Half-Orcs in 5e Dungeons & Dragons - Web DM

[@WebDM]

Thanks for watching! Want more Web DM in your life? Get our podcast here: www.patreon.com/webdm

[@PandorasFolly]

Web DM i love your take on cheese. Cheese is ok as long as you know its cheese and everyone is ok with it. Yeap its a five cheese grilled cheese sandwich on parmesian bread and a side of bree.

[@jakethejax]

That critical race theory joke at the end aged better than expected! 😁

[@potatomuffin7177]

My friend and I have a character concept we're looking to play where we play half-siblings of different races. Like one of us is a Half-Orc and the other is a Half-Elf and we share a human parent who was a Human Bard that slept around a lot.

[@jacobkeller7172]

The rediculus 6 ?

[@alexrothman2078]

Me and a buddy did something similar where we found out we're brother from hunting our mutual father. It lead to a hilarious story ending with the half-elf brother becoming the chieftain of an orc tribe

[@JonHerzogArtist]

I've always wanted to do a campaign where there's an orc culture settled around a planar breach to the Abyss - not because they want to associate with the demons, but because they're the greatest mortal warriors to fight these extraplanar horrors. And that for centuries, these "barbarians" have been fighting back a demonic incursion without the world knowing it.

[@Lucca00000]

Eberron campaign setting did it first, the Orcs in Eberron saved the world in fact.

[@AlphaFenris1]

Jonathan Herzog Read the lore of the Crab clan in Legend of the 5 Rings setting

[@TheStrongNerd]

Jonathan Herzog kinda like the dwarves in dragon age

[@simmonslucas]

Dude, perfect

[@tylerh2548]

Jonathan Herzog The half orcs from this culture are known as Fiendbloods - not because of their own heritage, but because they are Spartan Demon Slayers who are metaphorically steeped in the blood of the Breach -spawn.

[@ElectorCount]

One of the most loved NPC i ever created was a half-orc rogue named Krusk. His father was captured by a tribe of orcs, he fell in love with the female guard of his cage and challenged the tribe chief to a duel to earn his freedom and the woman. He got beat up badly - but he impressed the female orc so much, that she freed him and they both left in the tribe secretly. To this day, they live in a little hovel just outside town - two half-orc children of love came out of this relationship: Krusk and his brother Hank (who is a baker). My players loved the two of them and their stories :) Feel free to steal them for your Game if you want

[@Troglodytarum]

Year later but im still gonna yoink them.

[@lucienlachance1282]

Two years later gonna yoink

[@victorrivera2212]

three years later gonna yoink

[@WolfHreda]

I yoinked this last month without even having read it. 🤣 I wrote a short story about a man taking his son to a tavern after his coming of age. His son is a Half-Orc named Griffin. A couple of racist drunks start a fight before learning that the man they've antagonized is a Paladin who happened to have won the heart of an Orc woman during his adventuring days.

[@mrdaynne]

4 yrs later

[@joshbuchholz1658]

I'm glad they finally did the autobiographical episode. Their upper halves are human for sure but Jim and Pruitt are definitely all orc below the belt.

[@JPruinc]

LOL

[@CombatSportsNerd]

@@JPruinc I don't get it When did they say that

[@SomeGuyHowGoesIt]

​@@CombatSportsNerd I think it's supposed to be a dick joke lol

[@BillRoyMcBill]

Gross, dude...just gross...

[@chaddixon9764]

In my campaign setting Half-Orcs have long since reached critical numbers to become their own race. It has even reached a point where the Bloodstain Tribe actually think themselves superior to humans because they are tougher. They also think themselves superior to Orcs because they are smarter so they most certainly have a bit of a superiority complex.

[@tonydanatop4912]

Can say I blame them Jacked is like The default body type butt there not but ugly in the face like full orcs

[@MiningwithPudding]

My party's Half-Ork is the party's Cleric. He's also the nicest person in the party.

[@JOfJaZ]

Hell yeah! Monsterous looking nice clerics for life! (Tiefling Lathander cleric)

[@tylerh2548]

A half orc strikes me as a good race to produce Sith-culture style monks or institutionalized warlocks who bond to a fiend as part of their final initiation. The thought was triggered by Jim Davis' 'half orc evoker channeling his rage' angle.

