Ogres of Martapa

My ogres are huge creatures close to seven foot tall and shoulders to match. Their skin is green in color, ranging from light to super dark green. Hair is black and rarely a different color. Their eyes are small, almost beady and usually black in color, (brown is not unheard of). They are very strong, able to lift twice their body weight without breaking a sweat. Even the young are incredibly strong and thus deadly. Their noses are bulbous, their jaw and brow jutting out just a bit. Their ears are tapered, not unlike elves, but large.

They wear simple clothes if they make such items themselves, usually made out of leather and cloth (sometimes mixed). Sometimes their clothes are of better quality if they have been made for them by other races. They scavenge weapons and armor pieces, so they never match unless the ogre in question has been hired by some other race for protection.

Their language is halting and they do not have a written language. They have little technical ability (not much above your average cave man) so they usually use sledges or rickety carts to move things unless they have stolen a cart or wagon. Same goes for much of the other things humans would take for granted.

Ogres breed like rabbits. Once one is born the next one is in the oven. Because of this, though, they have shorter life spans, maybe forty years if they are lucky. There is no family structure. The male takes no part in raising the children, though he'll take credit if his son does something impressive, and often rival males might come into a camp and kill the offspring and steal the women.

Half breeds are common in high ogre concentrated areas. Ogres like to raid farms for females and usually some sort of offspring occurs. Depending on which set of genes influences the child they can be nearly as big as the ogres and dumb as a post. Or they can be more human in appearance and at least of average intelligence. If you players want to play a half-ogre make them first decide which side they look more like, then give them either high strength an constitution (though one step less then a full ogre) or the corresponding high stat for the other race. Similarly give them the low stats of the same race (though one step less then the corresponding race).

They live in mud and grass huts in crude villages with wooden fences. They keep wolves for pets. They do not plant crops but hunt and raid.

To use as a character race I would give a bonus to Strength and Constitution and give a big hit to Intellect, Wisdom, and Charisma. Give them spear proficiency for free. Languages cost twice as much. I would think twice before allowing this as a character race. One, they are an evil race, and two, they are very strong and could overbalance your campaign.

They do not get along with any of the other races, but bully everyone. They usually keep skiegs (my version of goblins) as slaves.
Roleplaying Tip of the Week: Make sure your characters are balanced. It's never fun for the other players if one person has all the perks. If you give something to one character (or take away something at the beginning of creation) be prepared to do it for or to all your characters. It makes it more fun for everyone if everybody is playing on the same level.
Monday: Skiegs (Due to Cub Scout Day Camp....please save me...I will be taking a break from blogging this week. We'll pick up next Monday with what I think is the last of my races.)