Half-Orc

Half-Orc Characteristics
Exp Rating: 1
Base Hitpoints: CON/3 + STR/3
Level Hitpoints: 5 per level
Size: Medium
Attributes: +2 STR, -2 to either CHA or INT, +2 to any attribute other than STR
Languages: Common, Orcish
Stamina: 3
Resolve: 1
Philosophy Ranks: Rank 1 Mental, Rank 2 Physical
Senses: Darkvision
Skills
Points per Level: Gain 5 Skill Points per level.
Favored Skills:
Starting Skill Points:
  • 16 points to be spent in the above Racial Skills. These points cannot be used to raise a skill above Rank 3.
Movement
Shift: 5ft, 2 seg
Skirmish: 30ft, 3 segs
Sprint: 50ft, 3 segs
Overland: 3 mph or 30 mi/day
Racial Features
  • Half-breed: As a Half-Orc, you are considered to be an orc and a human. You are also considered to be a greenblood. With your GM's permission, you may count as a different race other than human.
  • Orcish Fortitude: Gain a +2 racial bonus to Fortitude.
  • Orcish Hide: Gain Damage Reduction equal to [½ Physical Rank] against Slashing, Chopping, Bludgeoning, and Piercing damage.
  • Thick Headed: Gain Daze Resistance (1).
  • Steadfast: When making a saving throw, you may choose to reroll a single die.
Cultural Features
  • Bonus Feats: Gain 1 bonus feat at 1st level, 6th level, and at every 5 additional levels (11th, 16th, 21st, etc).
  • Imposing: Gain a +2 racial bonus to Coercion checks.

What are you complaining about?! Plenty of fresh air, fresh meat, fresh women and all the fame and gold we can get our dirty mitts on, my friend! I think you're letting that miserable survival instinct bring you down, little buddy! Now come on! We gotta protect that wall, cause if we don't who else is gonna waste their damned time keeping these fools alive? -Sorek Blackfang, Half-Orc Mercenary

Appearance

As the name suggests, a half-orc has one orc parent and one parent of another race (almost invariably human). Half-orcs typically favor their human parent in appearance but display obviously orcish characteristics, including a heavy jaw, prominent brow ridges, protruding tusk-like teeth, hairy arms, and a clammy, slightly greenish skin pallor. Half-orcs otherwise combine the best of both parents, being more physically powerful than humans and smarter than orcs. Half-orcs generally stand just under 6 feet to just over 6½ feet in height, and usually weigh between 200 and 300 lbs.

  • Height: 5ft 6in + 4d4in
  • Weight: 150lbs + 1d100lbs + [3x STR]lbs

Ecology and History

Half-Orcs are often the product of sexual brutality at the hands of raiding orcs, and as such are often cast out of their homes upon birth, or worse. More often than not they are taken in by their orc parents provided the victim of the assault was also taken captive. Ironically, orcs hold less racial prejudice against half breeds than elves, not through any sense of benevolence, but more because a half-orc can still swing a sword. On some occasions half-orcs are allowed to live in human society, although most are watched with suspicion or even loathing. In any case, half-orcs can appear in either culture, but they are rarely regarded as equals by their people until they prove themselves.

Half-Orcs often choose a military or adventurer's path, their characteristics making them well suited to a harsh lifestyle. Many of them also specialize in martial combat over divine or eldritch magics, their heritage making the learning curve a bit steep, although some do exist. A half-orc combatant is a dangerous opponent, bringing with him the strength of an orc and the cunning versatility of a human, it is a mistake for one to assume such an opponent is a "stupid brute"

Half-orcs usually view other races based on how they have treated them in the past. Most half-orcs don't hold a particular dislike for one race or another, any prejudice they develop tends to come from where they are raised. The one exception to this is Half-Orcs and Elves. It would almost seem that they have a built-in predisposition to disliking their ancestral enemies, although the more enlightened half-orc can overcome these issues with a bit of practice.