[@jimdavis141]

You could really lean into the evil humanoids angle and go full-on fiend worshiping society. And a Sith-inspired martial/magical culture would be perfect for orc-kin. Could even do a mix of half-orc and tiefling for those truly blessed.

[@tylerh2548]

Jim Davis oh man, horned tiefling blooded orc-kin long death monk/ hexblade warlock (i like that better) = Darth Maul. I need to look into this.

[@thevoidcritter]

My half-orc character's human mother was a former adventurer and pretty much YOLO personified, and he was just conceived in a consensual one-night stand. Having half-orcs always conceived via rape is pretty dumb, but hey, it doesn't have to be true love, either.

[@CombatSportsNerd]

Why is it dumb? Do orcs not rape?

[@High-LordHarza]

@@CombatSportsNerd Any race can rape, but orcs seem to only rape, which is the awful, dumb part. I dunno how to feel about having to explain this.

[@alexandrasimon7191]

@@CombatSportsNerd I think High-Lord Hazra meant that there is an infinite amount of potential in half-orcs being born for different reasons than rape, and it is boring and dumb to miss out on all those amazing worlds and stories

[@CombatSportsNerd]

@@alexandrasimon7191 Ah ok, makes sense. Looking back I think my question stems more from the fact that half-orcs being born from that exact circumstance was *always* a common thing in my D&D circles

[@williethenerfherder2193]

@@High-LordHarza it comes from the lotr lore. Tolkien himself confirmed that half orcs in his world were created through rape of human women.

[@SlothinAintEasy]

I want to make an orc like that mage in Skyrim at the college of winterhold hold. A badass spell blaster whose furiously protective over his books and scrolls

[@reubenfromow4854]

I'm gonna be honest, I think that having a character who's overpowered in combat is okay, as long as the other members of the party make characters that can specialise in other areas. Currently in our game, my character handles diplomacy, the ranger does wilderness survival, and our tiny little dragon born Druid handles utility- like being able to deliver messages over long distances. Right now, two more players might be joining the campaign. One's playing a rogue and we're all secretly praying that the other person goes really overpowered, because otherwise we're just gonna get stomped. TL;DR: as long as everyone's having fun and doing their thing it's okay

[@CombatSportsNerd]

Sounds like a group i would fit in

[@danielkufner9655]

My 9 year old daughter noticed that Orc was missing from the handbook immediately. She said, "but dad, they have elves and half-elves, so why did they leave out the Orcs. Why can't I be an Orc. " Proud daddy moment right there.

[@inkblotCrisis]

I always liked that saying "Mom was adventurous, Dad was lucky". Usually have an Orc mom for my Half-orc characters. (edit)Also if you'd like an alternate take on Orcs there's the ones in Dominic Deegan. Culture based on Native Americans. Vegetarians that use their tusks to chew through tough root crop.

[@JPruinc]

I love it! All of it.

[@erogames3883]

In my custom campaign setting I've modeled orcs after native civilizations from around the world with the idea that all other races were immigrants. So the aboriginals of Oz, the multitude of native civilizations of the Americas, the Maori of Aotearoa and other pacific islanders, the nomad tribes from central and eastern Asia, and even the vikings of Slavic bloodline, etc. The reason for their evil characteristics is that more "civilized" cultures (elves, dwarves) needed to demean the orcs as "savage" and "heretical" to rationalize their expansion and slaughter of the native peoples; a characteristic that when the PC meet these cultures readily realize is objectively untrue.

[@jimdavis141]

I like that take. Lots of gray area to mess with player expectations.

[@erogames3883]

That's the general idea. Plus I get to easily rationalize half-orcs in a non-rapey way.

[@tomspring213]

Rawson Gaspar I had to do something similar. Started teaching my kids how to play and my 8 year old son wanted to be a half-orc barbarian. He goes, "Where do half-orcs come from?" It's like, uuuuummm...go ask your mom, lol.

[@Daq94]

@EROgames Really like this concept! Reminds me about Thrall from Warcraft lot

[@Geeko170]

I like to think of Orks more as Mandalorians. It is a way of life, that anyone is welcomed into.

[@Geeko170]

They just have to earn their place in the culture.

[@ryaneftink7364]

Get your mind out of 40k, soldier!

[@st.cimmerian1680]

I've thought the same thing. It works very well!

