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{{Infobox D&D creature |image=<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:FiveShallBeOneCover.jpg|200 px]] --> |caption=An orc wrestles with an adventurer on the cover of ''[[Five Shall Be One]]'' (1991). |name=Orc |alignment=Chaotic Evil |type=[[Humanoid]] |subtype=[[#Subtype|See below]] |source= |first= |mythical= |based=[[Orc]] |wizards_image_URL=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/MM35_gallery/MM35_PG203.jpg |OGL_stats_URL=http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/monstersOtoR.html#orc }} [[File:531ec6ed51c923e4.jpg|thumb|male orc]] {{Tsrwotc}} {{Source|[[Paizo Publishing]]}} In the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' roleplaying game, '''orcs''' are a primitive race of savage, bestial, barbaric [[humanoid]]. ==Publication history== The orc was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game. The D&D orc is largely based upon the [[orc]]s appearing in the works of [[Wikipedia:J. R. R. Tolkien|J.R.R. Tolkien]]. ===Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)=== The orc was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in the [[Dungeons & Dragons (1974)|Dungeons & Dragons "white box" set]] (1974), where they were described as tribal creatures that live in caves or villages.<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]], and [[Dave Arneson]]. ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (3-Volume Set) ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1974)</ref> ===Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)=== The orc appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977),<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' (TSR, 1977)</ref> where it is described as a fiercely competitive bully, a tribal creature often living underground. The mythology and attitudes of the orcs are described in detail in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #62 (June 1982), in [[Roger E. Moore]]'s article, "The Half-Orc Point of View."<ref>[[Roger E. Moore|Moore, Roger E]]. "The Half-Orc Point of View." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #62 (TSR, June 1982)</ref> In the article "Hey, Wanna Be a Kobold?" by Joseph Clay in ''Dragon'' #141 (January 1989), [[kobold]]s, [[xvart]]s, [[goblin]]s, and orcs were presented as player character races along with two new character classes the "Shaman" and the "Witch Doctor".<ref>{{cite journal | authorlink = Joseph Clay | last = Clay | first = Joseph | title = Hey, Wanna Be a Kobold? | journal = [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]] | volume = #141 | publisher = TSR | year = 1989}}</ref> ===Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)=== This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the orc, in the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set]]'' (1977, 1981, 1983).<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]], and [[Dave Arneson]] [1974], edited by [[John Eric Holmes|J. Eric Holmes]]. ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (TSR, 1977)</ref><ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]], and [[Dave Arneson]] [1974], edited by [[Tom Moldvay]]. ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (TSR, 1981)</ref><ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]], and [[Dave Arneson]] [1974], edited by [[Frank Mentzer]]. ''Dungeons & Dragons Set 1: Basic Rules'' (TSR, 1983)</ref> The orc was featured as a player character race in the ''Orcs of Thar'' gazetteer (1989).<ref>{{cite book | author = [[Bruce Heard|Heard, Bruce]] | title = [[The Orcs of Thar]] | publisher = TSR | year = 1989}}</ref> Orcs were also later featured in the ''Dungeons & Dragons Game'' set (1991), the ''Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia'' (1991),<ref>[[Aaron Allston|Allston, Aaron]], [[Steven Schend|Steven E. Schend]], [[Jon Pickens]], and Dori Watry. ''[[Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia]]'' (TSR, 1991)</ref> the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' set (1994), and the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' set (1999). The '''Krugel orcs''' are presented as a player character race for the [[Hollow World]] [[campaign setting]] in the ''Hollow World Boxed Set'', in the "[Player's Guide]" (1990).<ref>Allston, Aaron. ''[[Hollow World Campaign Set]]'' (TSR, 1990)</ref> ===Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)=== The orc appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989),<ref>[[David "Zeb" Cook|Cook, David]], et al. ''Monstrous Compendium Volume One'' (TSR, 1989)</ref>, which also features the '''orog''', a relative of the orc. The orc and orog are reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).<ref>Stewart, Doug, ed. ''Monstrous Manual'' (TSR, 1993)</ref> The orc is detailed as a playable character race in ''The [[Complete Book of Humanoids]]'' (1993).