The Orcs of Thar
Encyclopedia
The Orcs of Thar is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
.
, goblins
, and bugbears
. The "Player's Guide" is written for players who want to play orc player character
s, and includes the orcish view of the world, an overview of the Broken Lands, character creation rules, and "Thar's Manual of Good Conduct". The "Players' Guide" provides the history of the various humanoid races as seen through their own eyes, and describes the current situation in the Broken Lands with a look at the 10 tribes, their beliefs, and the areas they inhabit. The rules for generating humanoid player characters include kobolds
, goblins, orcs, hobgoblins
, gnoll
s, bugbears, ogres
, and trolls
. Also included are tables and suggestions for generating height, physical appearance, and outlook, and, various skills are available to add to the characters. "Thar's Manual of Good Conduct", a guide for humanoids to maintain their obnoxious behavior and love of battle and slaughter, comes as part of the "Players' Guide" but is intended to be pulled out of the booklet, cut up, and stapled into a smaller booklet.
The "Orcs of Thar" booklet covers orcish shamans
, important humanoid leaders, campaigning in the Broken Lands, and an adventure scenario. The gazetteer also includes rules for adaptation to AD&D, and also rules for a simple orc-conquest boardgame. The "Dungeon Master’s Booklet" gives the real history of the humanoids and the details on the major NPCs active in the Broken Lands. It also includes new rules for playing shamans and wiccas as character classes, nonhuman spell-casters first described in the D&D Master Set
, the clerics
and magic-users
of the humanoid races. This booklet provides information about the best way to stage and present humanoid adventures, along with a large number of adventure outlines. The orcish city Oenkmar is detailed for humanoids and humans to explore, as well as the rules for tlachtli, a ball game played in Oenkmar. The board game included is called "Orc Wars", and is set in and around the Broken Lands and features a power struggle to see who'll be the top humanoid.
, with a cover by Clyde Caldwell
and interior illustrations by Jim Holloway
, and was published by TSR in 1988 as two 48-page books, a large color map, cardstock counters, and an outer folder. Editing was by Gary L. Thomas, and cartography by Dave Sutherland
. The Orcs of Thar is the tenth in TSR's series of D&D game Gazetteers, with each Gazetteer detailing part of the D&D game's Known World, providing information on culture, society, history, geography, economics, and prominent NPCs of a given nation. The "Orc Wars" board game first appeared in Dragon
#132, although the game's counters in The Orcs of Thar are printed on heavier stock than was used in the magazine.
magazine #148 (August 1989). Bambra noted that the original 1974 version
of D&D gave some "very skimpy" guidelines on using monsters as player characters, and that subsequent editions became more human and demihuman oriented, but he felt that, with The Orcs of Thar, "the D&D game returns to its roots by allowing players to take on the roles of monsters: dirty, smelly, depraved humanoids, the kind of scum that’ players love to hate. [...] Now, The Orcs of Thar gives the opportunity to play the bad guys in a detailed and humorous campaign." He considered the material "fun to read and informative", and "does an excellent job of describing the lifestyles of orcs and other humanoids". He also enjoyed Jim Holloway's "fun-filled art", which does "an excellent job of capturing the flavor of humanoid life". Bambra felt that the character generation system handles the different types of humanoid creatures in a smooth and integrated manner: "Being big has its advantages, since you start with more Hit Dice than the other creatures, but it takes you far longer to gain additional Hit Dice than it does for the lowly kobolds, goblins, or orcs." He felt that the adventure outlines "do a superb job of capturing the flavor and atmosphere of humanoid adventuring, with plenty of opportunities for groveling and attacking the hated humans". He also called the "Orc Wars" board game "good fun". Bambra concluded the review by saying, "The Orcs of Thar combines neat monster descriptions and backgrounds with a colorful and humorous narrative style of presentation. Couple this with its high-quality graphic presentation, and you end up with a product that no one should be without. The Orcs of Thar is wonderfully conceived and executed. Even if the idea of having humanoid characters doesn’t appeal to you, the background material in The Orcs of Thar still makes it a valuable contribution to your campaign."
