Orc

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Orcs on the battlefield.

Orcs are the largest and strongest of the Greenskin races, the biggest members of which naturally dominate the others. Pecking order is established by constant fighting, so only the meanest and nastiest Orcs get to the very top of the tribal ladder.

Appearance and biology

Even the smallest Orc packs a great deal of bone, muscle and bloody-mindedness into a body no taller than a Man's, but which is substantially broader. Orcs have huge jaws, and tiny foreheads behind which lurk a thick skull and not much in the way of brain.

They have a tough, waxy green skin that becomes tougher, more gnarled and inevitably scared as they grow older whilst their thick, sticky blood varies in colour from red to purple or black. They feel little pain compared to humans and a serious wound is required to stop an orc from fighting. [5a]

Orcs are rather more susceptible to heatstroke than humans. If an Orc is exposed to extreme heat for extended periods of time, its brain will eventually be so damaged that what little semblance of intellect it might have once possessed disappears altogether. Orcs who suffer from this are referred to as Savage Orcs, and are amongst the most savage of their race.

Black Orcs are the strongest and most aggressive and dangerous breed of Orcs, that come from the Dark Lands, where they long ago were created by selective breeding by the Chaos Dwarfs.

Locations

Although they can be found all over the Old World, their homeland can be said to be the area known as the Badlands which is infested with Orc tribes. Those in the Old World usually dwell in the deep forests and mountain passes. [5a]

Religion

All greenskins, worship two gods, Gork & Mork - the former "fighty but kunnin", the latter "kunnin' but fighty". Their faith in their gods is made terrifyingly real through the phenomenon of the Waaagh! During the intense excitement of battle this magical field, unconsciously focused by all greenskins, becomes stronger until the horde is swept up in an explosion of violence so intense that it will only begin to abate when every last enemy (or Orc) is slain.

Society

Orcs live in tribes[5a], a collection of greenskins ruled over by the largest, strongest and loudest individual, who is either known as a Boss, Big Boss or a Warboss, depending on his stature. These tribes might only exist as long as the Orc leading them can hold their fractious elements together, or until a challenger usurps power, invariably slaying the old Boss in a leadership challenge, and moulding the tribe after his own, unique vision.

There are many tribes, and they are often colourfully named, after their leader, their deeds or some unusual characteristic or custom exhibited by them. Some particularly infamous tribes include the Ironclaw Orcs, the Red Fang Orcs, the Orcs of the Bloody Hand, and the rarely seen White Orcs of Mount Grimfang.

Orc and Goblin tribes will ally and trade with other greenskin tribes and hire Mercenary Ogre warbands and often both Snotlings and Trolls can be found in their camps - although they are closer to animals and seen as food or mascots. [5a]

The Waaagh!

The power of the Waaagh! serves not only to drive the Orcs and Goblins forward in battle, but also to fuel the magic of their crazed Shamans. The Waaagh! always discharges through the most receptive mind, that of an Orc or Goblin Shaman. In immature Orcs this takes the form of random visions and crackling green energy, but mature Shamans have learned how to control these powers and turn them to their advantage in the form of powerful blasts and awesome spells of destruction.

Orc Choppas are particurarly unhinged orcs who act as berserkers in battle.

Weapons and Equipment

While most Orcs prefer to use sharp and heavy handweapons called Choppas (one or two at a time), they also utilise spears and - uncaring of their mediocre skill with them - bows. Most Orcs bear shields and/or light armour. A Regiment of Renown - Ruglud's Armoured Orcs - even use looted crossbows. Some Orcs ride boars, or use them to draw chariots into battle.

  • 2nd Edition: Orcs: Hand Weapon, Shield. May have Additional Hand Weapon, Chainmail, Polearm. [2a]
  • 3rd Edition: Hand Weapon, Light Armour, Shield. May have Additional Hand Weapon, Spear. May have Musician, Standard Bearer. One unit may have Double Handed Weapon, Magic Standard. [1a]
  • 6th Edition: Choppa, Light Armour. May have Additional Hand Weapon or Spear. May have Shield. May be Big 'Uns. May have Musician, Orc Boss and Standard Bearer. [4a]

Gallery

Miniatures

Quotes

We iz strong an' tough. Da strong onez win an' then eat the weak. Some of dem Gobbos is awright to keep for slaves or ter catch humie cannonballs in the heads, but most is best fer the pot. One day we eats all of youse. One day soon.

~ Galnast, Orc Boss.[3a]

Sources

Orcs & Goblins
Units Arachnarok Spider - Black Orc - Black Orc Big Boss - Black Orc Warboss - Cave Squig - Colossal Squig - Doom Diver Catapult - Forest Goblin Warboss - Goblin - Goblin Archer - Goblin Big Boss - Goblin Fire Kobold - Goblin Great Shaman - Goblin Shaman - Goblin Wolf Chariot - Goblin Troglagob - Goblin Warboss - Goblin Wolf Rider - Hill Goblin - Mangler Squig - Nasty Skulker - Night Goblin - Night Goblin Big Boss - Night Goblin Fanatic - Night Goblin Great Shaman - Night Goblin Netter - Night Goblin Shaman - Night Goblin Warboss - Orc Arrer Boy - Orc Battle Chariot - Orc Big Boss - Orc Big Un - Orc Boar Boyz - Orc Boar Chariot - Orc Boyz - Orc Great Shaman - Orc Shaman - Orc Warboss - River Troll Hag - Rock Lobber - Savage Orc Big Boss - Savage Orc - Savage Orc Boar Boy - Savage Orc Great Shaman - Savage Orc Shaman - Savage Orc Warboss - Snotling - Snotling Pump Wagon - Spear Chukka - Spider Rider - Squig Herder - Squig Hopper - Troll
Characters Argor Foespike - Azhag - Big Red 'Un - Black Tooth - Borgut Facebeater - Borzag - Brak Batwing - Cragtooth - Crazy Spider - Cruzzik Cacklespit - Dagskar Earscrapper - Dork - Durgath Spine Cracker - Durkol Eye-Gouger - Funglus - Git Guzzler - Gobbla - Goggrul Skarlug - Gorbad Ironclaw - Gorfang Rotgut - Gorgog - Grabnatz Sourbelly - Grimgor Ironhide - Grom the Paunch - Grotbag Dungbreath - Grotfang Skab - Grua Gribbleback - Grulsik Moonclaw - Gulag - Little Gork - Masked Chieftain - Morglum Necksnapper - Oddgit - Ogdruz Swampdigga - Oglok the 'Orrible - Radzog - Ratscrote Boggobbler - Roglud - Skabend - Skumwort Skabbad - Slygit - Skarok Gnawrock - Skarsnik - Slygit - Snagla Grobspit - Spinecracker - Squatting Troll - Taugrek the Throttler - Torgoch - Urk Ironskull - Vagraz Head-Stomper - Vish Venombarb - Wurrzag
Strongholds Black Crag - Iron Rock - Mount Bloodhorn - Mount Grimfang - Red Eye Mountain - Thunder Mountain - Black Pit
Images - Magic Items - Miniatures - Vehicles