<ref>[[Bill Slavicsek|Slavicsek, Bill]]. ''The [[Complete Book of Humanoids]]'' (TSR, 1993)</ref> The orc is later presented as a playable character race again in ''[[Player's Option: Skills & Powers]]'' (1995).<ref>[[Douglas Niles|Niles, Douglas]] and Dale Donovan. ''[[Player's Option: Skills & Powers]]'' (TSR, 1995)</ref> The '''scro''', a space-faring relative of the orc for the [[Spelljammer]] [[campaign setting]] first appears in ''Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II'' (1991),<ref>[[Allen Varney|Varney, Allen]], ed. ''Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II'' (TSR, 1991)</ref> and then in the modules ''Goblin's Return'' (1991) and ''Heart of the Enemy'' (1992). The scro is then presented as a player character race for the setting in the ''Complete Spacefarer's Handbook'' (1992)<ref>Scott, Curtis M. ''The [[Complete Spacefarer's Handbook]]'' (TSR, 1992)</ref> and is expanded on a few years later in the first ''Dragon'' Annual (1996) in the "Campaign Classics" feature.<ref>[[Roger E. Moore|Moore, Roger E]]. "Campaign Classics: The Scro." ''Dragon'' Annual #1 (TSR, 1996)</ref> The '''ondonti''', a version of orcs bred by the goddess [[Eldath]] in the [[Forgotten Realms]] campaign setting, first appear in the ''Ruins of Zhentil Keep'' boxed set (in the Monstrous Compendium booklet) in 1995. The black and red '''neo-orog''' appear in the Realms' '''Spellbound''' boxed set (1995). These orc variants all then appear in the ''Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three'' (1996).<ref>[[Jon Pickens|Pickens, Jon]], ed. ''Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three'' (TSR, 1996)</ref> The Orog for the [[Birthright]] campaign setting appeared in the ''Birthright Campaign Setting'' set (1995). ===Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)=== The orc appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).<ref>[[Monte Cook|Cook, Monte]], [[Jonathan Tweet]], and [[Skip Williams]]. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2000)</ref> The '''gray orc''' is presented as a player character race for the Forgotten Realms setting in both ''Races of Faerûn'' (2003),<ref>Reynolds, Sean K., Forbeck, Matt, Jacobs, James, Boyd, Erik L. ''Races of Faerûn'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2003)</ref> and ''Unapproachable East'' (2003). The '''mountain orc''' and orog (deep orc) also presented as player character races in ''Races of Faerûn''. ===Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)=== The orc appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003). The '''aquatic orc''', the '''arctic orc''', the '''desert orc''', the '''jungle orc''', the '''orc paragon''', and the '''water orc''' were all introduced in ''[[Unearthed Arcana]]'' (2004).<ref>Collins, Andy, Jesse Decker, David Noonan, and Rich Redman. ''[[Unearthed Arcana]]'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)</ref> The '''orc snow shaman''' appeared in ''Frostburn: Mastering the Perils of Ice and Snow'' (2004).<ref>Baur, Wolfgang, [[James Jacobs]], and [[George Strayton]]. ''[[Frostburn]]'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)</ref> The '''orc battle priest''', the '''orc berserker''', and the '''war howler orc''' are introduced in the ''Monster Manual IV'' (2006).<ref>Kestrel, Gwendolyn F.M. ''[[Monster Manual]] IV'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2006)</ref> The '''frostblood orcs''' appear in ''Dragon Magic'' (2006). The scro of the Spelljammer setting return in ''Dragon'' #339 (January 2006).<ref>Cole, Joshua. "Races of Spelljammer." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #339 ([[Paizo Publishing]], 2006)</ref> ===Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)=== The orc appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008), and is also presented as an optional player character race.<ref>Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)</ref> ==Description== Orcs are disfigured humanoid carnivores, standing approximately 5'11 to 6'2, weighing from 180 to 280 lbs. They are easily noticeable due to their green to gray skin, lupine ears, lower canines resembling boar tusks, and their muscular builds. Orcs stand in a bent over shape making them appear as ape-like humans. Bestial and savage, orcs band together as trıbes, living on hunting and raiding. Believing that the only way to survive is by expanding their territories, they have developed enmities wıth many other races, although mainly [[Elf|elves]] and [[Dwarf|dwarves]], as well as [[human]]s, [[gnome]]s, [[halfling]]s, [[goblin]]s, [[hobgoblin]]s and even other orc tribes. Even though they have good relationships with other evil humanoids in times of peace, their chaotic nature stops them from cooperating unless forced to do so by a powerful leader. Orcs live in a patriarchal