According to Lawrence Schick, in his 1991 book Heroic Worlds, The Orcs of Thar is "written in a humorous style that presents orcs as lovable goofballs who just happen to enjoy slaughter and pillage".
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
.
Contents
This book covers the Broken Lands that are inhabited by humanoids such as orcsOrc (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, orcs are a primitive race of savage, bestial, barbaric humanoid.-Publication history:The orc was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game. The D&D orc is largely based upon the orcs appearing in the works of J.R.R...
, goblins
Goblin (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, goblins are a very common and fairly weak race of evil humanoid monsters. Goblins and Kobolds are commonly non-human monsters that low-level player characters will face in combat. In D&D, goblins aren't smaller cousins of orcs, but are a part of...
, and bugbears
Bugbear (Dungeons & Dragons)
The bugbear is a type of fictional monster for player characters to encounter in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.A bugbear is depicted as a massive humanoid distantly related to goblins and hobgoblins...
. The "Player's Guide" is written for players who want to play orc player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s, and includes the orcish view of the world, an overview of the Broken Lands, character creation rules, and "Thar's Manual of Good Conduct". The "Players' Guide" provides the history of the various humanoid races as seen through their own eyes, and describes the current situation in the Broken Lands with a look at the 10 tribes, their beliefs, and the areas they inhabit. The rules for generating humanoid player characters include kobolds
Kobold (Dungeons & Dragons)
Kobolds are a fictional species featured in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Aggressive, xenophobic, yet industrious small humanoid creatures, kobolds are noted for their skill at building traps and preparing ambushes...
, goblins, orcs, hobgoblins
Hobgoblin (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, hobgoblins are a larger, stronger, smarter and more menacing form of goblins. They are smaller and weaker than bugbears, but better organized. Hobgoblins are humanoids that stand nearly 6'6" tall on average, a little taller than orcs...
, gnoll
Gnoll
A gnoll or gnole is a fictional humanoid creature - a cross between a gnome and a troll. They first appeared in Lord Dunsany's story in The Book of Wonder: How Nuth Would Have Practised His Art upon the Gnoles and subsequently reappeared in Margaret St. Clair's, The Man Who Sold Rope to the Gnoles...
s, bugbears, ogres
Ogre (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, ogres are a lesser race of giants, rather being simply large brutes with clubs. An aquatic subrace of ogres is known as "merrow." D&D ogres are also closely related to the race of ogre magi, a smarter race with blue skin and great magical abilities...
, and trolls
Troll (Dungeons & Dragons)
Trolls are fictional monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Dungeon Masters can use them as enemies or allies of the player characters.-Publication history:...
. Also included are tables and suggestions for generating height, physical appearance, and outlook, and, various skills are available to add to the characters. "Thar's Manual of Good Conduct", a guide for humanoids to maintain their obnoxious behavior and love of battle and slaughter, comes as part of the "Players' Guide" but is intended to be pulled out of the booklet, cut up, and stapled into a smaller booklet.
The "Orcs of Thar" booklet covers orcish shamans
Shaman (Dungeons & Dragons)
The shaman is an alternate playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Dungeons & Dragons :The Orcs of Thar covers orcish shamans...
, important humanoid leaders, campaigning in the Broken Lands, and an adventure scenario. The gazetteer also includes rules for adaptation to AD&D, and also rules for a simple orc-conquest boardgame. The "Dungeon Master’s Booklet" gives the real history of the humanoids and the details on the major NPCs active in the Broken Lands. It also includes new rules for playing shamans and wiccas as character classes, nonhuman spell-casters first described in the D&D Master Set
Dungeons & Dragons Master Rules
Dungeons & Dragons Master Rules is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1985 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-Publication history:...
