What colour is orc blood?

[sadie]

While writing some back story for a campaign I'm planning, the question came up of what colour orc blood is. I'd assumed a dark red, but I'd like to make sure - at least one of my players is likely to question it so I should have an answer ready.

Most of the answers I can find out there seem to relate to Warhammer or WoW, rather than D&D (and seem to contain some very weird ideas, like orcs being fungal in nature rather than mammals).

Since D&D orcs are closely tied to Tolkein's mythos, is there any mention in his books of the colour of their blood?

[Gralamin]

Tolkein's orcs have black blood. But really, it can be any color you want.

[KellKheraptis]

Tolkein's orcs have black blood. But really, it can be any color you want.

Or any color the caster with presti. wants it to be if he's quick enough as it spills

[Vizzerdrix]

Blue, just like every other mammal.

[Elfin]

I prefer black, myself.

[Leon]

But really, it can be any color you want.

This.
If you are building the world its free reign for you to choose what ever you want as the colour

[Claudius Maximus]

Depends on your Orc fluff. If they're the spawn of darkness, black. If they're just another humaniod race, red like every other mammal.

[Seffbasilisk]

Tolkien had them black, but I normally go with either a green or a red.

[ZeroNumerous]

Red, like every other mammal.

Though, if you have mystical origins for your orks orcs, then they can be whatever color you like.

[Fhaolan]

Paisley.




What?

[Dhavaer]

Tutti-frutti.

[Jayngfet]

Prismatic, orcs actually bleed rainbows and sunshine. That's why it's so pleasant and good to kill them.

[Murdim]

Prismatic, orcs actually bleed rainbows and sunshine. That's why it's so pleasant and good to kill them.

Why can't I help finding this awesome ? Why ?

[SlyGuyMcFly]

Why can't I help finding this awesome ? Why ?

My keen intellect and uncanny insight suggest that this may be because it is awesome

[Mastikator]

I let orcs, goblinoids, ogres, trolls and other "savage" and "evil" races have black blood.

It might make sense to have some kind of fey have glowing prismatic blood.

[Leon]

Make them a Noble race and have Blue Blood

[Yora]

I think real black blood always looks strange if you have it shown. I rather go for a really dark red, that looks almost black in bad lighting.

[Triaxx]

Varies from Orc to Orc. You never know until you cut them open.

[Kizara]

Green.

It's also good for alien blood.

[Sharkman1231]

If you want a tiny bit of realism, and I know this is a fantasy setting so it doesn't matter. Hemoglobin is the stuff that carries oxygen in the blood. It is one of the reasons blood is red. If orcs have more muscles, they need more oxygen, so their blood would be darker red. If there was a race of creatures with a lowered CON (let's say elves) their blood could be green, reflecting that instead of hemoglobin (iron-based) they have hemocyanin (copper-based) which is not a good as hemoglobin at carring oxygen hence making them more frail.
Yay, Science in D&D!!!

[Galileo]

You forgot to mention the cells that carry oxygen in bugbears' blood: haemogoblins.

[Morty]

In a book I've read, goblins are blue-skinned and have blue blood, while hobgoblins are yellow and have yellow blood. Though orcs have red blood IIRC, it proves that you can do pretty much anything and it won't look weird.

[KillianHawkeye]

In Star Trek VI, the Klingons had pink blood.

... ...

Just thought I'd mention it.

[Yuki Akuma]

Pretty sure in the official illustrations, all humanoids have red blood.

[BobVosh]

Fungus based orcs is warhammer, as you guessed.

Just try to kill a race that explodes into spores after you whack it with an axe. Go on, I got time.

Anyway....your players actually ask what color the blood of their foes are? I'm kinda jealous now...

[Matthew]

In my campaign, black.

[Glass Mouse]

If you want a tiny bit of realism, and I know this is a fantasy setting so it doesn't matter. Hemoglobin is the stuff that carries oxygen in the blood. It is one of the reasons blood is red. If orcs have more muscles, they need more oxygen, so their blood would be darker red. If there was a race of creatures with a lowered CON (let's say elves) their blood could be green, reflecting that instead of hemoglobin (iron-based) they have hemocyanin (copper-based) which is not a good as hemoglobin at carring oxygen hence making them more frail.
Yay, Science in D&D!!!

You are awesome!

[Faleldir]

Actually, hemocyanin is blue. (Not that it matters unless your players ask you to explain it.)

[ashmanonar]

Blue, just like every other mammal.

Damnit, and I just bought this Catgirl.

[Sharkman1231]

Actually, hemocyanin is blue. (Not that it matters unless your players ask you to explain it.)

When you slice up horse-shoe crabs or cuttlefish their blood is blue-green, so I was close. My players would definitly ask me to explain the blood color. I also realised that all the elves in my campain will have green-ish blood because it's such a fun idea. Which then leads me to wondering what color half-elves blood would be, and now I'm going to say PURPLE!!!