Here's some of my favorite "non-standard" depictions of Orcs (All these species could be green and forest dwelling):
- FKTA gallery (mildly - moderately NSFW)
. This vision of orc is somewhat matriarchal and significantly more primitive in their cultue than most fantasy races, havng no nudity taboo. They are caring parents, but believe that children should be brought up tough to face a rough world. Orcs like to kidnap people and have developed an unfair reputation with elves and dwarves because of it.
- Ursala Vernon: Orc Poet (moderately NSFW)
. Orcs as a race with a sophisticated culture but a very different outlook on life.
- Yan Gange: Noz (mildly NSFW)
. These orcs are "less human" than most.
- Yan Gange: Kotorc
. Kotorcs serve as a Henchmen Race for the Drow. They are prized for their "doglike" tenacity and loyalty. Kotorcs have a strong sense of honor.
edited 13th Feb '11 6:00:53 PM by FrodoGoofballCoTV
I've made my orcs the form into which the Fell Power of Terror Erebus corrupted his loyal humans. After Erebus's departure, some/most orcs turned to Erebus's successor, Malphas the Blood Lord, and became his Blood-Kin. Blood-Kin are the Always Chaotic Evil psychopaths that give civilized people so much trouble.
The orcs that did not follow Malphas are plains nomads, vying for territory with settled civilizations and being an occasional pain in the neck, but are much more open to diplomacy than Blood-Kin. These are the only people with whom Blood-Kin will parley, only for the purpose to converting them to Malphas.
Orcish tusks are status symbols amongst orcs and trophies for unscrupulous hunters. The tribe records a warrior's deeds onto his tusks after he dies.
My Blog | My Steam profileHm... I've been playing around with a few ideas for orcs. Feel free to use any of them.
- Orcs, Goblins, and Trolls (oh my!): The traditional Goblin, Orc, and Troll species are, in fact, one and the same.
- They have an extremely long lifespan (upwards of two centuries)
- They begin life in their 'larval' stage: The small, frail, bright green Goblin. Each Goblin on its own is pathetic enough, but they learn quickly to cooperate and become pack hunters/scavengers.
- Those that survive to adulthood (twenty or so years) make a slimy coccoonlike structure that they dwell in for several months.
- If something doesn't crack their shelter open and consume their delicious goblin-y insides, they emerge as Orcs; much larger and tougher, with skin in more camo shades and large, sharp bottom incizors that seem to be vestigial tusks. They continue in this state for fourty-plus years.
- Those few that manage to survive their first sixty or so years hit what is essentially puberty. They suffer excruciating pain as they triple in size, their large teeth become true tusks, And their skin darkens again to a chestnut colour and becomes dense and bark-like, making an excellent natural armour. They also grow long, vicious claws. Trolls are, naturally, the roughest, toughest, and most clever mofos the species has to offer, so the younger individuals look up to them in respect and fear.
- Orcs as plant-people: Goes along well with them having floral magic. This type of Orc has a symbiotic plant or fungus growing on its back, either naturally or planted there with magic at birth.
- The growth of the plant will correspond with the Orc's own, and perhaps even with what that Orc does. For instance, soldiers' plants would become thorny, thick brambles, possibly poisonous, protecting them from harm and hurting any enemies that got into a brawl with. A medicine-Orc's plant would become an excellent natural salve.
- The plant would be capable of photosynthesis, imparting some of its converted energy to the Orc; this would grant them stamina far beyond any other species.
^ I like that first one, Diamonnes. That's got all sorts of potential.
To the OP, here's my suggestion: Instead of saying "I need to have orcs, how can I make them different?" ask yourself "What niches are there that still need to be filled? What will fill them?" You don't have to have orcs just because you have elves and dwarves.
edited 17th Feb '11 10:25:49 AM by Madrugada
It's not that I'm having trouble fitting orcs in or feel I need to have orcs if I have elves and dwarves, since all three were present since I started. I just didn't really know what to do with them without it seeming like I ripped off the guys from Warcraft 3, especially since I had an easy time making my elves and dwarves different from the standard and only had the superficial stuff in the OP.
Anyway, thanks for the different orc depictions, they've given me some good ideas to bounce off into ideas that I can work with.
Make them giant anthromorphic Orca Whales(killer whales)!
Their body is human shaped, but have many whale features, such as massive size, fins, and their skins. Humanoid arms and legs. And their heads are whale heads....
And they should fire out of their blowholes.
edited 17th Feb '11 10:27:47 PM by Signed
"Every opinion that isn't mine is subjected to Your Mileage May Vary."There is no immediate need to define Orcs yet. Show us the prejudices that Humans and Elvens and Dwarves oh my have about Orcs. Then show us Jacques the Orc dealing with prejudice.
Jacques fits stereotypes 1, 2 and 3, he don't fit stereotypes 4 and 5. He pretends to fit stretype 5 because that is what they expect.

I'm trying to make my Orcs different, but I seem to have hit a roadblock. I focused on the Elves and Dwarves more than I did the Orcs so those two are much more developed. So far all I have for the Orcs are they look like the big, green Blizzard-y style, they have Plant magic, and live in the forest. I'm trying to avoid the Always Chaotic Evil and Proud Warrior Race Guy directions, but I don't really have a "gimmick" or trait to differentiate them like I do for the other races.