[@Geeko170]

Jesse Gorham That they are.

[@ryaneftink7364]

Yes, and Orks (emphasis on the K) are from Warhammer 40k.

[@racekitty]

One my favorite half orc character was inspired by samurai jack that he came from a land cut off from rest of the world(it's basically Japan) where everyone had some orc blood and was pretty civilized my character set out to slay a evil warlock but before he could deliver the final blow the warlock call upon his patron and sent him across the world to a land unfamiliar to him from both angles because he never seen pure blooded humans or orcs and it was really fun playing a half orc that wasn't a tribal warrior or a quiet outcast.

[@JaredRedDeath]

I am absolutely loving these race videos so far. It's really helping me decide how I want my world to be built. Thanks guys!

[@kolbycampbell3957]

So i think im to understand that orcs are a race of Canadian-Klingon lumberjacks with Cockney accents and a problem with space marines? That's the impression Im left with at least

[@JPruinc]

You hit the nail on the head!

[@christophersmith8848]

Lumberjack football hooligans

[@Lucasofyugioh]

Thank you guys so much for covering Elves and Half-Orcs. I don't know if you saw my request for them to be talked about but I really appreciate it nonetheless. I've been watching you guys for quite some time now and have always wanted you to talk about the races in D&D, especially my favorites the Half-Orc and the Elf.

[@JPruinc]

These were just for you!

[@android19willpwn]

in a campaign that I'm currently in the Half-Orcs are devout followers of the teachings of Orc Sun Tzu

[@EGrahamBass]

Ive always loved half-orcs, theyre probably my favourite player race. Im currently playing a half-orc/half-drow arcane archer. That mix is leading to some super interesting rp moments. I always really like Matthew Colvilles idea of them where orcs and humans are two distinct races that cannot breed together, and so the half-orcs are a race created by mages and now called the Warbreed

[@callumharris656]

Damn these videos are just so great. Have played for a few years as both player and DM, running a home brew (4e), Hoard of the Dragon Queen and Rise of Tiamat and currently running Out of the Abyss for a large group which ranges from very experienced to new. And watching these at work fills me with ideas and concepts and really makes me question the DnD game and start asking what I can do with it. Thanks for the help and the great videos :)

[@calebrenegar1992]

My half orc’s tribe was killed in a freak blizzard and he is the only survivor. Hence, a vengeance Paladin tailor made for rime of the from maiden. He hates winter!

[@an8strengthkobold360]

I know this is stupid but my mind immediately went to" war against snow". Just a giant half orc taking a giant great sword of searing light to a snow man.

[@abdullahalghanimi379]

I often think of a half-orc as an outsider in all cases. Should he or she even come near a village or town, the people will often think that he or she is a spy of orcs and that an attack is imminent. If the half-orc ever came near any orcish tribe, they would often think of the person as a weakling and might even kill him or her if the need arise for any reason.

[@JPruinc]

That's a lonely life to lead...

[@crimeselendas]

You'll be missed, D&Dome

[@Grimmlocked]

Vem Pra Lane two men enter dot dot dot

[@BNRmatt]

I love that Jim talked about his setting here and now he made Land Between Two Rivers. It's heartening that he made it after all.

[@kyleabrams5036]

I could listen to you guys yank all day I think. Subbed, don't care if there's no new videos or whatever but this probably best d&d talk I've seen.

[@WebDM]

Thanks for the sub! We upload every Wednesday.

[@isabellemccarthy7712]

I generally have three orc cultures, I haven't detailed them all too much though. A few group of orc tribes towards the south of the main kingdom are kinda like Gypsies, in the north they are hunters of massive large game that exists up there(kinda like mandelorians), in the central area of the kingdom they live atop the mountains in peace with the Goliath and are known for a special blacksmithing for slaying flying enemies. There is an "evil" orc tribe deep in the eastern wilds though, they are more to standard type..

[@JPruinc]

Love the diversity!

[@rileyplaut-deweese1484]

Thanks so much for the quick release of this video!

[@topknotproductions7351]

I like playing against type. I just made a Half-Orc Bard that plays death metal with a magic lute that sounds like an electric guitar and I am giddy at the thought of Role-Playing this character and this is the first time I've ever played, not only an Half-Orc but also against type.

