Quarter-Orcs

[CysteicAcid]

If a half-orc and a human get kids will they be quarter-orcs? Are all half-orcs the result of human and an orc or are there "quarter"-orcs? How should the abilities be?

[lemurs2]

Back in the days of 1st edition 1/2 orcs were sterile... I cannot remember if 1/2 elves were.

[Boss]

I dunno. How many drops of orc blood is needed to still be considered an orc? I know some British people we can call up for their thoughts on the matter.

[solthusx]

This kind of question is typically answered with 'however the DM says it works in his campaign'; official rulings on these matters tend to be vague, if they exist at all. Personally, I'd say the kids could be either human (with minor orcish traits) or half-orc.

[WoogieMonsutā]

I doubt such testing has happened with real humans (or rather I hope not), but with animals, there is a point at which one "side" is dominant to a degree that the other side becomes almost completely recessive until a pureblood parent is reintroduced into the line.

So for example:
- Orc + Human = half orc
- HalfOrc + Human = lesser half orc: orc genes & traits being too dominant to be suppressed in a single generation
- Lesser Half Orc + Human = Human or mutblood human: basically a "normal" person but their physical appearance might show that their bloodline is not pure, like odd eyes, slightly larger teeth, etc.
- mutblood + Orc = Half Orc

But like I said, that's animals.

[Conquista]

there is a quarter elf ingame we consider a half elf, so probably the same rules go for half orcs

[GrandMajora]

Nay, the game's text outright explains that Half Orcs and Half Elves can either be born from the union of a human with a pure blood, or from a union involving another halfbreed.

Meaning if you're a Half Orc, and you mate with either a human or an Orc, your child would still be a Half Orc. Same thing with Half Elves; apparently the mixed genetics become dominant.

[corisai]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

Meaning if you're a Half Orc, and you mate with either a human or an Orc, your child would still be a Half Orc. Same thing with Half Elves; apparently the mixed genetics become dominant.

Technically in mixed unions children should be randomly either Half-breed or Full blood human / non-human.
Racial description only state that half-breed could be children of human and half-breed (quarter-breed in terms).

If we follow your suggestion and child of half-orc and human would always be a half-orc - then we have a funny logic:
a) half-orc and human = orc bloodline is dominant
b) half-orc and orc = now human bloodline would be dominant as we would get same half-orc.
That isn't how biology work :)

[Conquista]

orcs in pathfinder are known to be not the smartest bunch, so if you are abit smarter and your parents have a half orc, they probably still consider you a half orc for your behavior

[CysteicAcid]

half orc half elves mixture then?

[corisai]

Originally posted by CysteicAcid:

half orc half elves mixture then?

Technically - child would be human :)

[Boss]

I can't speak on the far ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Goldorion. (sorry pathfinder, your setting can't compete with Forgotten Realms, especially your gods). But I always found it ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ funny that you have all these legendary races. Dwarves with their crafting, Elves with their long lives and magic aptitude, drow with their just super strong combatants of all kinds. Orcs with their huge muscles and brute strength. Gnomes with their ingenuity and demons/devils with their sheer overwhelming evil and power...

...And then you realize humanity is still the strongest. Because like over half of the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ gods in DnD are transcendent humans, MAJOR deities mind you. And 95% of Liches/archmages are also ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ humans. Not to mention the ancient magical kingdom that figured out level 10 spells.

Funny from a lore perspective.

[Conquista]

in pathfinder humanity was uplifted by aliens and than nuked by them back to the stone age

[lemurs2]

Yeah, Goldorion is the worst fantasy realm ever, I like Greyhawk best. And I agree, the deities in Pathfinder are awful.

[Thariorn]

Originally posted by corisai:

Originally posted by CysteicAcid:

half orc half elves mixture then?

Technically - child would be human :)

No, Half-Orcs and Half-Elves are NOT exlusive to humans.
A character can be a Half-Orcs Half-Dwarf for all intent and purposes.

[corisai]

Originally posted by Thariorn:

No, Half-Orcs and Half-Elves are NOT exlusive to humans.

RAW - corebook mention only human both in Half-Orcs and Half-Elves description :P