The Fighting Uruk-Hai! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

The Fighting Uruk-Hai!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
likedaniel
Oct 02, 2007 1:39:25 Ok, so Uruk-Hai are in my campaign setting. Well, as of now, I've basically ditched Half-Orcs (even less than rare in my campaign setting), and have basically given their stats to the Uruk-Hai. Is there any reason why I shouldn't do this that I'm not thinking of? Here are the stats:

Uruk-Hai
Uruk-Hai Racial Traits:
+2 Strength, -2 Intelligence, -2 Charisma: Uruk-Hai are strong but their orc lineage makes them dull and crude.
Medium: As Medium creatures, Uruk-Hai have no special bonuses or penalties due to size.
Uruk-Hai base land speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision: Uruk-Hai can see in the dark up to 60 feet. Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like normal sight, and Uruk-Hai can function just fine with no light at all.
Orc Blood: For all effects related to race, an Uruk-Hai is considered an orc. Uruk-Hai, for example, are just as vulnerable to special effects that affect orcs as their orc ancestors are, and they can use magic items that are only usable by orcs. (See the Monster Manual for more information about orcs, and the Dungeon Master’s Guide for more on magic items.)
Automatic Languages: Common and Orc. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Giant, Gnoll, Goblin, Undercommon, and Abyssal. Smart Uruk-Hai (who are rare) may know the languages of their allies or rivals.
Favored Class: Fighter. A multiclass Uruk-Hai’s fighter class does not count when determining whether he takes an experience point penalty (see XP for Multiclass Characters, page 60). Ferocity runs in a Uruk-Hai’s veins.

I can't think of any way an Uruk-Hai would be different from this (get more/less/different abilities), and I don't see a real reason to hang on to Half-Orcs in my world as they are really, really rare in the world I've created (man's got bigger issues than ****-lusting-orcs). Or is there a book that an Uruk-Hai (or a cleverly re-named Uruk-Hai) is already found?

I'm willing to take both comments and criticism. I want a game that is fun for my players, ultimately, so whatever should be changed, should be changed.
#2
mindolin
Oct 02, 2007 11:34:39 The Uruk-Hai would likely have a favored class of fighter rather than barbarian. Otherwise they are pretty good. Dark vision is a given, as the only reason they had a torch in the movie was so the gunpowder would explode.
#3
likedaniel
Oct 03, 2007 12:50:23 Ok, sounds good, I'll impliment that change.

Anybody have anything else?

One thing, I was also thinking about starting them with the feat Die Hard (or whatever it is called (I am at a library and don't have my book with me)(the one that gives them the ability to just be disabled, but not unconscious if they pass a Fort save or something when they're between -10 and 0)). I was thinking about doing that because of that one Uruk-Hai that Aragorn was fighting when Boromir died (the one that Aragorn threw the knife in its leg, cut its arm off, stabbed it through the stomach, and was only able to stop it with the final chopping off of its head), but I'm not sure if that Uruk-Hai was just a special exception. What do you think?
#4
Giradius
Oct 03, 2007 17:09:28 I always though Hobgoblins fitted the Uruk Hai quite well in terms of their behaviour and description, among their best features was the ability to remained disciplined and able to form structured groups without degenerating into infighting hence the name Uruk Hai, Orc Folk

I think you should give them the "Endurance" feat because in the book it states that they can run for days without stopping if necessary, it also fits in with their harsh and brutalized lifestyle.

They should have some sort of penalty to saves against magic (for balance) and to reflect their nature as a race created by sorcery.

I take it that your setting is not Middle Earth, Are they the slave race of another powerful magic user instead of saruman or do they have different origins?
#5
likedaniel
Oct 03, 2007 17:24:12 You guessed right, this isn't Middle Earth. It's from a book my brother and I are writing. In the book the drow rule a part of the land, they rule over the Orcs and the Uruk-Hai. That's what's now. I haven't completely decided who created them originally, though.