[@st.cimmerian1680]

You guys are awesome! Easily the best D&D/RPG channel online. Keep it up! 🤘🏻

[@xulore4403]

These guys are great and they also give such in-depth, useful info for others to use. Keep up the awesome work!

[@bruceleo2607]

I am currently playing in a pathfinder home brew. My half-orc is a young pureblood (both parents are half-orc and have a good relationship and a happy home). He's a city-born, urban ranger who's rebelling against his parents and mixing with a gang of tradional half-orcs. He catches a lot flack from his fellow gang members for being a love-child, but has the backing of the gang's leader who was once comrades with his father. It's been a fun experience role-playing the conflict with his parents, trying to earn the respect of his gang who feels that he's a pet of the leader and viewed as being soft. I've had the concept of that dynamic in my mind for quite a while and bringing him to the table has been rewarding and fulfilling.

[@Treblaine]

We all know where half-orcs REALLY come from: human Bards cruising for that snu-snu with the buxom orc ladies.

[@jessman212]

Can't wait for the Dwarves episode! I literally cant wait. Dwarves now please! Ps you guys rock

[@CzarVentus]

the only thing rocking more are mountain dwarves. Get it? Mountain?

[@JPruinc]

We might have to reshoot dwarves. We'll keep you'll apprised. And thanks for the support.

[@edwardnigma9756]

Making the orcs into the Asari from Mass Effect would be hilarious! I'll definately use that idea if I ever DM.

[@radiantburrito]

That new set is pretty sweet.

[@AJ-kj1go]

Looks like a glorious nerd cave. This is what is possible without kids.

[@yannickdellaert1616]

It's the old set,but now in HD :)

[@radiantburrito]

Yannick Dellaert You know what, I didn't even notice that. Surprised how a little camera work can go a long way!

[@chastermief839]

they look a little toasty though, haha.

[@jeffbangle4710]

I miss the "inside a D20" set... :(

[@Coonassanova]

Currently playing a level-8 half-orc champion with shield master and mage slayer. Last game he played friday night, our party barreled headlong into 10 hobgoblins, 40 goblins, several elite monks and bosses, etc. In the first 4 rounds of combat, Boss Haug took almost 100 attacks, 2 fireballs, a lightning bolt, and an ice storm, and didn't even come close to going down. The puny goblins refused to kneel before their new god and were exterminated, proving once and for all that half-orcs are the pinnacle of martial (and marital) prowess.

[@Troommate]

18:44 "I get Knocked Down, But I get up Again, You're Never going to keep me down" Chumbawamba - I get knocked down

[@JPruinc]

Yeah!

[@bryanvarney3383]

songs called tubthumping... its about drinking till you pass out, waking up and doing it again...

[@torotteson]

honestly you guys talk about how everyone's always making orcs too limited and evil but I've found just the opposite. I feel like ever since Warcraft came out everyone wants to take what are supposed to be the foulest brutes around only held back by their own stupid cruelty and making them way too kid friendly. Why not let orcs be orcs in a campaign? A force of nature that threaten all in their path.

[@nicholasm3265]

Tor Otteson right. I wonder how a race ever made there own system without killing each other first

[@proudpapaprick]

I like to do this with a large section of orcs, both in the generic "Gruumsh FTW" types and the freaky, demon or monster worshipping sense. Fun thing to remember - if most of a populace is uneducated or misinformed, they don't all have to be super evil. They just have to be obedient to/afraid of their scary, evil leaders.

[@iconocast]

my half orc was sold to a wizard as a child and experimented on until adult hood. hes a sorcerer now due to allot of pain full magical experiments and hates wizards.

[@coco26006]

I mean most half orc are probably not a product of love because Orcs are still by default chaotic evil

[@chillbaloo5346]

coco260 What if your human parent was also evil?

[@knightowl1985]

In Pathfinder I have a half-orc paladin. He was adopted by a human paladin who found him as a baby.

[@Saffy226]

I'm running a campaign were a war wiped out the majority of orcs. So in a one shot in the future half orcs are more common the true orcs.

[@thebr3310]

My new character, this is my first DND character ever, is named Grrog Burnshire. He's half-orc but was a genetic anomaly two full orc parents and born half-orc. After his birth they put him in a metal basket and sent him down the river where he managed to survive waterfalls and treacherous currents. He landed on a farmstead outside a small town where he is adopted by two human farmers. Tonvin and Faure Burnshire. Long story short he is blamed for a crime he 100% didn't commit and the farm was besieged by villagers and mages. His adopted parents rushed him out the backdoor and drew swords to defend their son.

