Given the recent controversy with a certain other company’s Orcs, I want to highlight Dragonbane.

Orcs are NPCs or potentially PCs in the Dragonbane RPG. They are Nightkin in that game, meaning they are vulnerable to sunlight. Several beings in the Dragonbane universe have a similar weakness including Goblins, Hobgoblins, Ogres, and Trolls. Nightkin can still come out if they are heavily clothed or if the weather is heavily overcast/ dense fog.

Orcs in Dragonbane have a sunlight allergy.

Do I think they make for good villains? In Dragonbane, the Orcs have gotten regularly screwed over by Elves, Dwarves, Humans, and even Wolfkin, making them bitterly spiteful toward other Kin. Among their own people they are extremely loyal and honorable. The canon lore in Dragonbane for Orcs, short though it is, remains pretty usable. I’m keeping it for my game.

Do I think Orcs make a good Player Character Kin?

I’ve played Orcs in other games. My Warhammer 40K main force is Orks. My preferred army for Mageknight is Orcs. I played an Orc mercenary in Shadowrun. I had a lot of fun with the Orcs in Earthdawn RPG. Would I make a case for them with my Dragonbane players?

I think if a player came to me and absolutely wanted to play an Orc in Dragonbane, I’d consider it. I would have to have a clear understanding that the world might be a bit hostile toward them in places. There would definitely have to be a talk about having racism, discrimination, and bigotry at the table. Alternately, Orcs would just be another Kin like any other and it just wouldn’t come up. I would definitely make the player aware of the lore surrounding that Kin even if we didn’t directly play it out that way.

IF players insist on friendlier, cuddlier Orcs without any of the bad blood in their history, I guess I’ll let it fly, but even then, there’s still that pesky sunlight allergy. Orcs are tough as nails in Dragonbane. It’s nice, but I feel like that sunlight allergy is a good balancing mechanism.

Orc Stat Block from the Dragonbane Core Rules.

Orcs are good at being bad guys.

I’ve always thought Orcs were analogous to the Klingons in Star Trek. Fierce, loyal warrior culture with warlike tendencies. Then again, I’m the guy who likens everything to Star Wars, Star Trek, or anime. That’s just how I grew up.

Old school Orcs used to appear in numbers of 30+ in that one Dungeons game. I don’t hold those standards to Dragonbane where even one-on-one combat can be deadly also greater numbers of opponents mean the surround-and-pound happens that much faster. However, Orcs are a good encounter for the PCs to decide if they’re going to Persuade, Sneak or stab their way out of the fight with a tough opponent. They also do make excellent troops/shock troops, likely due to their Lord of the Rings background.

Borrowing a page from World of Warcraft, I think Orcs could also lean into their more spiritual nature. Dragonbane Bestiary presents them with a Shaman as an option. (See also Animist Mage.) There could be a lot of good moments with Orcs seeking out a Mountain Troll for guidance or perhaps rallying around a Spiderkin who acts as an oracle. Such Orcs would likely be less violent and more tolerant of others.

Thank you for being here today with me. I appreciate you. Please embrace the things that bring you the most joy.