I agree with the spell resistance penalty and endurance, how much do you think would balance them out?
#6
mindolin
Oct 04, 2007 9:08:53 Do not give them the Diehard feat. That one orc was, I believe, the Uruk Hai captain, he even had a name in the LotR game book. Thus, he most definitely had class levels with which to get Diehard. They are not all that tough, otherwise Helm's Deep would not have lasted as long as it did,
#7
likedaniel
Oct 04, 2007 20:58:04 Good point, I believe you're right.
#8
drizztrocks
Feb 25, 2008 19:20:50 Urak-Hai were war-machines in both the movies and books, especially when their in groups. Perhaps give them bonuses on flanking, critical hits, attack and damage rolls when around other Urak-Hai that are allied with them. Perhaps they should be profiencent with Skimitars {for effect you could add orc Skimitars like in the LotR roleplaying game} and medium armor {Urak-Hai are heavily armored brutes}. To balance this out, further going against magic using Urak-Hai, the Wizard class could be restricted. Not the sorcerer class because thgat's based on innate magic instead of learned through tomes and books. Perhaps other magic based penalties could apply.
#9
mindolin
Feb 26, 2008 23:37:33 I would advise against that, because no race has a restriction on classes that can be taken. If you decide to go with it, though, I would suggest exactly the opposite. They have no innate talent with spells, thus no sorcerers, but can learn if they study long enough.
#10
holy_beholder
Mar 04, 2008 18:46:35
You guessed right, this isn't Middle Earth. It's from a book my brother and I are writing. In the book the drow rule a part of the land, they rule over the Orcs and the Uruk-Hai. That's what's now. I haven't completely decided who created them originally, though.

Drow, Orcs, and Uruk-Hai? Doesn't seem very original, and if you try to publish the book it will never fly. Not to mention one of the best ways to get better at writing is to use your own setting. Sure, inclusion of dragons and stuff is fine, as they are huge, but more minor things like drow and Uruk-Hai cripple originality. The general tip is from George R. R. Martin, and he has an incredibly detailed setting, which makes his writing better.
#11
drizztrocks
Mar 04, 2008 19:27:40 I am also writing a book, and though I am not using Urak-Hai {dude, if WoTC is afraid to use the word "hobbit" I wouldnt try Urak-Hai}, I am using drow, but I am adding my own flavor and fluff to them, along with creating my own setting, Xearic {its in one of these fantasy D20 threads}. I would definatly advise NOT using Urak-Hai in the book, but they seem like an exciting addition to any d20 campaign setting. Anyway, good luck with the book.;)
#12
drizztrocks
Mar 04, 2008 19:29:50 Hey, just a question. Im also using orcs in my book. Do you think that's unoriginal? I know its a little off topic, but since it came up I thought it was worth mentioning.:P
#13
elliott20
Mar 13, 2008 10:44:22 Uruk-Hai seems to be just Half-Orcs with slightly different flavor text, if you ask me.
#14
holy_beholder
Mar 16, 2008 13:40:37 Well, yeah. Slightly different Hobgoblin flavor text.
#15
likedaniel
Feb 18, 2009 14:40:47 Wow, it's been a while since I looked here.

Uruk-Hai by name will not be mentioned in my book. They will have a different name, but instead of getting in to the technicallitiesof it, I decided to just ask about Uruk-Hai. Also, you don't have to worry about originality, we have written out the plotline for the first 5 books and they are only involved in one battle that I know of in the third book. The vast majority of the book actually centers around a group of heroes trying to stop (the equivalent of) an evil sorc/cleric type guy that is trying to kill the summon spirits and thus open the world up for invasion by his deity in the underworld so that the deity can cross over the mortal realm (the bridge between the equivalent of Heaven and Hell) and attack the celestial realm.

In the first book, the drow are mentioned as having a nearly continuous war with the wood elves, but only one is ever seen (and he's actually dead).