[@youmaboi5279]

I'm suddenly reminded that for a some people a drone strike in the middle of a conversation is very much a reality.

[@Licjr]

I played a Half-Orc valor bard in Curse of Strahd after my paladin died. He was having a blast in Barovia: his sole goal in life was to be in epic battles so he could make songs about them later, so he was like a kid in a candy store. He was a blast to play

[@RevRaak]

Oh, wow, that "evil-only" post-apoc setting idea is awesome. I would make the apocalypse event a religious rapture, just to tease out what that would actually look like in a fantasy environment. Love the show, love the new set/look, very good work, guys! My homebrew setting includes the traditional feral barbarian orcs in the north, but I also have Native American quasi-monastic hunting culture orcs isolated in a ravine; good to hear I'm on the right track with Orcish diversity.

[@jackmyers8687]

My favourite class. Great for front line of course but Relentless Endurance helps with so many situations

[@jonwooldridge3766]

I had a 1/2 orc in 1e AD&D. He started as a cleric of Shaargas, but wanted to expand to Assassin-hood. After a long courting with the assassin's guild he was given the opportunity become an assassin through a few trails. The first trial was to extort protection money from a local merchant. Being an orc, every problem is a nail and his favored club the perfect hammer. As I entered the merchant shop / home late in the evening I caught the merchant and his son finishing up his accounting for the day. Discourse ensued and my orc was out witted by the merchant. Enter the nail approach to every problem. The merchant and his young son began to scream and howl like a tom cat in heat. With his favored club in hand he painted the walls with their blood, but the young boy escaped and alerted the guard. My orc's assassin mentor was aghast by his actions. Not due to his bloody work, but for the unprofessionalism in how he handled a simple job. He was not promoted to assassin, but was kept in the guild as an enforcer. Something more fitting to his skills. I actually loved the turn of events, and embraced the change in my character concept. Once I became a DM, I used him in several encounters as an NPC. To this day, this was one of my best experiences in D&D and development as a player / DM. I love orcs!!!

[@denisnadeau865]

As a canadian, I found the canadian orc quite funny. I am indeed quite friendly and easy going. But don't piss me off... (I am a martial artist and work in security).

[@grnteabug]

One of my favorite PCs is a Half-orc wizard. His character loves magic and the study of all things arcane. However, because he is an orc, when he went to wizard school, he was literally teased and bullied by the other students until he lashed out and fought back resulting in his expulsion. So now he travels the world honing his magical powers just so he can go back to the school one day and show them what he learned. (Preferably with a big middle finger via Bigby's hand)

[@UlrichUlrichson]

I ran a pathfinder campaign homebrew where orcs took the place of European countries. So english, French, swedish, etc. While humans were primarily acting as the Huns and Native americans, being nomadic. The elves were American and the south American countries. It led to half orcs being literally EVERYWHERE and very easily accepted into basically any society. It was probably my favorite homebrew setting I've made as far as how the races were extremely changed from their stereotypes.

[@sockfloats5868]

I love this opening/set change, like actually.

[@OscarTangoWhisky]

Thank you for turning hump day in to awesome day!

[@BernyBadger]

I like setting my orc culture similar to the krogan from mass effect

[@Meeko1010100112]

BernyBadger Krogan, Mandalorian, all the best Martial Warriors from pop fiction. The guys that may fight for very little, but with honor. That's a fun way to do it.

[@Magnus-Insomnium13]

Half Orc Monk- Scaled Fist who comes from a martial family human father/orc mother a rare happy family, channeled his rage and intimidating appearance into his fighting style as a scaled fist instead of denying and being ashamed of his nature.

[@liamdoherty1208]

You should do a video on the monstrous races presented in volo's guide to monsters ( lizard folk, tritons, tabaxi etc)

[@mikemac1298]

Half-Orcs make great Gypsies or traveling caravan types.

[@CrazedGM]

So I actually decided to go back and watch that old orc episode. Now I'm wondering if Pruitt wore the same shirt on purpose, lol.

[@JPruinc]

Ha! Serendipity, Baby!

