second edition half orc question

**blelliot** · 2014-07-06, 09:31 PM (ISO 8601)

What class restrictions did half orcs have in second edition?

**Thrudd** · 2014-07-06, 09:45 PM (ISO 8601)

Half-orcs were not a playable race in 2e.

In 1e, they could be fighters, thieves, assassins, clerics, fighter/cleric, fighter/thief, fighter/assassin, cleric/thief, cleric/assassin.

**Khatoblepas** · 2014-07-07, 04:48 AM (ISO 8601)

Half-Orcs in 2e appear in the Complete Book of Humanoids.

They can be Fighters, Clerics, Shamans, Witch Doctors, and Thieves.

**MeeposFire** · 2014-07-07, 05:39 PM (ISO 8601)

They were also in the Players Option books but I do not think there were any major classes missing from your list.

**JadedDM** · 2014-07-07, 10:45 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by Khatoblepas

Half-Orcs in 2e appear in the Complete Book of Humanoids.

They can be Fighters, Clerics, Shamans, Witch Doctors, and Thieves.

They could also be fighter/shamans, fighter/thieves, shaman/thieves, fighter/clerics and cleric/thieves.

**blelliot** · 2014-07-08, 03:46 AM (ISO 8601)

Thank you all for the feedback!

**thorr-kan** · 2014-07-08, 11:50 PM (ISO 8601)

And cleric/thief is the funnest combo to play.

**JadedDM** · 2014-07-09, 07:56 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by thorr-kan

And cleric/thief is the funnest combo to play.

Unless your DM rules that backstabbing only works with a piercing weapon...

**thorr-kan** · 2014-07-11, 02:23 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by JadedDM

Unless your DM rules that backstabbing only works with a piercing weapon...

True, but that's house rules screwage by the DM. Rules don't say it has to be piercing, but "discernible anatomy." I'm willing to be a mace to the kidneys does almost as much damage as knife.

You've got my sympathy.

**Digitalelf** · 2014-07-11, 04:35 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by thorr-kan

Rules don't say it has to be piercing, but "discernible anatomy." I'm willing to be a mace to the kidneys does almost as much damage as knife.

Actually, the wording is: "The victim must be generally humanoid..." and goes on to say, "The victim must also have a definable back".

At any rate, 1st edition was much clearer with the definition: "Back stabbing is the striking of a blow from behind, be it with club, dagger, or sword..."

**Khatoblepas** · 2014-07-11, 05:32 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by Digitalelf

Actually, the wording is: "The victim must be generally humanoid..." and goes on to say, "The victim must also have a definable back".

At any rate, 1st edition was much clearer with the definition: "Back stabbing is the striking of a blow from behind, be it with club, dagger, or sword..."

Does the "generally humanoid" part count if you've got the Anatomy non-weapon proficiency and have time to study the creature? I mean, it's common to say "The thief only knows how to stab the kidneys of a humanoid", but what if you actually take time out to study the locations of kidneys of all kinds of monsters? I mean, Lords of Madness (so, presumably,a Mage's tower) also has anatomical charts of Beholders, so why couldn't a thief look for weak points there?

**awa** · 2014-07-19, 08:55 AM (ISO 8601)

I suspect that would be a dms call

**Randy Proberts** · 2014-07-29, 11:58 PM (ISO 8601)

The Great and Powerful Randy Proberts would like to know why thieves are now exclusively stabbing kidneys? Does the Half Orc Clerics god require tribute and sacrifice in the form of a toxin removing organ from unsuspecting victims? If so, the years of study and training I had devoted to wizardry have all been wasted....

Thread: second edition half orc question

Thread Tools

Spoilers