society, taking pride on how many females and male children they have. Orcs like scars and take pride in exposing them, whether they are of a victory or loss. Their chief deity [[Gruumsh]] claims that the orc is the top of the food chain, and that all riches are the property of orcs stolen by others. ==Subtype== In earlier editions of Dungeons & Dragons, the orc was a subtype of [[goblinoid]]. In the latest version, the orc has been promoted to its own subtype. ===In earlier editions=== Orcs vary widely in appearance as a result of frequent crossbreeding with other species. In general, they resemble primitive humans with grey-green skin covered with coarse hair. Orcs have a slightly stooped posture, a low jutting forehead, and a snout instead of a nose. Orcs have well-developed canine teeth for eating meat and short pointed ears that resemble those of a wolf. Orcish snouts and ears have a slightly pink tinge. Their eyes are human, with a reddish tint that sometimes makes them appear to glow red when they reflect dim light sources in near darkness. This is actually part of their optical system, a pigment which gives them [[infravision]]. Male orcs are about 5½ to 6 feet tall. Females average 6 inches shorter than males. Orcs prefer to wear colors that most humans think unpleasant: blood red, rust red, mustard yellow, yellow green, moss green, greenish purple, and blackish brown. Their armor is unattractive besides — dirty and often a bit rusty. Orcs speak Orcish, a language derived from older human and elvish languages. There is no common standard of Orcish, so the language has many dialects which vary from tribe to tribe. Orcs have also learned to speak local common tongues, but are not comfortable with them. Some orcs have a limited vocabulary in goblin, hobgoblin, and ogre dialects. Earlier versions of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' depicted orcs slightly differently. They were Lawful Evil, and were sometimes described as having [[Wikipedia:Suidae|porcine]] snouts (an illustration in the 1977 Monster Manual depicted them with pig-like faces). An insightful passage from the [[Monstrous Manual]] reads, "Orcs have a reputation for cruelty that is deserved, but humans are just as capable of evil as orcs". The [[half-orc]] in the original [[Editions of Dungeons & Dragons|AD&D]] game was a standard player character race, typically assuming the [[assassin]] [[Character class|class]]. Half-orcs were removed in the second edition of the game but were revived, albeit altered, in one of the 1995 revision books -- ''Players Option: Skills And Powers'' -- to the second edition rules. Half-orcs also appear as a core playable race in [[Editions of Dungeons & Dragons|D&D 3rd edition]]. ==Orc crossbreeds== A fecund race, orcs often breed with other humanoid creatures. Known crossbreeds include: *[[Half-orc]]s: These orc-human crossbreeds are most often born in as the unfortunate byproduct of raids in border areas between human and orc cultures. Despite rejection from both sides of their heritage, many half-orcs achieve renown. *[[Losel]]s: Losels are orc-baboon crossbreeds bred by [[Iuz]] and the [[Scarlet Brotherhood]] because they reproduce faster than common orcs. *[[Ogrillion]]s: These creatures are the brutish, armor-skinned offspring of a female orc and a male ogre. *[[Orog]]s: An orog is the offspring of a male orc and a female ogre. Orogs usually live among orcs; they are stronger, more intelligent, and more disciplined than typical orcs. ==Orcs in various campaign settings== Orcs appear in nearly all published ''Dungeons & Dragons'' [[campaign setting|settings]]. ===Orcs in ''Dragonlance''=== There is some controversy regarding orcs in the ''[[Dragonlance]]''. The 1st edition AD&D ''Dragonlance Adventures'' hardbound rulebook states that orcs do not exist on [[Krynn]], with [[ogre]]s and [[minotaur]]s largely replacing their typical role. Second and 3rd edition Dragonlance supplements also remove orcs from the world of Krynn. The main confusion on the subject has occurred from a few ''Dragonlance'' novels and/or adventures in which the writer has accidentally included orcs. In particular, the novel ''[[Kendermore]]'' by Mary Kirchoff, where one of the main characters is a half-orc. This has occurred with other iconic races of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', such as [[drow]], that are not native to the ''Dragonlance'' setting. Some suggest that the presence of orcs in ''Dragonlance'' can be explained through planar or space travel as Krynn is connected to other ''Dungeons & Dragons'' worlds (where orcs exist) through the ''[[Planescape]]'' and ''[[Spelljammer]]'' settings. ===Orcs in ''Eberron''=== In the ''[[Eberron]]'' campaign setting, orcs are portrayed in a more positive light. Given to spirituality and nature-worship, they established successful societies, learning