In truth, the Dark Orc is essentially a substitute for a standard LL hobgoblin. . . its stats are quite similar. I suppose my "conversion" of hobgoblin into Dark Orc stems from my general love of orcs, and my contention that hobgoblins should be more powerful than they are in the standard D&D / Labyrinth Lord rules. So, bring on the Dark Orcs!
Dark Orc
# Encountered: 1d6 (4d6)
Alignment: chaotic
Move: 90’ (30’)
AC: 5
HD: 1 + 1
Attacks: 1 (weapon)
Damage: 1d8 or weapon (long swords preferred)
Save: F1
Morale: 10
Hoard Class: XIX
XP: 15
Larger, darker skinned, and far more disciplined than typical orcs, dark orcs are quite often encountered wielding long swords and crossbows, and wearing scale mail. Dark orcs are highly organized fighters, and use ambush and surprise attack techniques to gain the advantage on their opponents. Relations between dark orcs and their "regular" orcish cousins are often strained at best, due to the dark orcs' preference for martial discipline over brutal, chaotic violence. But in some cases dark orcs have been known to combine forces with and even lead combat groups of standard orcs.
I see no problem with this as hobgoblins were pretty much D&D's answer to Uruk-hai IMHO.
ReplyDelete@Eli: Nicely put, that sounds right to me.
ReplyDeleteI dislike the proliferation of species. I use various humanoid stats for orcs all the time. Calling them bruisers, hulks, dark, deep, cave, elite, etc.
ReplyDeleteInstead of saying you see "2 hobgoblins, 6 orcs and a ogre". I'd say "couple of bruisers leading 6 regular orcs, and a hulk!" Players rarely figure out I'm using other monster stats, instead thinking I created this elaborate hierarchy of orc sub-races.
I think I got this idea from MMORPG EverQuest, hmmmmm.