, the clerics
Cleric (Dungeons & Dragons)
The cleric is one of the standard playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. In the game, clerics are versatile figures, both capable in combat and skilled in the use of divine magic. Clerics are powerful healers due to the large number of healing and curative...
and magic-users
Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)
The wizard is one of the standard character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A wizard uses arcane magic, and is considered less effective in melee combat than other classes.-Creative origins:...
of the humanoid races. This booklet provides information about the best way to stage and present humanoid adventures, along with a large number of adventure outlines. The orcish city Oenkmar is detailed for humanoids and humans to explore, as well as the rules for tlachtli, a ball game played in Oenkmar. The board game included is called "Orc Wars", and is set in and around the Broken Lands and features a power struggle to see who'll be the top humanoid.
Publication history
GAZ10 The Orcs of Thar was written by Bruce HeardBruce Heard
Bruce Heard is a game designer, and an author of several products for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from TSR.-Early life:...
, with a cover by Clyde Caldwell
Clyde Caldwell
Clyde Caldwell is an American artist. Self described as a fantasy illustrator, he is best known for his portrayals of strong, sexy female characters.-Early life:...
and interior illustrations by Jim Holloway
Jim Holloway (artist)
-Background:Jim Holloway was self taught in illustration, although he was able to study some oil paintings by his father.-Works:Jim Holloway has continued to produce interior illustrations for many Dungeons & Dragons books and Dragon magazine since 1981, as well as cover art for The Land Beyond the...
, and was published by TSR in 1988 as two 48-page books, a large color map, cardstock counters, and an outer folder. Editing was by Gary L. Thomas, and cartography by Dave Sutherland
David C. Sutherland III
David C. Sutherland III was an early Dungeons & Dragons artist. Sutherland was a prolific artist and his work heavily influenced the early development of Dungeons & Dragons.-Early life and inspiration:...
. The Orcs of Thar is the tenth in TSR's series of D&D game Gazetteers, with each Gazetteer detailing part of the D&D game's Known World, providing information on culture, society, history, geography, economics, and prominent NPCs of a given nation. The "Orc Wars" board game first appeared in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#132, although the game's counters in The Orcs of Thar are printed on heavier stock than was used in the magazine.
Reception
Jim Bambra reviewed The Orcs of Thar for DragonDragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
magazine #148 (August 1989). Bambra noted that the original 1974 version
Dungeons & Dragons (1974)
The original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson was published by TSR, Inc. in 1974. It initially included the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
of D&D gave some "very skimpy" guidelines on using monsters as player characters, and that subsequent editions became more human and demihuman oriented, but he felt that, with The Orcs of Thar, "the D&D game returns to its roots by allowing players to take on the roles of monsters: dirty, smelly, depraved humanoids, the kind of scum that’ players love to hate. [...] Now, The Orcs of Thar gives the opportunity to play the bad guys in a detailed and humorous campaign." He considered the material "fun to read and informative", and "does an excellent job of describing the lifestyles of orcs and other humanoids". He also enjoyed Jim Holloway's "fun-filled art", which does "an excellent job of capturing the flavor of humanoid life". Bambra felt that the character generation system handles the different types of humanoid creatures in a smooth and integrated manner: "Being big has its advantages, since you start with more Hit Dice than the other creatures, but it takes you far longer to gain additional Hit Dice than it does for the lowly kobolds, goblins, or orcs." He felt that the adventure outlines "do a superb job of capturing the flavor and atmosphere of humanoid adventuring, with plenty of opportunities for groveling and attacking the hated humans". He also called the "Orc Wars" board game "good fun". Bambra concluded the review by saying, "The Orcs of Thar combines neat monster descriptions and backgrounds with a colorful and humorous narrative style of presentation. Couple this with its high-quality graphic presentation, and you end up with a product that no one should be without. The Orcs of Thar is wonderfully conceived and executed. Even if the idea of having humanoid characters doesn’t appeal to you, the background material in The Orcs of Thar still makes it a valuable contribution to your campaign."
According to Lawrence Schick, in his 1991 book Heroic Worlds, The Orcs of Thar is "written in a humorous style that presents orcs as lovable goofballs who just happen to enjoy slaughter and pillage".