"Your typical orc is none too bright, beligerent, and possessed of a might-makes-right attitude, with the muscle to back it up. Still, at least they have the decency to stay in Gwa'Aag and fight amongst themselves, unlike certain others. Anyone stupid enough to enter said nation or provoke its inhabitants deserves whatever they get." - Kelne
Yes, it's that time again, where Gwa'Aag and orc-kind in general get revised. Given the frequency with which this temptation arises, I think it may be time to bin the old stuff and start from scratch.
I figured I'd start by getting people to table their basic opinions on orcs. Basically how you'd like to see them realised. My own perspective on orcs is heavily influenced by the Games Workshop portrayal of them, for those familiar with it. Anyway, without further ado, my thoughts on orcs.
- Barbarians. Strong, tough, but not particularly bright, and certainly lacking in the accoutrements of civilisation
- Rule by the biggest. Odds are the leader is the biggest, toughest orc in the tribe. If not, he's bound to be challenged in pretty short order. The stronger you are, the higher in the hierarchy, and the more you can push around those weaker than you.
- Nothing better than a fight. The basic goal of an orc's existence is to seek out enemies to fight. If there are no other races handy, the orcs will happily fight amongst themselves. This internecine conflict is the reason they're not constantly at war with their neighbours.
- Clan-based. Orcs divide themselves along tribal and clan based lines. Anyone able to unite several clans is a force to be reckoned with. Each clan has its own way of looking at the world. Orcs are by no means a monolithic society.
- Green tide. If the orcs ever do put aside their differences, there's very little that can stand in their way. The prospect of such a thing happening is a perpetual worry to their neighbours.
- Looters. Many orcs have a tendency to steal and adopt certain items or practices from their foes.
- Low magic. Few orcs have any aptitude for magic, and fewer still any interest in it. Aside from the lone tribal shaman and any apprentices he might have, there are almost no casters in orcish society.
- Fun. Above all else, I see orcs as an essentially fun race.
Finally, there's the issue of the map. I just don't see the weedy area allotted to Gwa'Aag on the map as being worthy of an orcish nation. Hence, I've taken the liberty of amending it into something that truly strikes fear into the hearts of its neighbours. As an added bonus, it also has more neighbours.