[Antony Holdsworth]

Since the release of Skyrim just over a couple of years ago I have completed 4 complete playthroughs of the game, each one about 200 hours in duration. My 1st was a "jack of all trades" Nord which wasn't really very rewarding looking back at it. Next I went with a Breton Battlemage followed by a Dunmer battlemage (avatar) which I really enjoyed. The last one I completed was a Breton robe wearing "pure mage" with no conventional weapons or armour, this playthrough I found the most rewarding and enjoyable by far.

Have read quite a lot on this forum about people playing as warriors and "true warriors" and to be honest I couldn't see the attraction of these types of character as I lean towards magical characters in the game myself. So I decided that I should give it a go by way of a change. To be honest I really didn't think it would be my thing at all, however I was mistaken.

I decided to create what I call a "true warrior", my personal definition of which is a warrior that uses absolutely no magic. I also believe enchanting to be magic, so that was not to be used either. Having never played as an Orc I thought that this would be a good race for my character and something new to try as well.

Here's what I came up with:

Name: Go-Bro Bash Bang.

Skills: One handed

Two handed

Blocking

Heavy armour

Smithing

Archery

He's currently at level 22 and has Mjoll the lioness as a follower, they seem to make a good team. Done a fair bit of the main quest and completed the companions, wondering where he might go next at the moment.

Have never tried dual wielding and would welcome any advice on this, I'm also struggling a bit with the two handed sword, any tips?

Have to say that surprisingly I'm really enjoying this character and would welcome any advice from all you Orc warriors out there or any warriors for that matter on how to get the most out of this style of play.

[Tom]

First and most important, it has to feel right to you. I dual wield most of the time and use a shield when things get hairy or someone is casting a flame based spell/breath at me (shield is enchated with some negatory flame business). Dual wielding is awsesome if you have the shout, Elemental Fury. Two handed, I don't know.....I used it once on a Nord early on and have never touched it again. It provides blocking, so that is a plus. I'll suggest trying a counter attack strategy when using 2H. Block, let the enemy swing and then attack. Same with the shield. Catch them with that shield bash and then whack 'em. Repeat. Don't forget your natural ability to go Berserk. A room full of bad guys stand no chance against the Orc rage.

To me, a big key of just selling yourself to the Orc character is to visit the strongholds and grab an Orc follower. Ghorbash is a great one and was a long time follower of mine. The comments he makes, as do all of them, really remind you that you're an Orc. Not that there is anything wrong with Mjoll.

I think your perk selection is pretty spot on, but I also think that a warrior has a lot of flexibility as long as it is combat based. Light vs Heavy, 1h vs. 2h.......shield vs no shield. It just has to feel right to you and the freedom to change up should be available. I have a little in light armor and a lot in heavy. I'll switch up from time to time, depending on what I'm doing.

If you RP at all, just keep to the code. Make them pay the Blood Price and take full advantage of selling your blade to the highest bidder.

Malacath witness our deeds.

[Eileen Müller]

I didn't actually know that you could block with two handed, that could be why I'm struggling with it. Should I take the dual wielding perk? I like the idea of an Orc follower so will definitely give that a go, some good tips there thankyou.

[мistrєss]

I made an Orc character a few days ago, tried to make him as close to the Orc in Jabberdave's avatar as I could. He looks pretty badass. He's two-handed and mostly wants to explore every cave, fort, and ruins he can find. I'm not exactly sure what major quest he can do as an Orc that would make sense, and he's not doing the MQ.

[Jeneene Hunte]

There's really no harm in taking it. If you have god heavy armor protection and good stamina (since you don't use magic and can't enchant the weapons with stamina absorption), enemies will practically keel over to your buzz cut. Kind of unwieldy until you get all three perks associated with it. It stuns enemies a lot as well.

As for two handed, remember that a lot of the perks in block work for two handed as well. With two handed though, I don't usually block, I walk backwards while swinging, or walk forwards to hit and walk back to avoid hits, then block if I have to. Quick reflexes is great with two handed, as you can easily dodge power attacks and deliver them to their backs without worry. Not really much to it, you just gotta get used to the style. And getting roasted by dragonfire. Become ethereal is your friend.