[@elliejelly8815]

My go to is trip attack, grapple and then action surge and hit ‘em while they’re down when fighting with my half orc eldritch knight (superior technique fighting style)

[@TheJackTindle]

With regards to one of the last things Jim said, I completely agree. Orcs in my campaign are neutral nomads, wandering the places in the world where no other race inhabits. The three largest clans, Dustwalkers (arid deserts) Fogbreathers (Mountain ranges) and Saltdrinkers (these are my favourite, a massive fleet of orc pirates. Who stop only to repair and resupply before taking to the seas again.) all lead by a Helmswalker, who is the tribal leader who reads the stars and sets the course. Other races make peace with the nomad clans by offering gifts and supplies when they come through town, and this, largely, avoids conflict. But like another commentor said somewhere down the way. 'Orc'' in this world is a way of life. There are dwarves and humans that roam with these clans that are considered 'Orcs' and some city-dwelling racial orcs that are not considered to be 'orcish' by these larger clans.

[@GankWater]

One of my favorite PCs Ive made was Rokthar, the half orc druid of the moon. His mother was a human druid that shape-shifted into a dire bear to protect the woods neighboring an orc village. She spent so long in her bear form she was consumed by the feral thoughts of the bear and forgot how to be human. The Orcs saw her as a great champion of the woods and any orcs foolish enough to venture into the wood would fall by her claws. Finally a great orc warrior rose who decided he would kill the dire bear, he ventured into the woods and finally tracking the bear down in her lair he battled her until both were at exhaustion. Being an orc he fell for the strength and power of this tremendous dire bear and made love to the creature. Later the dire bear gave birth to a half-orc that the fey creatures of the wood named Rokthar.

[@KyleMaxwell]

New cameras too - that really makes things better.

[@Sean-ne3gx]

Confirmation that Pruitt's heart can be found through Star Trek? Time to re-watch TNG and DS9 again.

[@Minrow56]

Does anyone else appreciate the Blitzkrieg joke here? Pruitt's comedy is on point.

[@tylerh2548]

Another good source of inspiration for half orcs is the appropriately titled The Half Orcs series by David Dalglish. The titular characters (twin brothers) are the progeny of an orc female and elven male, if I recall.

[@lunargamer5261]

I love the idea of starting with no more than a 16 in my primary attack ability score. My current rogue started with a 14 Dex, which I supplemented by taking a level of fighter to get +2 to ranged attacks. Most of the other people in my group immediately push their ability score boosts into their main stat to get it to 20 as quickly as possible. As long as I am not completely failing in combat, I want to leave myself room for growth in the later, more challenging parts of the campaign.

[@Greenhawk96]

I just want to say, that joke Jim wasnt going to say at the end killed me

[@st.cimmerian1680]

Having an orc or a half-orc as a brave and devoted Paladin is always a great way to go, whether you're rolling a character to play, or as an NPC that is vital to your game. The savage, barbaric image and nature that seems to be persistent with these races works very well when combined with a holy and knightly profession. They can be such contrasts that it creates a very entertaining story and character. I rolled a half-orc Paladin with the Oath of Devotion, and it was easily one of the best characters I have ever played. He looked like a brute but in contrast with his angelic armor and insignias, he was always the talk of the town when he entered a city or village for the first time. Orcs and Half-Orcs rule! 🤘🏻💀

[@skyarcher04]

Love the new background.

[@Wulven-Hollow]

I love the new set guys it looks awesome.

[@jimdavis141]

Thanks! We're still getting used to it.

[@glamourweaver]

My favorite take on orcs draws from Tolkien’s idea of a race created to serve a dark lord, but then has them cut loose after that master is dead (possibly at their own hand?). So rather than going “noble savage” ala WoW, you lean into them not having a developed culture of their own outside the bondage of war and the confusion of now trying to create one.

[@General12th]

Forget half-orcs! I'm more terrified of all the airplanes invading your set!

[@pvrhye]

My half orc background idea is that the mother grew up in a really rough place and went to the toughest guy around for protection. Keeps the dark nastiness out of the backstory.

[@FoulSacrament]

Will you be covering things like the kenku or tamaxi? While only covered in volos guide, they can be pcs Also, I love your show so much

[@Thaxsar]

*Tabaxi. They are covered in Volo's to be player characters. They are also in Chult so they might be included when Tomb of Annihilation releases. Kenku have what's in Volo's and that's really all you need. They mimic speech, can't come up with their own ideas, and their main goal is to gain flight.

