Masterwork:Orcish castes

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MDF: v1.31

This article relates to the Orc Fortress game mode of the Masterwork mod.

Overview

Orcish castes have quite different physical characteristics: the common Orc, agile Snaga, powerful Uruk, and hulking Olog. Occasionally Orcs are born into specialist castes including the Artisan, Corsair, and magic-adept Dreamwalker. Choosing the right civilian and military roles for your orcs is an important part of a smoothly running fortress.

Sub-species Castes

Orc

The standard "Orc" caste are most similar to their feral Orcish brethren, and the baseline to which other Orcs are compared. They are very strong, and quite agile, and are a bit larger than humans. They learn leatherworking and bonecarving readily, and take quickly to dodging, wrestling, and melee combat. However, orcs learn brewing, gemwork, mining and stone-detailing more slowly than dwarves. Orcs are lacking in most mental attributes and are mediocre students.

POP_RATIO 80, BODY_SIZE 85000

Snaga

About 2 in 8 Taiga orcs are born into the "Snaga" caste, rumored to have mixed Goblin blood in their ancestry. They are small and weak, like a goblin, but some have grudgingly earned respect as archers in Taiga warbands due to their remarkable agility.

POP_RATIO 40, BODY_SIZE 60000

Uruk

About 1 in 8 Taiga orcs are born into the "Uruk" caste, descended from the mighty nomadic tribes of the steppes. They have legendary strength, toughness, and recuperation. Since they are about 15% again larger than their clansmates, Uruks can wield vicious great-axes and longswords to deadly effect, generally even one handed. They are the only Orc to enter a Martial Trance, making them the core of any horde which hopes to face worthy enemies in melee.

POP_RATIO 20, BODY_SIZE 95000

Olog

Olog are a rare caste of thick-skinned brutes from the deepest mountains, slow to learn most tasks. They are incredibly strong and tough, resistant to pain, and deadly with blunt weapons. They are also surprisingly fond of working quietly with stone or jewels.

POP_RATIO 4, BODY_SIZE 125000

Specialist Castes

Artisan

About 5% of Taiga orcs are "Artisans", rare creative minds who make good bone-, leather-or wood-crafts orcs. Although Orcish smiths are best known for the terrible spectacle of their crude factories and molten pits, Taiga-clan artisans also remember some of the secret arts of metal folding and fletchery passed down from their clanfathers.

POP_RATIO 10

Corsair

About 5% of Taiga orcs are "Corsairs", Orcs taken with a passion for buccaneering and adventure. Renowned for their skill with fire-arms and ballistae, the Corsairs true value to the clans is an uncanny ability to accurately assess the value of trade and plunder. A skilled Corsair can greatly improve the quality of the loot you get from the Raiders' drydock.

POP_RATIO 10

Dreamwalker

About 5% of Taiga orcs are "Dreamwalkers", weird frail creatures who are nevertheless feared and honored for their mental prowess. Dreamwalkers are adept priests and doctors, and they can often read and write -- even using numbers on occasion. Female Dreamwalkers are revered among the dwindling tribes for they often have litters of multiple young. Dreamwalkers are the only caste that can undertake spirit journeys and learn spells, become powerful spellcasters, or use special arcane weapons which channel dark aspects of their wild magics.

POP_RATIO 10

Elite Castes

Ronin

Ronin are casteless uruk who hope to barter their elite skill in arms for a place with honor in a new clan. In the frontier settlements, ronin are greatly sought after as sergeants, trainers, and even warchiefs. Male ronin train primarily with the sword, while female ronin traditionally prefer the bow. All ronin cross-train with the axe as well.

POP_RATIO 4

Sorcerer

Sorcerers are Orcish Dreamwalkers who have glimpsed the darkest corners of the ethereal planes, and given themselves over to the pursuit of arcane power.

POP_RATIO 1

Druid

Druids are Orcish Dreamwalkers who are changed by visions of the primal power of Earth and Sky. They wield these forces in defense of their clans and of the savage wilds.

POP_RATIO 1

Frostskald

Frostskalds are Orcish Dreamwalkers who have learned to harness the stark fury of elemental ice. They turn this power against enemies foolish enough to encroach on their arctic homes.

POP_RATIO 1

Oracle

Oracles are Orcish Dreamwalkers who read apocalyptic prophecies from the motions of the sun and stars. They have an unsettling ability to warp these visions into reality.

POP_RATIO 1