When Did Orcs Become The Incredible Hulk?

Post » Wed May 02, 2012 1:45 pm

Ah! I thought it was harmful to them. Thanks :smile:

The original, common variety of trolls would turn to stone in direct sunlight. This happened in The Hobbit, as a matter of fact (Bert, Tom and Bill were their names, IIRC). Later evolutions of the troll, bred by Sauron (the olog-hai or something like that) were larger, stronger, smarter, and could withstand sunlight, though they hated. Similarly, the common orcs (snaga) were much weaker in direct sunlight, whereas the more evolved orcs (again after more tinkering and breeding by Sauron), the uruk-hai, could run and fight even in direct sunlight, though they hated it.
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Zach Hunter
 
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Post » Wed May 02, 2012 10:35 pm

This is something I have been pondering lately. I grew up on Tolkien, and his orcs were not super-strong giants. They are described as being smaller then humans, some the size of hobbits, and not especially strong either. Sometimes he uses the terms goblin and orcs synonymously. Other times he seems to make a differentiation between the two. But in any case, his orcs were sword-fodder, always being mowed down by the thousands, which makes it plain that they are not superb fighters either. Tolkien even introduced a new breed of orc - the Uruk-Hai - so that he could have a more dangerous foot soldier for the Army of Darkness. But even they are described as being shorter then men in his books (although Jackson made them bigger in the films).

Flash forward to today, and orcs are all muscle-bound giants like the Incredible Hulk. How did they get from those little guys who always got their asses kicked by the Army of Light, to hulking brutes that wrestle with King Kong for exercise? Was it the Warcraft games? Or sooner?

I am sure that part of the reason for their bulking up was when they started becoming playable characters in RPGs and games like WoW. First as Half-Orcs, which were always big fellas, then as full orcs. No one wants to play the little twerps standing in line for Aragorn to spit on the Flame of the West. So I think RPG makers starting bulking them up, to give them their own niche in the fantasy world: as the hulking brute.

Note that I am not complaining. I am not attached to orcs being giants or shrimps, and I have never had trouble playing them. I am just thinking aloud. Can anyone else add their two septims about the mysterious evolution of the Orc?
Steriods !!!!
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Jordan Moreno
 
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Post » Wed May 02, 2012 3:01 pm

Orcs always remind me of Shrek for some reason........ :biggrin:
I think it's a combination of the lack of hygiene, their barbaric impertinence, and, of course, their similar size and facial features. They're all scum in my book. If the Empire was run the way I wanted it to be (the way it SHOULD be), those wretched degenerates wouldn't be allowed in Cyrodiil. They'd be back in that hole they call Orsinium. Worthless beasts...
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Ashley Campos
 
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Post » Wed May 02, 2012 4:52 pm

I think it's a combination of the lack of hygiene, their barbaric impertinence, and, of course, their similar size and facial features. They're all scum in my book. If the Empire was run the way I wanted it to be (the way it SHOULD be), those wretched degenerates wouldn't be allowed in Cyrodiil. They'd be back in that hole they call Orsinium. Worthless beasts...

...Must....resist urge...

I will naturally have to disagree with you, Orc craft is prized, and they make up for most of the front line of the Imperial army, with out them the army would collapse :biggrin:
So your idea of running the empire is to bring it back to the dark ages? That's silly.
Yes I'm an Orc lover, and will defend them just as you insulted them. :D
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Steeeph
 
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Post » Wed May 02, 2012 11:25 pm

...Must....resist urge...

I will naturally have to disagree with you, Orc craft is prized, and they make up for most of the front line of the Imperial army, with out them the army would collapse :biggrin:
So your idea of running the empire is to bring it back to the dark ages? That's silly.
Yes I'm an Orc lover, and will defend them just as you insulted them. :biggrin:
I would expect such a remark from a lowly guardsman. Don't you have thieves to catch?
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brenden casey
 
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Post » Wed May 02, 2012 3:03 pm

I would expect such a remark from a lowly guardsman. Don't you have thieves to catch?

Before you insult someone you need to make sure to do your research.
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Wane Peters
 
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