[@JPruinc]

We'll see. I'm playing a Kenku right now. He's fun.

[@TrickyTrickyFox]

Ah, I love playing tabaxi! :).

[@CaronDriel]

Kenku are phenomenal. I played a Kenku mystic for one session. Being the only (sort of) senior player with a group of highschoolers, I ended up needing a character that could be more of a leader, unfortunately. The Kenku (whose name is Hoot, because it's the first bird he ever saw) is now a recurring NPC and the party loves seeing him (especially me, because it means I get to take control of him again for short periods). I've got a few tips to share if you'd like. Some of them make more sense if you know his backstory, however, so I'll put that first. Feel free to skip it. Backstory? His flock were slaves to a group of Illithid. One day he was essentially mind-whipped by one of them and it triggered his mystic powers. He started having weird things happen to him and suffering debilitating migraines, and the only solution he could think of to stop these things was to steal the "Big Book of Psionics" written by the 20th level Ulitharid Grandmaster Psionicist that leads this group. He somehow manages to do so successfully (One of his starting Psionic Disciplines gives him resistance to psychic damage) and escapes into the overworld. (in my gm's setting, one of the issues in the world is that the Underdark is slowly seeping into reality, which allowed Hoot to do this) He then spent the next eight years as a hermit, studying the book and unlocking his mystic abilities. As a result he barely knows any words to mimic, and since he escaped when he was so young and has spent so long alone, his memory has kind of deteriorated so he doesn't really remember his early life very clearly. His mystic telepathy kind of provided a way around his Kenku mimicry, so I imposed some limitations of my own on it. I couldn't use it to bypass a lack of verbal knowledge, so if I knew how to say something in a weird language like bird tweets I could say it with telepathy and they'd understand, but I still had to know how to say it in SOMETHING. Tips for playing Kenku? 1. Have scratch paper to write notable quotes on to repeat back for hilarity or to progress the plot. 2. Have your Kenku stick to someone who talks a lot or says very notable things (NPC or PC) so that you can have a wider array of useful things to say. 3. Really go all in on the charades and mimicry. Especially if your character is an upbeat cheerful character who is full of excitement and curiosity. I would frequently mimic the actions or phrases of characters for comedy and explanation. Sometimes I'd even start going into a game of elaborate charades, which was fun. 4. Don't forget to show that your character struggles with their own linguistic inadequacies as much as the rest of the party. I frequently wouldn't know how to say something with the limited phrases I had available and so I would say "hoot kind of paces around the room, hopping angrily with his hands on the side of his head, making little angry noises". It amused everyone and endeared him to the party. He would also get frustrated when people referred to him as an animal or didn't understand what he said, sometimes repeating back what they say to him almost as though he's mocking them. Basically just capitalize on the pros AND the cons of being forced to mimic. Truthfully I don't think a Kenku would work fantastically for a very long game, but for a short game or a one shot they make delightful characters that can be incredibly memorable. Sorry for writing so much. =p

[@mr.incorporeal7642]

Easily one of the most fun characters I have ever played was a Half-Orc Necromancer (though not the 'cackling villain' type). Bizarrely enough he actually ended up being the party face, mostly because he was the most level-headed of the bunch.

[@samwhary5498]

My first character was a half orc inquisitive rogue. The party has not forgotten him. Ever.

[@Terry_Pie]

Half Orc Warlock. He has been chosen by Chauntea to bring fields of gold to his people. He is venturing into the human lands to learn about their agricultural practices and technologies to bring back to his people, and to spread Chauntea's bounty to all.

[@joeofdoom]

I play a half orc wizard and while it might not be the most optimised way to play a half orc or a wizard its alot of fun and he's still a powerful spellcaster.

[@creepyypaper1438]

My favorite character I've ever played was a Half Orc Bard that started with a 20 str and only a 14 cha. It was unconventional but super fun. Tavern Brawler and War Caster made for some fun times and he actually needed up being the only character to make it Out of the Abyss from the original party.

[@Maldin22]

Playing a half-orc valor bard who drums for his magic and I absolutely LOVE it. Battlebard FTW.

