Base Class (Orc Monsters)
Orc Warrior
Hit Dice 2, Fighting Value 1b, Orc Value 2.
Prime Requisite: STR
Requirements: STR 9
Hit Dice: 1d8
Maximum Level: 11
Orc warriors served as frontline troops in the ancient Empyrean War. Bred for battle, orc warriors require little training, being born with an innate skill in the most savage of weapons. While not as poised or skilled as highly-trained fighters, their fearsome size and cruelty more than make up for it.
At first level, orc warriors hit an unarmored foe (AC 0) with an attack throw of 10+. Orc warriors thereafter advance in attack throws by one point every level of experience (i.e. as monsters). They save as fighters. Orc warriors are trained to fight with battle axes, crossbows, flails, great axes, polearms, short bows, short swords, spears, swords, and two-handed swords. They may wear leather or lighter armor, and may wield a weapon and shield or a two-handed weapon.
Orc warriors grow to fearsome size as they advance in experience, gaining approximately ½ inch of height and 10 lbs of muscle per level. When they have accumulated sufficient XP to be half-way to 2nd level, the orc gains a +1 bonus to damage rolls due to his size. At 4th level, the damage bonus is increase to +2 and the orc’s great size and strength grants a +2 morale bonus to orc henchmen, retainers, and followers. At 7th level, the damage bonus is increased to +3, and at 11th level it is increased to +4.
Some orc warriors take a mystic path, serving their tribes as shamans or witch doctors. When an orc warrior gains a level of experience, he may choose to gain one level of arcane or divine spellcasting in lieu of all other benefits he would normally accrue from leveling (e.g. hit points, attack throws, saving throws, proficiencies, etc.) An orc warrior may acquire a maximum of 4 arcane casting levels and/or 6 divine casting levels in this manner.
Orcs are subterranean, and have infravision to a range of 60’. However, years spent in darkness leave orcs suffering a penalty of -1 to attack throws when in sunlight. Orcs are innately cruel, with little empathy for others, a trait that gives them a -2 penalty to the reactions, loyalty, and morale of humans and demi-humans.
All orcs speak their native tongue and two bonus languages, selected from the following list based on their tribe’s proximity to other beastmen and monsters: Bugbear, Draconic, Gnoll, Goblin, Hobgoblin, Kobold, Ogre, Troll.