Devil’s in the details: half-orcs

The OSR is kicking around random tables to give demihuman characters a little on-the-fly background.

I don’t actually have the issue of Fight on! this references but I think I get it. There is already a really good orc table, but no one has claimed half-orcs as far as I know, so here goes; apologies if this isn’t in the proper pattern.

Many half-orcs (roll or pick d3)

1. are ashamed of their orcish blood and try to pass for human
2. are ashamed of their human blood and try to pass for orc
3. are intrigued by the idea of cannibalism but haven’t tried it (yet)
4. were raised in orphanages/monasteries and hope to find their parent(s)
5. file their teeth and nails to points and use them as weapons
6. are largely feral and cannot sleep indoors
7. have worked as pit fighters or gladiators
8. have a “slave mentality” and lack initiative
9. have abnormally long arms
10. are intensely jealous of half-elves, who have it friggin’ easy
11. are bullies and will dominate weaker PCs until beaten in a fist fight
12. can eat anything
13. are attracted to any humanoid/demihuman of the opposite (same) sex
14. are attracted only to elves of the opposite (same) sex
15. find themselves drawn to human wizards and hope to serve as their lieutenants
16. have a special affinity with dogs & wolves
17. know how to make effective improvised weapons out of almost anything
18. have a very acute sense of smell and can smell fear
19. cannot grow facial hair and & go bald early
20. can drink prodigious amounts of alcohol with little effect but are intoxicated by raw meat and blood

Some half orcs (roll d16)

1. were raised by ignorant farmers who think they are human
2. have stomachs that audibly growl if they go more than 2 hours without eating
3. have orc-like tusks and claws
4. favor using two weapons, whether or not they are ambidextrous
5. are experts at identifying poisonous plants and fungi
6. fear clerics and will not enter active temples
7. have a strict, complicated code of honor
8. belong to an organized crime “family” or criminal guild
9. have an intense rivalry with one or more half-siblings (human, orc, half-orc, or half-elf)
10. have a permanent squint
11. have rotten teeth and horrible breath
12. look down on humanoids as uncivilized savages and try to prove they are cultured/refined
13. aspire to lead humanoid armies and be their king
14. have several totally unrelated superstitions/taboos
15. vehemently deny being half-orcs
16. are expert brawlers from constant fighting as children

Starting equipment (roll d16)

1. stuffed animal or dolly
2. necklace made of human teeth
3. knife concealed in belt buckle
4. hooded cape with partial mask for the lower face
5. locket with a portrait of a supposed human parent
6. rusty manacle with broken chain, still locked on one or both wrists
7. bag of interesting smooth pebbles
8. garrote
9. an illustrated book in a language he/she can’t read
10. clumsy frame backpack holding all of their possessions
11. worg pup which is cute but vicious
12. wanted poster (of the him/her, or of some random criminal with a bounty on their head)
13. heavy wooden toolbox with hammer, prybar, and files
14. executioner’s hood
15. 2 “heavy metal” gloves covered with spikes that reach the elbows
16. a large ball of twine and string cobbled together from many bits

By the way, how exactly does one roll a d16? d8 + another die which is +0 (even)/+8 (odd)?

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