[@sweetandsaltyminx7310]

I'm currently playing a half orc valor bard with really low intelligence but hilariously good charisma. She's wonderful and the whole party adores her.

[@jeffreylucier5266]

Really good editing

[@ArchArturo]

In my setting I've made several tribes of orcs to be not just the best race to breed strong and fast horses, but also superb archers (yes, based on the mongols :D).

[@jerejones2525]

Im currently playing a half-orc bard and it works really well

[@SuperMcmonster]

So in my group's new 5e campaign, pretty much 3/4 of all the races present in the world are half-bloods. Half dragon half human? Half-Dragon. Half Half Dragon and Human? DragonBorn. Everyone fucks. so every subtype is represented by a mixing of races.

[@jimdavis141]

played in a campaign like that where the DM thought up dozens and dozens of combos for each of the standard races. He even had different stats based on if you were elf-hobgoblin or hobgoblin-elf.

[@And-c7n]

Sounds like you are channelling the Yuan-ti Web DM procreation pit episode!

[@Aleph-Noll]

im playing a Half orc samurai right now and its awesome.

[@overnightgrowth]

I wonder if you guys have read any of the Malazan book of the Fallen stuff. This discussion about varying up the standard types make me think of that series. It has a great deal of switching up known formulas and make 'elves', 'orcs', and 'dwarves' more interesting and fully fledged out as cultures where many individuals don't fit to the 'standard orc role'. In any case if you haven't read it I highly recommend the series it has been an incredible source of inspiration for my D&D stuff and the series is actually based on the homebrew roleplaying stuff from the writer.

[@elianisthebrave6988]

I once made a Half-orc barbarian that did come from rape... his Barbarian HUMAN mother on some orc she bested in battle and kept as a slave. my friends had a laugh at the subversion.

[@CombatSportsNerd]

LMFAO Perfect

[@borisdaanimal4014]

don't forget about the Zealot Barbarian who, with persistent rage, CANNOT DIE

[@oliverwilhelm6171]

My half-orc, Olo Glyphscar, is from a coupling of two nations. Orcs and a norse-themed version of humanity fought against each other for generations in a wide, snowy expanse until an army of the undead interrupted them. They were forced to work together, but couldn't defeat the necromancer leader, who fled into the caverns below - sending undead up into the surface world. The orcs and humans had to band together on a more permanent basis, the human jarl's son marrying the orc chieftain's most beautiful daughter - and finding they really liked each other's company. Olo Glyphscar, the result of that binding, is technically a noble - and considered a perfect melding of both races by his people. He is honorable, and eager for battle as a mix of Viking and orcish culture - dressed in heavy furs and counted on to be the representative for his people in an effort to gain more allies against the forces of the undead. He's got his own ambitions, though - the mix of human forethought and cunning mixed with the orcish thoughts on honor and willingness to fight for his beliefs has made him a good companion for his party. He also really, REALLY enjoys people expecting him to be a barbarian (as the culture, not the class) only to be caught off-guard when he's shown to be a savage noble.

[@simcptmike]

I totally spotted the Marvel heroes rpg in the background! I still have that,I love it!

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

I've never played a half-orc, but related to the usual assumption of sexual violence in their creation, my latest character is a half-elf produced from an elf-on-human rape.

[@BERKAYWOOD]

mdiem these smugass elfs.

[@TimmyTheNerd]

I play a Half-Orc Paladin of Kelemvor whose parents loved eachother and use to fight alongside eachother during their adventuring days against a demonic threat.

[@GreatgoatonFire]

My favorite character in DnD 5 so far was a Half-Orc Paladin Nobel. It was pretty fun to balance arthurian ideals with a bottled up temper.

[@dixieflatline9772]

So many amendments to the constitution. . .I can only choose one. My comment. . .is the FIF!

[@syzyphyz]

Half-orcs aren't for dorks, they'll scoop out your eyeballs with sporks.

[@master4ries]

Eberron has had a very interesting design for orcs. Sacred druids and warriors that guarded the world from a great evil that once plagued the world (aberrations). Gatekeepers

[@gnomewarlord6221]

I've always imagines orcs to moreso have a valhalla mentality, that humans are an offshoot of orcs, using positive emotions to tank through battles. It isn't necessarily that they worship an evil god, or their ideals are opposing, it's just become more of an ancestral duty to try to conquer the other side.