It is said that orcs have the ability to breed with almost any humanoid. Most pairings bring out the worst in both species. They are rude, crude, crass, and generally obnoxious. This does not mean that all half-orcs are horrid, only most of them. This is not to say no benefits are derived, as the natural strength and stamina is enhanced in the offspring. PCs are typically the paragons of orc-human crossbreeds able to advance in a character class (or two).

MAXIMUM LEVEL BY CLASS

• Cleric = 5th

• Fighter = 10th

• Thief = 9th

• Assassin = 15th

MULTI-CLASS COMBINATIONS

• Cleric/assassin

• Cleric/fighter

• Cleric/thief

• Fighter/assassin

• Fighter/thief

Half-orc specimens suitable as player characters are those that are orc-human crossbreeds and appear outwardly as human. So while their features tend to be coarse with large teeth, bristly hair tufts, and thick features, they can exist in civilized lands without being hunted. However, bigotry does exist (including for those actual non-orc-blooded humans that are unfortunate enough to possess the same features), and discrimination can take many forms, harsher in some areas than others.

A half-orc that does not die by violence can live a maximum of 80 years. Half-orc males tend to go bald in their mid-twenties. Half-orcs favoring their orcish side will worship One-Eye (“The Watcher”) a brutal orcish deity whose holy symbol is a blood-encrusted spear.

RACIAL TRAITS

Ability Scores. Your Strength score increases by 1 and your Constitution score increases by 1. Minimums are a 6 Strength, and a 13 Constitution. Maximums are an 18/99 Strength, 17 Intelligence, 14 Wisdom, 17 Dexterity, and a 19 Constitution.

Age. Half-orcs mature at the same rate as humans, and PCs begin when they reach 18 to 20 years old. Half-orcs have a lifespan of 80 years.

Alignment. Half-orcs inherit a tendency toward chaos from their orc parents and are not strongly inclined toward good. Half-orcs raised among orcs and willing to live out their lives among them are usually evil.

Size. Half-orcs are man-sized, standing 5-1/2 to 6 feet tall and weighing around 180 lbs.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 120 feet per round.

Hear Check. [complex]—+15%.

Starting Languages. Common, Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, and Orc.

SPECIAL ABILITIES & QUALITIES

Infravision. You have infravision in dark conditions. You can see in dim light outdoors out to 100 yards as if it were daylight. Others may see you in the darkness due to eye shine (light reflecting off your eyes) out to double the normal radius of your light.

Giant-type. Unless you look fully human, you have the creature sub-type, giant. This may have bearing on certain effects in the game (damage meted out by rangers, certain magic effects, etc.).

Orcish Demeanor. When interacting with other races, your Charisma is treated as if it were 2 points lower with a maximum score of 12.

Resistance. [disease; 30%] You have a 30% resistance to disease effects.

Spirit. A half-orc's anima is powered by a spirit, not a soul. Thus, certain effects may work differently on them. For example, a half-orc cannot be raised or resurrected, but can be reincarnated or restored to life via wish-type magic.