But anyway, thanks everyone for your input!
-LD
#16
iron_stomach
Feb 19, 2009 19:16:48 I seem to remember that they could also move faster because of their heritage so maybe forty feet instead of thirty.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 likedaniel Oct 02, 2007 1:39:25	Ok, so Uruk-Hai are in my campaign setting. Well, as of now, I've basically ditched Half-Orcs (even less than rare in my campaign setting), and have basically given their stats to the Uruk-Hai. Is there any reason why I shouldn't do this that I'm not thinking of? Here are the stats: Uruk-Hai Uruk-Hai Racial Traits: +2 Strength, -2 Intelligence, -2 Charisma: Uruk-Hai are strong but their orc lineage makes them dull and crude. Medium: As Medium creatures, Uruk-Hai have no special bonuses or penalties due to size. Uruk-Hai base land speed is 30 feet. Darkvision: Uruk-Hai can see in the dark up to 60 feet. Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like normal sight, and Uruk-Hai can function just fine with no light at all. Orc Blood: For all effects related to race, an Uruk-Hai is considered an orc. Uruk-Hai, for example, are just as vulnerable to special effects that affect orcs as their orc ancestors are, and they can use magic items that are only usable by orcs. (See the Monster Manual for more information about orcs, and the Dungeon Master’s Guide for more on magic items.) Automatic Languages: Common and Orc. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Giant, Gnoll, Goblin, Undercommon, and Abyssal. Smart Uruk-Hai (who are rare) may know the languages of their allies or rivals. Favored Class: Fighter. A multiclass Uruk-Hai’s fighter class does not count when determining whether he takes an experience point penalty (see XP for Multiclass Characters, page 60). Ferocity runs in a Uruk-Hai’s veins. I can't think of any way an Uruk-Hai would be different from this (get more/less/different abilities), and I don't see a real reason to hang on to Half-Orcs in my world as they are really, really rare in the world I've created (man's got bigger issues than ****-lusting-orcs). Or is there a book that an Uruk-Hai (or a cleverly re-named Uruk-Hai) is already found? I'm willing to take both comments and criticism. I want a game that is fun for my players, ultimately, so whatever should be changed, should be changed.
#2 mindolin Oct 02, 2007 11:34:39	The Uruk-Hai would likely have a favored class of fighter rather than barbarian. Otherwise they are pretty good. Dark vision is a given, as the only reason they had a torch in the movie was so the gunpowder would explode.
#3 likedaniel Oct 03, 2007 12:50:23	Ok, sounds good, I'll impliment that change. Anybody have anything else? One thing, I was also thinking about starting them with the feat Die Hard (or whatever it is called (I am at a library and don't have my book with me)(the one that gives them the ability to just be disabled, but not unconscious if they pass a Fort save or something when they're between -10 and 0)). I was thinking about doing that because of that one Uruk-Hai that Aragorn was fighting when Boromir died (the one that Aragorn threw the knife in its leg, cut its arm off, stabbed it through the stomach, and was only able to stop it with the final chopping off of its head), but I'm not sure if that Uruk-Hai was just a special exception. What do you think?
#4 Giradius Oct 03, 2007 17:09:28	I always though Hobgoblins fitted the Uruk Hai quite well in terms of their behaviour and description, among their best features was the ability to remained disciplined and able to form structured groups without degenerating into infighting hence the name Uruk Hai, Orc Folk I think you should give them the "Endurance" feat because in the book it states that they can run for days without stopping if necessary, it also fits in with their harsh and brutalized lifestyle. They should have some sort of penalty to saves against magic (for balance) and to reflect their nature as a race created by sorcery. I take it that your setting is not Middle Earth, Are they the slave race of another powerful magic user instead of saruman or do they have different origins?
#5 likedaniel Oct 03, 2007 17:24:12	You guessed right, this isn't Middle Earth. It's from a book my brother and I are writing. In the book the drow rule a part of the land, they rule over the Orcs and the Uruk-Hai. That's what's now. I haven't completely decided who created them originally, though. I agree with the spell resistance penalty and endurance, how much do you think would balance them out?
