What are Orcs/ Half Orcs good at?

[silverwolfer]

Besides large brutes like barbarians and fighters

What would a forgotten realms theme orc be good at without being severely hindered?

[Chilingsworth]

Besides large brutes like barbarians and fighters

What would a forgotten realms theme orc be good at without being severely hindered?

Well, (standard) orcs are the example creature for the blooded one template out of unapproachable east. It makes them even BSF-ier.

Some of the orc subraces out of races of faerun might be interesting choices for divine casters (gray orcs) or a gish (Oorogs)

[Pickford]

No penalties for being a Monk, Rogue, Druid, or Cleric, all of whom get into the fray.

Edit: Maybe look at Prestige classes?

[Juntao112]

Half-orc Monk can go into Half-orc Paragon to get rage even if lawful. This opens up interesting doors.

[Diovid]

(Desert) Half-Orcs are great at intimidation.

Half-Orc Paragon 1 + the Menacing Demeanor feat + the Never Outnumbered skill trick + various intimidation related feats + classes that enhance intimidation (such as Fighter with the Zhentarim substitution levels or the Scarlet Corsair prc) = scary.

See the fear handbook (http://web.archive.org/web/20120520034053/http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=3809.0).

[Gildedragon]

Well, (standard) orcs are the example creature for the blooded one template out of unapproachable east. It makes them even BSF-ier.

Some of the orc subraces out of races of faerun might be interesting choices for divine casters (gray orcs) or a gish (Oorogs)

What is the oorog orc you talk about? my googling fails to divine its nature or provenance.

[Chilingsworth]

What is the oorog orc you talk about? my googling fails to divine its nature or provenance.

Sorry, misspelled it. It's "orog." They're bigger, smarter, more charismatic orcs that come with some goodies. They do have a level adjustment, though. So, they'd only be good with LA buyoff available.

[silverwolfer]

I would be more inclined towards a gray orc over a oorag.

[Ginger]

I know you said besides brutes, but an Orc or half orc can make a charger too strong not to mention.

With spirit lion Totem barbarian at level 1, you can start abusing your pounce much earlier with Headlong Rush feat.

When you get into the upper levels, your damage is best represented in scientific notation.

[lunar2]

ah, if you are going to be doing BSF, might as well go with the Orc siege engine.

(Orc Fighter 2/ goliath bonded stoneblessed 3/ goliath barbarian 1/ warhulk 10/ hulking hurler 3/ X 1)


it's really big, really stupid, and it fights really well both in melee and range.

[silverwolfer]

Hmm think am balancing towards a desert half orc from many arrows, that is a cleric.

[Flickerdart]

Dragonborn Water Orcs are not only good at giving hits, but also taking them, thanks to +4 CON. That CON also makes them great Dragonfire Adepts.

[J-H]

WRT fluff rather than mechanics, I'd expect a typical orc tribe to have some experts (tanners, smith, cooks, etc) with a few casters... the majority of the PC-classed population would be a mix of barbarians, rangers, scouts, and fighters... they don't spend most of their time fighting, but hunting and herding.

[eastmabl]

Killing first level adventurers.

[Sgt. Cookie]

Since they don't take a penalty to wisdom, any divine spellcaster would be good. A Paladin with the Serenity feat would be a Good choice for an Orc/Half-Orc.

[nedz]

Killing fifth level adventurers.

FTFY :smallbiggrin: ........

[Psyren]

In PF they make great witches.

(Half-orcs make great pretty much anything now as well.)

[ericgrau]

Well, other melee besides barbarians and fighters. And trippers too, since that depends even more on strength. A half-dragon orc can trip well. Likewise good on monk trippers.

Besides that I had a concept for an orc wizard who relies on no save melee touch spells. There aren't very many of them, but they are quite good. And maybe with spell compendium you could find a few more. You do need to work on your defenses a bit to be a melee wizard, but vampiric touch solves part of that problem. Until level 13 you need combat casting too. Likewise your melee attack bonus does matter until around that same level. Considering that many campaigns end around level 15 the strength does help.

A monk/wizard hybrid also benefits. Flurry of shivering touches and so on. Enlightened Fist (Complete Arcane) is the prestige class for this hybrid.

[Coidzor]

You don't need to be a barbarian to be scary. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252815#4)