Orcs and goblins are almost absolutely always the most sympathetic race in a given fantasy setting. How are we not supposed to relate to these supposedly “dumb,” “primitive” and “ugly” people who are treated as objectively evil abominations, live in filthy conditions and never allowed to win against the white-European-puritan-like humans and elves?
This is only ever subverted in more humorous settings. The Tolkien-style “serious” medieval fantasy purists sure love their creepy nationalistic undertones huh
Except Orcs kill and rape people sooooo..
Uh, yeah, that’s the problem. My entire complaint is that authors choose to write orcs as entirely killers and rapists while also writing them so similarly to minorities or foreigners.
Why is this not even the first time someone already replied to this post with “but orcs are naturally evil.” Orcs aren’t real. They can only be as evil as an author chooses to make them, and the entire idea of a WHOLE RACE always being evil is some of the worst, most tastelessly lazy writing out there even aside from the unfortunate social implications it can fall into.
I bet that person’s an elf. Sounds like something an elf would say.
fucking elves.
I want more orcs like elder scrolls. They are big and tough but they are smart and organized and have an eye for detail and can be openly homosexual and fun.
Personally I’m perfectly fine with goblinoids and orcs to be labeled as the scumsuckers of the world, and due to intelligence or just plain bad genetic luck.
That being said, no one says they have to be outright evil. That’s the part I hate. Why can’t we just have a race entirely of big hobos and little hobos. One big and physically strong, one small and intelligent. At least, kinda.
That trope will never not be cool.
You fucking elf