#6 mindolin Oct 04, 2007 9:08:53	Do not give them the Diehard feat. That one orc was, I believe, the Uruk Hai captain, he even had a name in the LotR game book. Thus, he most definitely had class levels with which to get Diehard. They are not all that tough, otherwise Helm's Deep would not have lasted as long as it did,
#7 likedaniel Oct 04, 2007 20:58:04	Good point, I believe you're right.
#8 drizztrocks Feb 25, 2008 19:20:50	Urak-Hai were war-machines in both the movies and books, especially when their in groups. Perhaps give them bonuses on flanking, critical hits, attack and damage rolls when around other Urak-Hai that are allied with them. Perhaps they should be profiencent with Skimitars {for effect you could add orc Skimitars like in the LotR roleplaying game} and medium armor {Urak-Hai are heavily armored brutes}. To balance this out, further going against magic using Urak-Hai, the Wizard class could be restricted. Not the sorcerer class because thgat's based on innate magic instead of learned through tomes and books. Perhaps other magic based penalties could apply.
#9 mindolin Feb 26, 2008 23:37:33	I would advise against that, because no race has a restriction on classes that can be taken. If you decide to go with it, though, I would suggest exactly the opposite. They have no innate talent with spells, thus no sorcerers, but can learn if they study long enough.
#10 holy_beholder Mar 04, 2008 18:46:35	You guessed right, this isn't Middle Earth. It's from a book my brother and I are writing. In the book the drow rule a part of the land, they rule over the Orcs and the Uruk-Hai. That's what's now. I haven't completely decided who created them originally, though. Drow, Orcs, and Uruk-Hai? Doesn't seem very original, and if you try to publish the book it will never fly. Not to mention one of the best ways to get better at writing is to use your own setting. Sure, inclusion of dragons and stuff is fine, as they are huge, but more minor things like drow and Uruk-Hai cripple originality. The general tip is from George R. R. Martin, and he has an incredibly detailed setting, which makes his writing better.
#11 drizztrocks Mar 04, 2008 19:27:40	I am also writing a book, and though I am not using Urak-Hai {dude, if WoTC is afraid to use the word "hobbit" I wouldnt try Urak-Hai}, I am using drow, but I am adding my own flavor and fluff to them, along with creating my own setting, Xearic {its in one of these fantasy D20 threads}. I would definatly advise NOT using Urak-Hai in the book, but they seem like an exciting addition to any d20 campaign setting. Anyway, good luck with the book.;)
#12 drizztrocks Mar 04, 2008 19:29:50	Hey, just a question. Im also using orcs in my book. Do you think that's unoriginal? I know its a little off topic, but since it came up I thought it was worth mentioning.:P
#13 elliott20 Mar 13, 2008 10:44:22	Uruk-Hai seems to be just Half-Orcs with slightly different flavor text, if you ask me.
#14 holy_beholder Mar 16, 2008 13:40:37	Well, yeah. Slightly different Hobgoblin flavor text.
#15 likedaniel Feb 18, 2009 14:40:47	Wow, it's been a while since I looked here. Uruk-Hai by name will not be mentioned in my book. They will have a different name, but instead of getting in to the technicallitiesof it, I decided to just ask about Uruk-Hai. Also, you don't have to worry about originality, we have written out the plotline for the first 5 books and they are only involved in one battle that I know of in the third book. The vast majority of the book actually centers around a group of heroes trying to stop (the equivalent of) an evil sorc/cleric type guy that is trying to kill the summon spirits and thus open the world up for invasion by his deity in the underworld so that the deity can cross over the mortal realm (the bridge between the equivalent of Heaven and Hell) and attack the celestial realm. In the first book, the drow are mentioned as having a nearly continuous war with the wood elves, but only one is ever seen (and he's actually dead). But anyway, thanks everyone for your input! -LD
#16 iron_stomach Feb 19, 2009 19:16:48	I seem to remember that they could also move faster because of their heritage so maybe forty feet instead of thirty.