14? (Either way, Elves' racial enmities and -3 DX squickitude at crawly things tend to balance the running bonus.)

Hi Steve, everyone.
I prefer that the different races be ... different from each other. Sure a campaign could have every race being the same except the paint job, but I would rather than each race is significantly different from each other, with real advantages and disadvantages. Ideally the races should be roughly balanced.

In TFT as written, the +2 MA for Elves was a huge advantage. Their -3 DX penalty for crawly things does not come up as often as the MA helps them, and is a weird disadvantage for Elves. (Elves live in the woods and freak out over insects???)

Anyway, an Elf with Running moving 14 is fine to me. But cool advantages need to be balanced somehow.

Warm regards, Rick.

[Anomylous]

Originally Posted by Rick_Smith

Hi Steve, everyone.
I prefer that the different races be ... different from each other. Sure a campaign could have every race being the same except the paint job, but I would rather than each race is significantly different from each other, with real advantages and disadvantages. Ideally the races should be roughly balanced.

In TFT as written, the +2 MA for Elves was a huge advantage. Their -3 DX penalty for crawly things does not come up as often as the MA helps them, and is a weird disadvantage for Elves. (Elves live in the woods and freak out over insects???)

Anyway, an Elf with Running moving 14 is fine to me. But cool advantages need to be balanced somehow.

Warm regards, Rick.

I once tried out making Elves allergic to iron, a nod to pre-Tolkien mythology. It's a fairly severe disadvantage, limiting Elves to leather/cloth armor (unless they spring for silver armor), and restricting their choice of weapons. As compensation, I removed the creepy-crawly "squickitude" (great word!) and maybe gave them a +1 damage with bows (due to secret elven bowyery techniques).

At the time I tried to institute some kind of fatigue damage for elves being in contact with iron, but now I think I'd say it just gives them a nasty, itchy, and painful rash - no damage, but Elves being the vain creatures they are, will never willingly touch metallic iron.

[Rick_Smith]

Originally Posted by Anomylous

I once tried out making Elves allergic to iron, ...

Hi Anomylous,
I really like this disadvantage! I much prefer it to elves freak out every time they see a preying mantis, giant ant, or lady bug. Hopefully Steve will use your idea.

Warm regards, Rick

[JohnPaulB]

Originally Posted by Steve Jackson

Orcs and men have similar stats, so a half-breed would also be 8/8/8/8.

½ Breeds: Doh, of course Orcs & Man have the same starting stats. I’ve been creating some D&D5e recently and got turned around. Sorry about that.

I would automatically give the ½ breeds language in both races to compensate for the penalties of being ½ breed.