Ogre

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This page is about the player species. For the monster, see Ogre (monster).

Ogres are huge, chunky creatures who typically are strong rather than smart, and not nimble at all. Their size also makes them hunger more than smaller folk. Ogres mature almost as quickly as Humans. Their preferred methods of avoiding beatings are dodging and the use of shields. Many Ogres find it natural to wield some large and blunt weapon. (Countless lethal incidents have taught them to leave most edged weapons be.) While all sophisticated forms of missile combat are too awkward for them, they are good at throwing things, in particular boulders. Contrary to expectations, Ogres are not reduced to mindless brutes. They possess a raw talent for witchcraft, letting them pick up the basics of spellcasting at an amazing speed. However, the more arcane schools of magic are foreign to them and are only learned at poor rates.

Innate Abilities

• Tough Skin 1: Ogres have AC +1.
• Fast Metabolism 1: Ogres burn sustenance quicker than other species.
• Saprovore 1: Ogres can eat rotten meat if Hungry or worse.
• Ogres are large creatures. Unlike smaller species, they can use giant clubs and giant spiked clubs, but cannot wear any armour but robes, cloaks, animal skins, troll hides, troll leather armours, dragon hide, or dragon armour. Bucklers are also too small for them.
• Ogres are large enough to attack normally while standing in shallow water (though they cannot move normally through it).

Preferred Backgrounds

• Warriors: Hunter
• Zealots: Berserker
• Mages: Wizard

Level Bonuses

• +1 strength every 3rd level.
• 30% more HP than average.
• Average MP.
• +4 magic resistance per level.

Starting Skills and Equipment

Ogres start with the skills and equipment listed for their background, with the following exceptions:

• Incompatible body armour is replaced with an animal skin or robe.
• Helmets are replaced with caps.
• Meat rations replace bread rations, and Ogres start with an extra ration.
• Any Armour skill is replaced by Dodging.
• Ogre Hunters are given a choice of large rocks instead of javelins.

Difficulty of Play

Ogres enjoy a number of advantages over other species, but even so, they are extremely difficult to succeed with. They have an immense amount of HP naturally and train Fighting faster than any other species, but their inability to wear most armour coupled with their large size leaves them with miserable AC and EV in the early game. Their proficiency in Maces & Flails and access to giant clubs/giant spiked clubs allow them to devastate most threats in melee (especially when berserk or otherwise buffed), but aside from lobbing large rocks, their ranged options are very limited due to their dreadful magical aptitudes. On top of it all, they have a slightly wider diet than average due to their Saprovore trait, but without being carnivorous their hastened metabolic rate leaves them dangerously vulnerable to starvation and unable to go berserk with impunity. In the end, ogre players must take advantage of their few strengths, utilize every escape route at their disposal, and avoid the overconfidence that accompanies smashing a death yak in a single hit if they intend to survive (at least until they find a gold dragon armour and enough experience to develop their Armour skill).

Skill aptitudes

The higher the value, the better the aptitude.

Skill	Aptitude	Skill	Aptitude	Skill	Aptitude
Attack		Miscellaneous		Magic
Fighting	3	Armour	-2	Spellcasting	1
		Dodging	-1
Maces & Flails	-1	Shields	0	Conjurations	-1
Axes	0	Stealth	-2	Hexes	-1
Polearms	0			Summonings	-1
Staves	0	Invocations	1	Necromancy	-1
Unarmed Combat	-1	Evocations	-2	Translocations	-1
Throwing	0	Shapeshifting	-1	Alchemy	-1
				Fire Magic	-1
Short Blades	-1			Ice Magic	-1
Long Blades	-1			Air Magic	-1
Ranged Weapons	-3	Experience	0	Earth Magic	-1

Strategy

• Serfuzz's Ogre Hunter guide
• Davion Fuxa's Ogre guide