druidic secrets from the green dragon [[Vvaraak]] while the goblinoid races built a mighty empire, some 16,000 years ago. The orc societies took a massive blow during the [[daelkyr]] invasion 9,000 years ago, though it was the orcs now known as the Gatekeepers who were able to stop the invasion by sealing the daelkyr beneath Eberron and severing the link between Eberron and the daelkyr home plane of Xoriat. The Gatekeeper [[druidic sect]] remains a presence in Eberron, albeit one largely concerned with defending the world from outsiders, aberrations and other unnatural foes rather than politics. ===Orcs in the ''Forgotten Realms''=== In the ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'' campaign setting, orcs are divided into the orcs of the [[North Faerûn|north]] (Mountain Orcs) and the orcs of the [[East Faerûn|east]] ([http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20030301a Gray Orcs]). The gray orcs came to [[Faerûn]] through a portal opened in [[Mulhorand]] by an Imaskari wizard. The orcs' invasion caused the Orcgate Wars in which the pious gray orcs called [[avatar]]s of their deities down to help them, and the Mulhorandi and Untheric people did the same. Led by [[Re]] these pantheons and their soldiers eventually broke the gray orcs' armies. In the north, orcs are known for overbreeding and then spilling out in hordes upon the nations thereabouts, including the [[Silver Marches]], [[Icewind Dale]] and, in times past, the old elven empires around [[Cormanthyr]]. Foremost amongst the orcs of this area is the Many Arrows tribe headed by [[King Obould Many-Arrows]], who is blessed by [[Gruumsh]]. ===Orcs in ''Greyhawk''=== In the ''[[World of Greyhawk]]'', orcs, called ''euroz'' in the [[Flan (Greyhawk)|Flan]] tongue, can be found in almost all locales of the [[Flanaess]], but are most heavily concentrated in the [[Pomarj]] and the [[Empire of Iuz]], the [[Bone March]], and [[North Kingdom]]. There is also known to exist a great orcish city known as [[Garel Enkdal]] in the [[Griff Mountains]]. The orcs of the [[Baklunish]] nation of [[Zeif]] are very different from their brethren, having very nearly been assimilated into human society, though they are still regarded as lower-class. ===Orcs in ''Mystara''=== Orcs are prevalent in both the Known World, the Savage Coast, and the Hollow World. They were featured in GAZ 10, [[Orcs of Thar]], which details their culture and more about the orc-dominated Broken Lands southeast of Glantri. ===Orcs in ''Spelljammer''=== A variety of orc, called "scro" ("orcs" spelled backward), were featured in the ''[[Spelljammer]]'' setting. Unlike the typical orcs featured in ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the scro were sophisticated and disciplined, with a strong, well-organized martial culture. ===Orcs in d20 System settings=== Following the precedents set in the earliest ''Dungeons & Dragons'' materials, a great many [[d20 System]] publishers have retained Orcs in their own works. While many of these publishers have examined orcs in greater depth than was the norm in earlier works, most of those have not reinvented this race as such, and it still tends to be identified with coarseness and brutality. Such products include [[Badaxe Games]]' ''Heroes of High Favor: Half Orcs'' and [[Skirmisher Publishing]]'s ''Orcs of the Triple Death'' line of miniatures [http://www.skirmisher.com/OrcsOfTheTripleDeath.html]. ==Critical reception== The orc was ranked first among the ten best low-level monsters by the authors of ''Dungeons & Dragons For Dummies''. They describe the orc as "The iconic man-beast savage... simply the classic adversary for a low-level hero."<ref name="Dummies">{{cite book|last=Slavicsek|first=Bill|coauthors=Rich Baker, Jeff Grubb|title=Dungeons & Dragons For Dummies|publisher=For Dummies|date=2006|pages=373|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=xNU7E01MCEgC&pg=PA361&dq=%22mind+flayer%22&lr=&as_brr=3&client=opera#PPA361,M1|accessdate=2009-02-12}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==Additional reading== *[[Gary Holian|Holian, Gary]], [[Erik Mona]], [[Sean K Reynolds]], and [[Frederick Weining]]. ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2000). *[[Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1983). *Reynolds, Sean K, and [[Chris Pramas]]. ''[[Slavers]]'' (TSR, 2000). *[[Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[From the Ashes]]'' (TSR, 1992). *Sargent, Carl. ''[[Iuz the Evil]]'' (TSR, 1993). *Sargent, Carl. ''[[Monster Mythology]]'' (TSR, 1992). ==External links== * [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/orc.htm Orc d20 SRD entry] {{Wikipedia|Orc (Dungeons & Dragons)}} [[Category:Humanoids]] [[Category:Eberron creatures]] [[Category:Forgotten Realms creatures]] [[Category:Greyhawk creatures]]
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