Finding a weapon already enchanted with stamina absorption would be recommended, if you don't want to enchant.

[Felix Walde]

From the rift stronghold comes a proud Orc. Strong, cunning. Alduin, crumbling in defeat, hears a single voice. "No one bests an Orc. No one."

[Rude_Bitch_420]

He wouldn't mind smacking up dragons for fun, that's true. Though I can't picture him using Shouts.

[Latino HeaT]

Orcs have never looked better. And they're so freaking badass. My orc character was named Shar and I enjoyed her game even though she was my legion character which made me kind of disgusted with her.

http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv146/gmosko/orcwomen2.jpg

[Ells]

I love playing orc characters.

My favorite was Borkagh the Brave. (I know, thought the name was cool when looking at the name generator not realizing a Borkagh already existed.)

She was a smith and a hunter. Not bad in combat either. Born to a chief and his smith wife. She prefered the bow and duel wielding orc axes. Ended up getting caught up at Helgen despite her innocense. This left a bad taste in her mouth for the empire despite the fact her husband Gorbash used to fight for the empire. She joined the stormcloaks. I may re-create her and play through her story again. I had a lot of fun with it. She was also dragonborn and a companion.

Strength and honor. She never stole an item the whole time I played her. Everything she made was from materials she found or crafted.

She was also Malacath's champion.

[Lewis Morel]

Orcs. Mean and green. Perfect.

edit: I agree with CCNA. *points to quote in sig*

[Horse gal smithe]

My Favourite:

2 Handed

Conjuration (Dremora and Soul Trap)

Heavy Armour

Smithing

Enchanting

Alchemy

Lives in the strongholds, rarely visits 'society', indiscriminate murderer of every Redguard and Breton man, woman and child he sees (forget this 'Elder Scrolls' Online rubbish) after soul trapping them and using their putrid souls to enchant Orcish weapons.

[Rachael]

As I have been levelling up I have been using a 3 to 1 health/stamina ratio which seems to be working alright and have found a ring that adds 20 stamina. I also have a necklace that adds 15% to one handed and am wearing a full set of steel plate armour which I got from one of the companion quests. Archery is still a bit of a mystery to me and is not something I have used much before other than firing an arrow at the sun in Dawnguard, so any advice would be welcome on that skill.

[Jah Allen]

Iv'e played a few Orc characters. A heavy armor single sword wielder, heavy armor 2H & a stealthy archer. The archer died in my DiD play, while the warrior based ones were a little boring so were shelved.

The thing i liked most about it, was visiting the Strongholds & feeling like one of the family, it was a great bond & i felt it my duty & honor to help them. Meeting other Orc's in game felt like very special meetings as well.

[Mrs shelly Sugarplum]

In all honesty I think an Orc would use any skill he wanted to. You can still be a warrior and use magic.

[Cathrin Hummel]

It wouldn't hurt, but it probably isn't super important as long as you are currently delivering a good amount of damage. I think I took the first one of the two. I focused mainly on Armsman and put five points in that for the damage. I also avoided perking any of the weapon specific perks because I want to change up from time to time so I felt it wasn't as important. I've used maces, war axes and swords. Though swords are probably my least favorite on an Orc. It just doesn't fit.

[Nadia Nad]

I was gutted when my Orc stealth archer died

[Mel E]

Oh yea, get the slow time perk asap. Eagle eye and steady hand. That pretty much makes archery. That slow motion perk's also what makes warriors who use block go from average to awesome. Also, don't select the last perk in archery. It sounds cool and useful, but it's annoying with the kill cams. I had a draugr look like he did the matrix on me because he got paralyzed and fell during the kill cam... The effect happens before they're hit.

Don't much need quick shot either. Wait till you've finished the companions, then while Aela's your follower, use her to train archery so you can get your coin back. That'll level it up quick. Same for Farkas with heavy armor, Vilkas with two handed, the stonearm chick for block, the dunmer for one handed. You probably already know this, but I thought I'd cover it anyway just in case.

