Hello! I’m relatively new to Roleplay so please bare with me. I am thinking of rolling an Orc Rogue, but don’t know how to explain his back story. Orcs come off to me as strong brutish types. More warriors than anything. I know that this is probably wrong, forgive me.
Rogues feel so much like sneaky ninjas, or pirates with Outlaw, and I kind find a solid theme with my orc. Should I just go ahead and roll warrior like everyone else?
Thanks!
Hi Gahlrog! Welcome to the RP scene, and let me ASSURE you that Orc Rogues fit. You’re correct, there are many Orcs that like to follow the ‘code of warrior honor’ type philosophy that dictates you must meet your challenges head-on, but you and I both know that this just means they’re… dumb.
Rogues, in my opinion, are closer in ‘philosophy’ to a modern day soldier than warriors are. Real front-lines operators work smarter, not harder. They beg, borrow, steal, and use every single possible advantage they can. Any attack that isn’t a surprise attack is a failed one. Any single little dirty trick, low blow, poison, trap, pocket sand, whatever, that isn’t used is a failed opportunity. Any single fight that isn’t going the way you planned is one you should leave. Fight on your terms, and fight to win. It’s not cowardly, it’s effective.
Sure, the brutish Orc with the big axe may look down on you for it, but guess what? He can carry his honor right to grave with him. You’ll still be standing at the end of the day, ready to complete your next mission by any means necessary.
For motivation, I encourage you to look to Kargath Bladefist for influence in ‘dirty fighting’, and the Shattered Hand Orcs if you want to see Orc assassins and rogues in action. Laughing Skull clan too if you want to see some really vile, deep jungle ambush type of stuff.
Orc rogues are DEFINITELY a thing. It fits, I promise. Even if you don’t like any of that savage stuff, you can totally play a more ‘reserved’ military type scout character. Check out Garona Halforcen in that case.
Again, welcome, and I promise, you’ll fit right in both here, and in the Horde with an Orc rogue.
This is a prime example of why I have come to love RP realms over any other. You and 99% of the population are kind and helpful people. Thank you for this very informative post. I think I’m going to go ahead and start thinking of a good backstory for my Orc Rogue.
The main-universe Shattered Hand Clan has developed into something of an SI:7 equivalent for the Horde and has many orcs within its ranks. There’s definitely room for orc rogues and it’s definitely going to be a unique RP experience if it’s developed - personally I would love to see more of them around over the more popular rogue races. I definitely recommend checking out the lore on the Shattered Hand Clan and the 1-60 quests related to them.
I also don’t think you need to do away entirely with orcish honor if you are playing an orc rogue. It would not necessarily be dishonorable to do something such as sneak behind enemy lines and slay the commander in a momentary 1v1 - so long as you best him in combat, even if it’s decided with a single blow, and not something like killing them in their sleep.
Also worth checking out is a short Ashenvale questline that follows the orc assassin Gorat who is so loyal to the Horde and his mission that he takes out his target from beyond the grave with the help of the player.
Orc Rogues totally fit. Do not worry at all. There are many possible rp options for them, some already stated - military, barbariasm, etc.
For inspirations / ideas of military style orc rogues, think Garona Halforcen or Gordul - the Shattered Hand MU leader.
For inspirations of barbarism and all that, - as many already mentioned, the Shattered Hand fit very well with the orcish rogue theme. Laughing Skull also fit, though the Bleeding Hollow fit REALLY well with the whole ambush/guerilla theme.