| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| webmanus |
Posted - 01 Aug 2005 : 19:05:08
Has anybody bothered with moutain orcs and gray orcs from Races of Faerūn? My campaign is set in Daggerdale and Shadowdale, and I have been pondering over which kind of orcs that should be found in the northern Dalelands.
I have finally decided that 60% of the encountered orcs are gray orcs and 40% are mountain orcs.
An encounter, for example, in the countryside six miles north of Serpentsbridge of Daggerdale could be with four scouts from a gray orc tribe that roams Daggerdale; this nomadic tribe could be native to Daggerdale, or they could be native to the Moonsea.
Another encounter could be with four mountains orcs from a tribe that lives in a cavern (or ruin) in the Desertsmouth Mountains.
I have had "difficult" to imagine (understand) gray orcs in Daggerdale. It has been easier to understand the existance of mountain orcs in Daggerdale. However, according to Races of Faerūn, gray orcs are found closer (Moonsea) to the Dalelands than mountain orcs (North). It is therefore that I have decided to have a 60% to 40% percent distribution.
Comments? |
| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| webmanus |
Posted - 02 Aug 2005 : 07:14:39
Thanks for your two coppers Maglubiyet!
I have to admit, that my 60% - 40% has never felt right. I have read, and reread the entries of orcs in Races of Faerūn and looked at maps. The Dalelands beeing neighbour to the Moonsea, and the Moonsea beeing a primary regions for gray orcs, made be make a 60% - 40% ratio. Furthermore, the Zhentarim (Zhentil Keep) have used orcs in, for example, Daggerdale (and Zhentil Keep is located in the Moonsea) and orcs have invaded Cormanthyr in the past. In the Year of the Cold Clashes (331 DR) orcs from Vastar (and I assume that these orcs were gray orcs) attacked eastern Cormanthyr and occupied land east of the Old Elven Court (Lost Empires of Faerūn, page 127). So, such entries made me lend toward the 60%/40% ratio.
Still, your two coppers reasons sounds good. Maybe, a 30% gray orcs and 70% mountains orcs ratio would be more appropiate.
KnightErrantJR, according to Races of Faerūn, the primary regions of gray ors are Damara, Moonsea, Rashemen, Thesk, Vaasa, and the Vast. While the primary regions of mountains orcs are the North and Silver Marches. With primary regions, I mean the Region entry for each race in Races of Faerūn, and that creatures can always be found outside their own region. By the way, if you do not have the book, I recommend that you purchase it. For me, it is a mandatory book. I liked a lot the chapter of human ethnic groups there ...
Any other scribe with some coppers here and there? At the end of the day, the old grandmother might have been killed by an orog.
Once again, thanks Maglubiyet and KnightErrantJR,
Manuel |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 02 Aug 2005 : 03:24:08
I always pictured Grey Orcs in Thar and points north, perhaps some tribes in Vaasa . . . |
| Maglubiyet |
Posted - 02 Aug 2005 : 02:35:43
I would go with a higher mix of Mountain orcs for a few reasons:
1. They're more like the "normal" D&D orcs, with mostly the same abilities, stats, etc. Gray orcs, on the other hand, with their +2 wisdom bonus have a different flavor. (Also, since the Dalelands were among the original settings described by E.G. for the Forgotten Realms, it makes sense to me that the orcs there would be more like the Monster Manual version standard orcs.)
2. The Dalelands pretty much border on Anauroch which used to be Netheril. Netheril was sacked by Mountain orcs from the Spine of the World many times in its history.
3. In the RoF it says that Gray orcs "dwell in remote, desolate corners of northeast Faerun and eke out a meager existence as they can..." I don't think of the Dalelands as being remote, desolate, or northeast.
Just my 2 coppers. |
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