[Justin Hankins]

I like the updates to the Orcs, both visually and the stronghold thing. Don't play as Orcs much in general, but I like them more than I used to.

[Chris Jones]

Yes I know but I wanted the new challenge of playing a "pure warrior" which has been the subject of much discussion over the last few months. Also I have only really played mage types and so want to master a whole new set of skills, some of which I have never used before. It's a really different style for me and I'm enjoying the problems it presents, especially the up close and personal battles I've never experienced with my mages.

[Michelle Serenity Boss]

Blocking is possible with 2 hand but I prefer to use the power of the 2 handers and hit first hard with a power attack to stagger them then attack with a normal attack while they're staggering and another power attack after they recover, lather, rinse repeat until they're dead. I have mastered the timing of the battleaxe so I rarely block and I always use the Steed stone before I get the weightless perk so I can move swiftly enough to easily dodge arrows and most destruction spells as well as close the distance quickly. If you have a problem with slow swing speeds then seek out Shagrols Hammer which is an Orcish warhammer with a fast swing speed and the best part is you can use Elemental Fury with it.

My Orc on the other hand is a berserker who wears fur and dual wields 2 maces of Molag Bal...once you get both dual wield speed perks and the Black Star then this becomes a deadly combo, especially if you use the Orc racial power.

Oh and you can get a female Orc follower/spouse called Borgakh the Steel Heart.

[Greg Swan]

I did have problems finding a good role-play for an Orc character, but then I made Dular.

Dular was a glory seeker. I visited the Orc Strongholds, took Borgakh the Steel Heart as follower and spouse. He did follow the MQ was it promised more glory and dragon killing. Once it was over he even sided with the Blades for the 'Glory of it all' and as a Blade brought in more orcs and slayed many dragons. Dragon Slaying was his legacy. Note this is the only role-play I felt I could justify actually joining the Blades.

Some random shots of his adventures:

http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/355/5/d/adventures_in_skyrim_2_by_burhenn63-d4jr2tb.jpg

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/004/6/4/adventures_in_skyrim_6_by_burhenn63-d4lac3y.jpg

[Yama Pi]

The Orc from the loading screen was the inspiration for my current as well. I did end up moving on to heavy armor, but I have a few perks in light and wear the topless furs occasionally. I also did the main quest, but that was simply because it had to be done to save the tribes and to hopefully gain favor with Malacath. Companions is a good quest line, IMO. I also pick up any other jobs available from inns and stewards. If there is something that needs killing, I'm you Orc.

I destroyed the Dark Brotherhood and have avoided the TG quests. Neither have honor and are not worthy of my blade. The quests in Solitude for the Steward there were great fun for the Orc. Anything like that, I'm on it. Otherwise, I tend to find my own trouble just exploring.

[lexy]

Curious, if you destroyed the DB then I guess you found honor in killing a defenseless old lady?

While I love the idea of destroying the DB, I hated that there was no way to get to that point without being as evil as they are.

I also thought IMO that being a cursed creature (the Companions) wasn't a very honorable thing either so my Orc avoided that. I just wish there was a real Fighter's Guild in Skyrim.

[R.I.P]

I created my Orc before I saw that load screen and laughed at the similarity to my http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx34/lordtru/20130622_005123_2_zpsb936bc89.jpg as he not only looked similar but my guy wore the shirtless fur armor, hide bracers, same amulet and dual wielded but it was Orcish maces instead of axes...I've changed his skin to the dark tone (the pic is old) and he now wields dual Molag maces but I still laugh when I see that load screen as me and the devs had a similar Orc in mind

My Orc has seen countless battle and seeks a worthy opponent to grant him a good death like the Old Orc...sadly no such opponent exists and I can't get him up to level 81 to fight the Ebony Warrior.

[Averielle Garcia]

Your honor and the Orc's honor may be vastly different from each other. Though I did come up with some half-brained reasoning for killing a defenseless person at the time, I can't remember what it was now. She was killed before I took a break from March until the end of September, so some of what the Orc did before escapes me now.

The Companions is just fun. The wolf's blood didn't stay with me long, though. That was managed as quickly as possible and saving Kodlak was worth it.