Exactly what I was thinking. The poll is comparing who is the better barbarian, not who is more barbaric. It is a matter of what they represent, not the quality that best describes them.

Never played Morrowind? Berserk svcked in Oblivion, but in Morrowind it allowed a level 1 orc to kill enemies that normally only a level 10+ character could kill.

I think I should define barbaric, as found on dictionary,com:

1. without civilizing influences; uncivilized; primitive
2. of, like, or befitting barbarians
3. crudely rich or splendid

And here are the definitions for a Barbarian:

1. a person in a savage, primitive state; uncivilized person.
2. a person without culture, refinement, or education; philistine.
3. (loosely) a foreigner.
4. (in ancient and medieval periods)
a.a non-Greek.
b.a person living outside, especially north of, the Roman Empire.
c.a person not living in a Christian country or within a Christian civilization.
4. (among Italians during the Renaissance) a person of non-Italian origin.

The word originates from the word barbaros, or those who babble. It was a greek word, and was used for anyone that didn't speak Greek. It was used by the Romans(who are the historical equivalent of the Imperials) to refer to the Germanic, Slavic, Slavic, Mongols, Persians, and North Africans.

My anolysis: The barbarian in our popular culture is a Germanic or Norse person often dressed in furs, with an uncivilied lifestyle, usually lonely and not part of a greater group or organization. This would include a Viking, or Nordic person (no, Nordic doesn't mean a Nord there, that is where TES Nord came from) which is what a Nord is based on. So it depends if you are basing your decision on whether this is a stereotypical barbarian or a barbarian based on the definition and real meaning. So I think that an Orc is by far the better barbarian. The Nords built the Empire, and all of the Imperials are descended from Nords, and haven't been a seperate population for very long. The Orcs were only recently united in Orsinium, and they are by far more uncivilized, foreign to a western or Imperial viewpoint, savage and primitive. But a barbarian is a very opinionated word. It usually refers to someone with deemed less culturally rich, and in history opposing cultures quite often called each other barbarians or barbaric. So if viewed from an Imperial viewpoint, the Orcs are definitely more barbaric. But this is a very biased word, the Dark Elves might view the Imperials as having a more primitve or cultured society than them, while the Imperials would think the Dark Elves more barbaric than themselves. But my vote is for Orcs, because they fit the meaning of the word better than a Nord. Most Nords are really civilized, only a few are wandering savages.

Nord and Orc? Impossible to decide, I think their both brutish and savage in their own ways.

Besides the words savage and barbaric are open to interpretation and one's own view of civilization.

Orc. Just look at their jaw.

Nord.

In the pre medieval era, the civilizations who traded with vikings regarded them to be very civilized. French (Normandy) females were known to "idolize" vikings for their cleanliness and well groomed hair and beards. Viking raids were more rare than friendly dealings with them. Before the medieval times in central Europe, Vikings had mastered every trade that other civilizations had. The pillaging and raiding that most people link to Vikings was a rarity. In almost all cases, this happened because of outward hostility from the defenders in the first place. Where Vikings came to trade and were met with a hail of arrows, for example.

The Berserks were Vikings in early years and from smaller provinces, "tings", that had no room to expand on Norwegian or Danish soil, and were those who first went to sea. Norwegians went as far as Iceland, North America (Vinland/ New Foundland) and Scotland/ Ireland - in the prior cases to settle, and in the two latter cases were met with hostility which spawned the "raiding party" tactics they would come to employ. Had they been unified with other clans, maybe Scotland and Ireland would have had a worse fate. The Danes concentrated mostly on what is today England and northern France.

The Swedish Vikings found it a good idea to navigate the rivers of Europe and went as far south as Turkey. They had no important incidents and were largely insignificant, except for in-fighting on their own lands.

Point in case, rebellious facets can be found in any civilization, but in the case of the Vikings they were largely branded as all being lunatics due to the actions of minorities.

This.
I'm not sure why everyone seems to like Nords now that the game is based in their homeland. :shrug:
But I mean c'mon! Nords are pretty civilised, and Orcs are beasts and blood-crazy monsters. It's not a contest.

Orcs are not only barbaric, but are literally barbarians. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/barbarian They have (at least until recently) very little civilisation compared to the other TES races. They live in a relatively primitive culture. Nords are totally different in this respect.

Dave
http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/225/7/b/Dave_the_Barbarian_by_silveramysaurus07.jpg

Orcs for sure. Nords are really good barbarians, but Orcs beat them by a hair.

An Orc doesn't really seem like an Orc unless it's a barbarian IMO.

Hmm...I vote Orc as they're the ones who bash skulls with big hammers.


It's very likely true that Nords use fewer clothing. Someone used to cold weather uses less clothing than someone who is used to warmer weather. I know this is true as it happens in real life - Us living in north use less clothing than any natives when we go as tourists to the south.

Then again, everytime they tried to build a home, the Redguards and Bretons would wage war on them, and try to wipe them off the face of Nirn.

There's a reason they're known as Pariah-Folk, as they are pariahs and had to live a life of being able to scrap and use the hell out of what they found. Being proficient with an axe than a sword is only natural, as an axe also works well as a tool for felling trees and carving. Being skilled in smithing allows them to create numerous of makeshift armor in the most proficient manner possible and keep it in working order, along with being able to fashion scrap metal into workable parts. They have great willpower, endurance and strength, as it takes a lot to survive day to day hunted and to survive a harsh land.

They are barbarians, because they've been forced to lead a brutal and vicious life of constant survival and travel.

...Redguard

Actually, Orcs are described as "sophisticated barbarians". Nords are just...loud.

Nords have brains? Well that explains how no one has ever seen a naked Nord on the side of the road

Who is the better barbarian? I think the question needs to be clarified before being answered. Better in what way, power or barbarian roleplay?

Well I believe both Orsimers and Nords have different culture social stages at one time
so there is can be tribal cultures in both societies, along with more advanced stages like feudalism for example.
But in previous games Orsimers has more barbaric culture then Nords.

Why is there even a debate? The game is located in Skyrim for God's sake!

A nord ofcourse.

how does the location of the game make a difference for who is a better barbarian?

Orc because thier sixy :yes:

Culturally = Orcs

Physically = Nords

I went with Nord but this is a close one for sure.

Who would I least want to fight? I would least want to fight the Orc, because unlike the Nord, he is most likely to do anything to win no matter how grotesque or not "honorable." :bolt:

Why? Orcs are also tougher than Nords.

Nords are tough, But i vote Orc.

Tis true. They're only slightly weaker, but have 50 endurance for both genders (50M 40F for nords) and more willpower, 50M and 45F for the orsimer and 30M 40F for nords. They also have 25 resistance to magic all round, where as in MW it was ONLY magicka based spells, not elemental.